AFL in meltdown as ‘cover up’ exposed before league forced to backflip

The AFL has been plunged into “crisis” with unheard audio forcing the league to perform a backflip after a “sickening” scene.

The AFL has responded after being accused of a “cover up” with the league plunged into disarray on the back of previously unheard audio emerging on Tuesday.

AFL House is reported to be in crisis with the Lachie Schultz concussion storm taking several twists.

The Collingwood star was evidently dazed after an ugly fourth-quarter collision with Fremantle’s Jordan Clark during the Magpies’ win on Thursday night at Optus Stadium.

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The small forward struggled to gather himself in the aftermath, even while in the hands of medical staff, but play was allowed to continue as the Pies went forward and kicked a goal.

Sixteen seconds of open play elapsed between the collision and Jamie Elliott taking a mark inside the 50m arc with no whistle from the umpires to halt play.

Collingwood captain Darcy Moore said after the game “it didn’t feel right” for play to continue.

You can listen to the new audio in the video player above.

Lachie Schultz of the Magpies collapses in the hands of medical staff. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images.

The AFL on Friday released a statement saying the umpires “did not see the injured player at the time so play continued”.

AFL executive general manager of football Laura Kane has now been forced to come forward and admit the information given by the four umpires to AFL general manager of football performance Josh Mahoney was “inconsistent” with new audio first uncovered by Channel 7’s Agenda Setters.

The audio, which can be heard in the above video player, showed the umpires were clearly aware of Schultz’ condition but allowed play to continue anyway.

The umpires running the game were Justin Power, Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer and Martin Rodger. Meredith is one of the most experienced umpires in the game and has overseen 509 games and nine grand finals.

The audio shows one of the whistle-blowers said: “Got an injured player in the middle.”

The same umpire then said: “I’m watching. Let it go. Let it go.”

Kane on Tuesday issued a statement to Channel 7 addressing the damning audio clip.

“The statement we released was incorrect, but we were given the wrong information from the umpires. It’s inconsistent with the vision,” Kane said.

“They (the umpires) were going off memory and not the vision and we should always look at the vision.

Lachie Schultz was in a bad way. Photo: Fox Footy.

“All the field umpires from the game have all been coached this afternoon that they should have stopped the game.

“Having said that, this is on me. It’s the footy department that runs umpiring and that sits with me.”

AFL issues fresh statement

In another statement released on Wednesday night, Laura Kane said: “Our process in determining what happened Thursday night failed and for that we take full responsibility. “Today we have determined there was a miscommunication from members of the umpiring department, not the field umpires, which formed the basis of our initial public statement on Friday.

“Those team members have been counselled and reminded of the importance of ensuring our process is fully followed regarding these types of incidents and in this instance it was not.

“I have asked GM Football Performance Josh Mahoney to review these processes to ensure the right information is communicated and to ensure this does not happen again.

“Everyone, including our umpires are aligned in ensuring the health and safety of players continues to be the utmost priority and the AFL has been in regular contact with the AFLUA today.”

Port Adelaide great turned footy commentator Kane Cornes on Seven said “those guys (umpires) should not be umpiring for a month”.

Cornes said the AFL was “in crisis” as a result of the new audio.

Leading footy reporter Jon Ralph on Tuesday said the AFL was not in a position to be able to say if further action will be taken against the four umpires.

“Laura Kane is extremely disappointed by the umpires,” Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“My question to the AFL tonight is: will those umpires be stood down? “The league could not provide clarification on that, they are still working through it.”

Ralph said: “The cover up is always bigger than the crime.”

There were more twists to emerge on Tuesday night with veteran reporter Caroline Wilson reporting Kane’s “coaching” meeting with the umpires involved was in reality a “pretty tense meeting”.

Wilson said on Agenda Setters the Schultz incident had been “sickening”.

Meanwhile, AFL journalist Tom Morris on Tuesday night told Channel 9’s Footy Classified umpires are not happy with Kane’s handling of the incident.

Morris said he has been told by one umpire: “A large section of umpires are filthy. They feel they continually get thrown under the bus”.

Schultz will miss at least Collingwood’s Round 10 clash with Adelaide as he progresses through concussion protocols.

Originally published as AFL in meltdown as ‘cover up’ exposed before league forced to backflip