Magpies fuming over ‘horrendous’ free kick that ‘cost Collingwood a Grand Final berth’

Collingwood fans were fuming after Sydney’s Tom Papley was awarded a free kick that arguably cost the Magpies a spot in the Grand Final.

Tom Papley kicked a goal after this moment.

Was it the call that robbed Collingwood of a spot in the AFL Grand Final?

Magpies fans are up in arms after Tom Papley was awarded a contentious free kick that proved the difference in Sydney’s thrilling one-point win in the preliminary final at the SCG on Saturday.

The Swans had led by 36 points at one stage but the Magpies mounted a trademark comeback and were absolutely charging in the last quarter.

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Sydney was desperate to halt the momentum when the ball flew towards Papley in the forward pocket.

The livewire small forward was sandwiched between Collingwood defenders Darcy Moore and Isaac Quaynor when he clearly pushed Moore in the back with both hands.

But as Papley lost control of a juggling mark attempt, Quaynor whacked him around the head, which was enough for the umpire to give Papley the free kick.

Was this the free kick that cost Collingwood the game? Photo: Fox Sports.

He went back and slotted the goal to put Sydney ahead by 20 points halfway through the fourth quarter.

“So the two hands in the back weren’t paid,” Channel 7 commentator Hamish McLachlan said.

“The umpire had a perfect view of it,” Luke Hodge added.

“Looked like two hands in the back for sure.”

“He knows how big that was Tom Papley,” commentator Luke Darcy said.

“Maybe a little fortuitous.”

The Magpies continued their insane comeback but ultimately fell just one point short as the Swans held on for a heart-stopping 14.11 (95) to 14.10 (94) victory.

Papley’s goal was the only major Sydney kicked in the last quarter, compared to Collingwood’s four.

Viewers slammed the umpire’s decision to give Papley the free kick, with many arguing it cost Collingwood the game.

Sports editor Paul Johnson tweeted: “Yeah that was horrendous umpiring to give Papley a free.”

Writer Bianca Hall said: “So you can push someone in the back, drop your mark and get a free kick for it. Good to know.”

The SMH’s Angus Livingston posted: “That wasn’t a mark for two reasons but okay.”

Two hands in the back on Moore - what a joke

— Corey McKernan (@CoreyMcKernan) September 17, 2022

Yeah that was horrendous umpiring to give Papley a free. #AFLSwansPies

— Paul Johnson (@pjohnson_sports) September 17, 2022

Papley was unphased by the controversy post-game and said he should have been given a free kick for a push in the back earlier in the game and it was just a case of footy karma.

Tom Papley was one of Sydney’s best. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

“Nah, just a bit of forward craft,” he told Channel 7.

“I didn’t get one when (John) Noble pushed me in the back so play on.”

Papley kicked three goals for the game and was one of Sydney’s best players.

The Swans will head to Melbourne next Saturday to take on Geelong in the Grand Final.

Sydney has lost its past two Grand Finals in 2014 and 2016 and will be aiming to win its first premiership since 2012.

The Swans are on a nine-game winning streak, while Geelong has won their past 15 matches.

Originally published as Magpies fuming over ‘horrendous’ free kick that ‘cost Collingwood a Grand Final berth’