‘No way’: Footy fans up in arms at surprise call as Swans keep AFLW finals dream alive

The Swans’ marquee recruit has them on the cusp of the AFLW finals, but footy fans were convinced an umpire got it badly wrong.

Chloe Molloy's second goal looked to have missed the big sticks.

Chloe Molloy has once again led the Sydney Swans to a stirring AFLW win, this time against her former team Collingwood.

Molloy moved from the Magpies to Sydney this season and has the Swans dreaming of a maiden finals campaign after a 9.4 (58) to 5.9 (55) win at Henson Park on Sunday afternoon.

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The marquee recruit was in the thick of everything, finishing with 18 disposals and three goals as the Swans cruised to a 19-point win.

But Molloy was lucky her second goal was allowed. After marking the ball at the top of the goalsquare, Molloy turned and went to punt it into the next stratosphere, only to shank the ball off the side of her boot.

To viewers and Swans fans behind the goals, it looked for all money like Molloy had missed a simple chance to the left.

Commentator Nigel Carmody said: “Oh my goodness Chloe Molloy! Just sneaks it in. I don’t know if this is goal.

“Chloe Molloy had the easy option of just simply kicking it along the ground.”

Demons star Libby Birch said: “I honestly think she was trying to celebrate before she kicked the goal there. She almost looked away from her boot as she was kicking it.”

Chloe Molloy's goal looked to have missed the big sticks.

CODE Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy said: “Massive second quarter from the Swans with three goals including two to Chloe Molloy. Not sure her second one went through the big sticks though...”

Looking at the replay… the Swans fans behind the goal put their hands to their heads. I reckon she definitely missed it. https://t.co/Is3IV9tHhv

— HER WAY (@abbieherway) October 29, 2023

One fan said: “I swear that Molloy shot missed.”

Another wrote: “There is no way that was a goal from Chloe Molloy. She missed it by a metre.”

Chloe Molloy once again dominated for the Swans. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

But the goal umpire signalled it was a goal and the Swans inched ahead in the second quarter.

Molloy’s other majors were a snap across her body in the second term and a set shot from directly in front to ice the game in the dying stages of the fourth quarter.

After going winless in their inaugural season, the Swans now have five wins on the board and sit eighth on the AFLW ladder heading into the final round of the season.

They will aim to beat Fremantle in Perth next Sunday to become one of the league’s first expansion teams to play finals.

Originally published as ‘No way’: Footy fans up in arms at surprise call as Swans keep AFLW finals dream alive