‘Knows exactly what he’s doing’: Hawthorn’s free kick gift shakes up AFL finals race

Hawthorn are suddenly within reach of finals but an absolute gift of a free kick in their latest win had commentators scratching their heads.

James Sicily falls to ground after being hit by Tom Green.

Hawthorn have five wins in six matches and are within striking distance of the top eight after an upset 12.13 (85) to 12.7 (79) win over GWS in Launceston on Saturday afternoon.

The Giants opened up a handy 19-point lead at halftime before a six-goal third term put the Hawks in front by three points with a quarter to play.

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Both teams scored four goals in a tense final term, and Hawthorn were fortunate to get the matchwinning goal after the game looked headed for another draw at 79-all.

With a 80 seconds remaining, James Sicily marked a GWS kick-in on the edge of the centre square.

He launched a long kick back into Hawthorn’s forward pocket and was pushed by GWS midfielder Tom Green just after he kicked the ball.

Sicily’s kick landed out of bounds on the full, but the umpires awarded a downfield free kick for Green’s contact, even though commentators thought Sicily sold it well.

Hawks legend Dermott Brereton said on Fox Footy: “James made it look a little worse than it was. James knows exactly what he’s doing here. In any other day and age, that is play on.

“Throws the hands into the air, appeals to the umpire and the umpire says yes.”

Watch the controversial free kick in the video above

James Sicily falls to ground after being hit by Tom Green. Photo: Fox Footy.

The Hawks’ Luke Breust, who has three premierships and more than 500 goals under his belt as a small forward, just happened to be nearest Hawks player to where the ball went out of play.

Brereton quipped: “No man has kicked more goals out of this pocket on this ground than Luke Breust. Breust is a specialist from that position.”

He calmly slotted the tight snap and put the Hawks a goal in front, and they held on for a six-point victory.

Fans and commentators were confused as to why the Hawks were given the ball 60m from where the free kick occurred, while some thought it was a tough call on Green.

Footy journalist Rohan Connolly wrote on X: “Reckon that last-minute downfield call was a bit suss but think Hawks might have scored at least something to win it anyway. And probably more deserving winners on balance of play, too. Lot to like about them.

Luke Breust nailed the matchwinning goal. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“Some confusion about why downfield FK to Hawks was from pocket & not where original kick was taken as it had gone out on full. Must admit, I thought when that was the case the ball went back to original position, and can’t find relevant bit in rules. Anyone?”

Sport journalist Brayden May said: “Can someone clarify the rule. When James Sicily’s won the downfield free kick, I thought it went back to the position it occurred if it was out of play, which I think usually happens if it’s a point?”

The AFL rules state a free kick “paid against a player who makes prohibited contact to a player who has disposed of the football … shall be taken by the nearest player to the location where the football touches the ground, or crossed the boundary line.”

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is looking like a genius. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The rules also state: “For the avoidance of doubt, free kicks awarded outside the playing surface will be taken at the nearest location on the boundary line or where the football is at the time, whichever is the greater penalty against the offending team.”

Controversy aside, Hawthorn are now up to 12th on the ladder, just one game out of eighth spot.

With their next two games against Richmond and West Coast, the rebuilding Hawks could be a genuine finals chance in the back half of the season as teams like Collingwood and GWS stumble.

Originally published as ‘Knows exactly what he’s doing’: Hawthorn’s free kick gift shakes up AFL finals race