Pies fans fume as Lions, Hawks not penalised for handing ball to teammates

Pies fans were bemused when Lachie Sullivan was penalised for handing the ball to a teammate and not an umpire at a stoppage, handing Fremantle a goal in a draw. Those fans were livid when it happened on Sunday and no officials batted an eyelid.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MAY 24: Sean Darcy of the Dockers kicks a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 11 match between Walyalup (Fremantle) and the Collingwood Magpies at Optus Stadium on May 24, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood fans are crying foul over umpiring inconsistencies after being penalised for not handing the ball straight back to the umpires, when the same infraction didn’t result in a free kick in games on Sunday.

Dockers ruck Sean Darcy was awarded a crucial free kick in front of goal after Lachie Sullivan handed the ball to Nick Daicos at a stoppage inside the Pies’ forward 50.

Players were left in disbelief at the ruling, with Darcy converting the set shot.

On Friday, umpire Mathew Nicholls justified the decision to Magpies players gathered around the free kick by saying “you didn’t hand the ball back to me, you handed it to a teammate”.

The AFL later ticked off the decision to award a free kick.


It meant Pies fans were livid on social media on Sunday when on multiple occasions in Sunday’s game between Hawthorn and Brisbane players handed the ball to teammates and not umpires but were not pinged for a free kick.

"collingwood.. err.. fremantle free kick" .. for some ridiculous technicality... MORE ELITE AFL UMPIRING LMFAAOOOOO 🤣🤣🤣 #AFLFreoPiespic.twitter.com/IjYScNsBmU

— outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) May 24, 2024

In the second quarter, Jarrod Berry tackled James Worpel in the centre of Marvel Stadium, with a stoppage ensuing.

Worpel gave the ball to Will Day, who handed back to the umpire, who then threw the ball in the air and the play continued.

In another situation, Lachie Neale handed the ball to Cam Rayner at a stoppage, who gave it to the umpire.

Why wasn’t this a free kick 🤔 #AFLHawksLions#AFLpic.twitter.com/HdEdcrVeDb

— JAKE FLAGPIES23 🏆🖤🤍 (@IncrediblyBozza) May 26, 2024

Fremantle finished level with Collingwood when the final siren sounded, clawing back with the last four goals.

After the draw on Friday night, coach Craig McRae said he was not aware it was a free kick.

“I’m looking forward to what the AFL tell us about that,” he said.

“I wasn’t aware that’s a free kick, but clearly it is because they don’t pay things that aren’t there.”

Originally published as Pies fans fume as Lions, Hawks not penalised for handing ball to teammates