AFL 2023: Port Adelaide seeks clarity on umpiring decisions against Geelong

Port (430) and the Crows (408) have conceded the most free kicks this year. And the Power isn’t happy with what happened on Saturday. So is Graham Cornes right? See for yourself.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. Picture: Mark Stewart

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley contacted AFL umpire boss Dan Richardson to seek clarity around some of the decisions that went against his side in Saturday night’s loss to Geelong.

The Power lost the free kick count 31-19 in its 12-point defeat at GMHBA Stadium, which has Port Adelaide now out of the top two.

On Monday, Power assistant coach Chad Cornes revealed Hinkley had been in touch with Richardson.

“I know Kenny spoke to Dan Richardson to get clarity,” he said.

“Especially around some of the aerial contests and I think that vision has just come through to Kenny’s phone and we will have a look at it and see what we can take out of it.”

Chad’s brother Kane said on Monday one umpire alone paid 15 free kicks to Geelong.

Darcy Byrne-Jones tackles Geelong’s Mitch Duncan. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Power players were noticeably frustrated at some decisions during the course of the match on Saturday night.

Darcy Byrne-Jones shook his head at a decision after he gave away a head-high free kick against Mitch Duncan with six minutes to go in the third quarter.

Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma both remonstrated with the umpire after Rozee was called for a contentious throw with five minutes to go in the last quarter, which led to a Gryan Miers goal to put the Cats up by 12 points.

When asked if there was any concern around the lopsided count, Cornes said he “can’t comment on the umpires”.

The Power have given away 430 free kicks this year, the most by any club.

Adelaide is second on the free-kicks-against ladder, conceding 408 in 2023.

Earlier this year, inaugural Crows coach Graham Cornes said the two South Australian clubs did not receive the same love from the umpires as their Victorian counterparts.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, right, has asked the AFL about some of the umpiring decision from Saturday night. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I go to these games and feel like they get a bad trot,” the former Crows coach said.

“It’s not so much the free kick you give away because it’s possibly there, it’s the similar free kick you don’t get.

“I’m convinced there is a Victorian bias.

“I believe they (umpires) come to Adelaide with a very definite perception that they’re not going to be impacted or affected by the crowd, the ‘noise of affirmation’ factor.

“They both get a raw deal, but Port Adelaide much more than the Crows even.”

Hinkley alluded to the big difference between the two sides in his post-match media conference when asked about the Power losing the contested possession count.

“If the free kick count is minus 14 that would mean you are minus 14 in contested possession, and we lost contested possession by 18,” Hinkley said.

“There is a bit in that, I reckon, but that is just part of the game, I thought Geelong were tougher and harder around some critical contests.”

Originally published as AFL 2023: Port Adelaide seeks clarity on umpiring decisions against Geelong