‘Just got word’: AFL shuts down conspiracy theory over rare umpire act

The AFL has shut down a conspiracy theory after commentators were left baffled by a rare and controversial umpiring act.

The AFL has clarified a controversial umpiring moment late in Essendon’s thrilling win over North Melbourne on Thursday night.

Essendon held off a late Kangaroos charge to claim a 9.11 (65) to 9.8 (62) win, their fourth victory of the season. But it could have been a different story if an umpiring decision went a different way late in the game.

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With less than 10 minutes remaining in the game and the Kangaroos trailing by just eight points, the ball was deep in North’s forward line when the umpire blew the whistle to ball it up in the goalsquare when Jacob Konstanty unnecessarily kicked the ball away.

But the umpire paid a free kick to a North Melbourne player for “kicking the ball away”, which prompted furious Essendon players to point out to the umpire that North’s Konstanty was the one who kicked it away.

In rare scenes, the umpire held a finger to his earpiece and changed his mind, saying: “I’ve just got word, I just got word” before deciding to ball it up.

Essendon midfielder Will Setterfield pleaded to the umpire: “That’s our free kick.”

Had the umpire paid the free kick to Konstanty, it would have likely resulted in a goal to the Kangaroos, cutting Essendon’s lead to two points.

Watch the umpire change his mind in the video above

The umpire puts a finger to his ear and changes his decision. Photo: Fox Footy.

Essendon players thought it should have been a free kick to them. Photo: Fox Footy.

Jack Riewoldt said on Fox Footy: “Just got word, we can change it, can we?”

Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph explained the communication had come from one of the other on-field umpires and there was no Big Brother style conspiracy to change the decision.

“There was a mistake made, it just wasn’t one made with outside interference,” Ralph said.

“The conspiracy theorists thought maybe when the umpire reversed the free kick, it might have come from the (umpire’s) coaches box. They are mic’d up with them but they are not allowed to interfere in the game in any way

“That came from one of the other umpires. All four of the umpires are mic’d up. Konstanty kicks the ball away, the free kick is paid to (North Melbourne’s) Finnbar Maley, it’s taken off him.

“It should have been a free kick to the Dons as one of those Essendon players Setterfield said. I just needed to clarify it’s not from the umpire’s coach’s box because that would be absolutely out of bounds.”

Zach Merrett led Essendon to their third win of the season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)

Seven’s AFL reporter Mitch Cleary said: “There’s not some big brother sitting in the stands that can comms in.

“The AFL is adamant that (the clarification) has come from one of the other three field umpires. They got the right decision in the end.”

“That’s the first time ever I’ve seen an umpire change his decision,” Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor said.

Bombers defender Mason Redman told ABC Radio post game: “They called a ball up and then Konstanty booted the ball into the stands, they then called it on Hobbsy (Ben Hobbs) and we were like, ‘That’s not what happened mate’.

“Lucky one of the other umpires communicated to him. I thought we’d get the ball back because I supposed that would make sense as the North player kicked it … I think they sorta half made the right decision.”

Essendon captain Zach Merrett had another superb game, finishing with 35 disposals to help lead his side to a fourth win of the year, keeping in touch with the race for finals.

Originally published as ‘Just got word’: AFL shuts down conspiracy theory over rare umpire act