Brisbane Lions fans thought Steele Sidebottom’s actions should have resulted in a second shot at goal being awarded.
Just one week after Craig McRae suggested Collingwood get the rub of the green in games at the MCG, the Magpies appeared to get some very favourable calls in crucial moments against Brisbane on Saturday night. And nothing infuriated fans more than Nick Daicos receiving a questionable downfield free kick in the fourth quarter, yet Steele Sidebottom got away with a blatant off-the-ball hit.
Collingwood kept their faint AFL finals hopes alive with a pulsating 11.13 (79) to 11.12 (78) victory at the MCG. But Brisbane fans were left fuming over some of the umpiring decisions in the fourth quarter.
The Lions actually got the majority of 50/50 calls in the first half and were awarded the first seven free kicks of the game. But the tide turned in the second half, and the Magpies started getting the marginal calls in the fourth quarter as they went on to erase a 31-point deficit.
Collingwood kicked one of their goals at the start of the fourth quarter after a downfield free kick went against the Lions for a hit on Daicos that was deemed to be late. Speaking in commentary for Fox Footy, Melbourne great Garry Lyon described it as “soft”, while many thought it wasn’t late enough to warrant a downfield penalty.
The situation incensed Lions fans – particularly in light of the fact they arguably should have been awarded a second shot goal when Sidebottom decked Cam Rayner after he’d scored a behind. Rayner couldn’t convert his set shot, but as he was bending down to fix his boot he was sent crashing to the ground by a hit from Sidebottom.
Umpires have pinged Sidebottom’s action a number of times this year, and they could have given Rayner a second shot at goal as a result. But the nearest umpire in this instance appeared to be looking elsewhere when Sidebottom hit Rayner, and the Collingwood veteran got away with it unpunished.
Fresh umpiring controversy after Craig McRae’s MCG comments
The fresh umpiring controversy comes after Collingwood coach McRae bemoaned a late call that went against his side in their loss to Sydney last week, and suggested his team would have got the call if the game was at the MCG. He probably didn’t realise at the time, but McRae effectively admitted his side gets a huge advantage in home games.
“I’m allowed to be disappointed because who wouldn’t be? That shows that I care,” he said later. “But to be frustrated I think was a bit selfish, so I reflect on those things. But I don’t want to retract on things that I’ve done because they’re all good lessons for us, and for me in particular.”
On Saturday night, McRae said he’ll tell his grandkids one day that he coached Daicos after the AFL superstar’s extraordinary second quarter helped inspire Collingwood to victory. The Magpies pulled off a trademark heist with the final three goals of the match to inflict more pain on the Lions, who they pipped by four points in last year’s epic grand final.
Brisbane led all game on Saturday night, until Beau McCreery snapped the match-winner at the 29-minute mark of the final quarter. Daicos produced one of the all-time great quarters to boot two goals and gather 13 possessions in the second term to lift the Magpies back in the contest.
“Wow, I think I’ll tell my grandkids I coached Nick Daicos,” Magpies coach McRae said. “That’s going to be one of the great stories when I’m older. What a player. It’s just nice to see someone impose himself on the game. We’re all on the bench, not laughing, but just going, ‘wow!’. We’re all in awe. We’ve got front-row seats to the Nick Show, and he’s a remarkable player.”
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