Holding the ball should have been the call: AFL

The AFL have conceded that Lions’ forward Zac Bailey should have been awarded a free kick in the final minute of Friday night’s match against Geelong after the Cats’ Mark Blicavs dropped the ball when tackled in the goalsquare.

The Lions trailed by two points at the time and lost the match by one point after the loose ball was rushed through for a behind with the Cats managing to hang on for the win.

Geelong’s Mark Blicavs tackles Lion Zac Bailey,Credit:Getty Images

AFL Umpires’ boss Dan Richardson said the officiating umpire decided to call play on but upon review the league acknowledged a free kick should have been paid.

“By attempting to evade [Bailey] the player with the ball [Blicavs] had prior opportunity and as a result the call should have been called holding the ball,” Richardson said.

Richardson didn’t defend the mistake but said it was important to realise that umpires make 800-1000 split second decisions per game.

“It’s a passionate game, we all know that and I understand how much it means to everyone hence the reason we wanted to address this,” Richardson said.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan refused to comment on the decision after the game saying he did not think adding to the discussion was constructive while Geelong coach Chris Scott said it was a tough game to umpire.

Blicavs told ABC Radio after the game he didn’t think he had prior opportunity but “it was a bloody good tackle”.

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