Crows forward Jake Soligo faces a nervous wait with the AFL’s Match Review Panel after touching an umpire in Adelaide’s 17.9 (111) to 10.12 (72) victory over Fremantle at Adelaide Oval.
Soligo poked through his second goal of the game midway through the fourth quarter, and proceeded to put hands goal umpire on the right bicep and celebrating, before realising the magnitude of his brain fade.
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Crows forwards ravage dour Dockers | 00:55
The AFL have always maintained that the sanctity of the umpire’s personal space is paramount, and in an era where the code struggles to produce enough umpires at the grassroots level because of abuse from players and spectators, sustainability is at the forefront of the governing body’s policy concerns.
Unreasonable or unnecessary contact with an umpire is a $2500 fine on first offence, which can be downgraded to a $1500 fine with an early guilty plea.
The league is currently in a crackdown against umpire dissent, with Stephen Coniglio controversially giving away a free kick in GWS’ loss to Carlton in Round 3 for throwing his arms up in protest at an unpaid holding the ball free kick.
The message to players has been clear for a very long time – do not touch the umpire.
Greg Williams copped a nine-week ban in 1997 for touching field umpire Andrew Coates, and in 2021, Lachie Neale controversially grabbed at the arm of umpire Mat Nicholls after a perceived unpaid free kick, earning him a $1500 fine.
With all of this established history, Soligo’s brain fade was roasted on social media, with fans generally assessing it as an almost certain suspension despite the 20-year-old’s almost immediate apology.
News.com.au understands that the Crows have not received notice of a report for the incident, but the Match Review Panel will not typically release their reports until the afternoon following the match.
With the goal itself passing the scrutiny of video review, Soligo’s second major would consolidate a masterful midfield performance from the Crows to lift them over a dire Fremantle outfit, led by skipper Jordan Dawson.
Pitted against a mid-ladder opponent with the same win-loss record on home turf, it was the sort of game that Matthew Nicks’ men needed to win to prove to fans that their finals ambitions are legitimate.
And they passed the early-season test in fine style.
There were queries about the judges’ decision to award the Showdown Medal to Dawson last week, but there was no doubting his impact against Fremantle with 28 classy disposals and a goal, while Taylor Walker helped himself to four majors.
It was a disjointed performance by the disappointing Dockers, who slipped to a 1-3 record, with Caleb Serong their best player.
The last time the Dockers played the Crows at Adelaide Oval Josh Rachele kicked five goals in a stunning AFL debut and the star youngster hit the scoreboard early as the Crows got off to a flyer.
Rachele deftly converted a running shot then pulled out a shadow boxing celebration, while the famous Rocky tune echoed around the ground.
Both sides had 12 inside 50s in the first term, but Adelaide’s superior efficiency in attack was the difference.
Walker, goalless in last week’s Showdown stunner, Izak Rankine, Lachie Gollant and Rachele combined to give the Crows’ attack impressive potency.
Fremantle’s ability to move the ball with any fluency was severely hampered by Adelaide’s pressure after quarter-time.
In contrast, when the Crows won possession, they looked to move the ball with speed, skill and dare.
Rachele’s second goal was a product of that slick ball movement, Riley Thilthorpe marking strongly on the wing then quickly taking a risky kick inside that paid off with a Rachele set shot.
Justin Longmuir demanded a lift from his charges at the contest when he spoke to Fox Footy at halftime and they responded after the break, Lachie Schultz with two goals in the third term.
The Crows’ scoring dried up as the Dockers clawed their way back into the contest and it took a trademark bit of class from Dawson to spark the home side.
The skipper received the ball just outside 50 and stroked home a superb goal.
The Dockers flew home with a wet sail when the sides met in Round 1 last year and threatened to do the same with two goals early in the final term.
The margin would have been 20 points had Liam Henry not been denied by a piece of Tom Doedee brilliance on the goal line.
The defender was wrestling with his opponent as Henry’s shot headed for goal, so he threw out a scorpion-style backheel kick that intercepted the ball in mid-air.
The Crows now lift to a 2-2 record, holding them just inside the eight as the ladder stands after their game.
– with NCA NewsWire
