Giants star Stephen Coniglio has been penalised for umpire dissent during a crucial stage of Saturday night’s loss to Carlton at Giants Stadium.
With the Giants leading by five points with 11 minutes left in the game, Blues forward Corey Durdin kicked a behind. But just after the ball crossed the line, Coniglio questioned a non-holding the ball free kick call – and appeared to put his arms out while doing so.
A free kick for umpire dissent was then paid against the Giants from the top of the goalsquare, which is where Coniglio had questioned the non-call.
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“It’s not holding the (ball) … Dissent. All clear (behind) and dissent, so it’s going to be a Carlton free kick here,” umpire Craig Fleer is heard saying on his microphone.
Consequently for the Giants, Blues forward Jesse Motlop calmly slotted the major to give Carlton the lead. In essence, it was a seven-point play.
After Motlop’s goal, umpire Fleer was heard and seen explaining the decision to pay a free kick against Coniglio to Giants teammate Lachie Whitfield.
“It’s not what he said – it wasn’t you (Whitfield), it was Steve Coniglio,” Fleer said.
“There was a decision not paid, so the ball had gone through (for a behind) and he (Coniglio) has gone ‘how is that not a free kick?’ – with his arm out.
Whitfield replied: “And that’s worth another goal?”
“That’s dissent,” Fleer said.
The Giants wouldn’t kick another goal for the game, with Blues star Charlie Curnow booting his third major late in the quarter to seal a 10-point victory for Carlton.
Legendary Hawthorn goalkicker Jason Dunstall said he was surprised by the dissent free kick call, but understood the principle.
“That’s big. I would’ve thought if there was some serious abuse yes, but just for throwing the arms out and saying ‘how is that not a free kick?’ That to me is a very heavy penalty to pay,” Dunstall told Fox Footy.
“He didn’t even throw them right out … He put them out in front of him. It’s tough.
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“I understand where we’re trying to get to with respect to umpires and I completely agree with it … but common sense.
“When you’re trying to change behaviour or a particular action, you’ve got shoot a few to get it done – and someone’s got to pay the penalty before it sinks in and there is no dissent.
“What it does do is put the players on notice.”
Five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon added: “That is extraordinary … That is taking it way too far.
“That’s not worth a goal.”
Fans and commentators watching the game had a mixed reaction to the calls.
It comes after weeks of controversy last year around umpire dissent, which was brought into sharp focus to help improve the treatment of the whistleblowers given the decline in numbers at local and junior levels. Multiple players were pinged in highly-debated incidents last year, either for pointing to the scoreboard or putting their arms out.
After hearing the exchange between Whitfield and Fleer, Lyon told Fox Footy: “This is not bashing the umpires. This is just talking through a situation where he says: ‘Is that worth of a goal?’
“I think we have changed behaviours. It’s got a hell of a lot better and in the process it’s got to the stage now where there’s got to be a bit of give and take in this. The umpire to the letter of the law explained it really well … maybe they turn around and say in hindsight, we go over to Stephen Coniglio and say: ‘Listen mate, we know what we’re trying to do here. Let’s not go down that path.’
“I don’t reckon when the game is in the balance, we should be picking off a free kick in the goalsquare.”
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But Bulldogs games record-holder Brad Johnson said he agreed with the umpire’s decision.
“I actually thought it was the right call, because I don’t think he was just like ‘I don’t think that’s a free kick ump’ … there was a bit more (aggression),” Johnson told Fox Footy.
“I know the umpire explained it in a calm way to Lachie Whitfield, but there was a bit more on it and it was a bit shorter as well.”
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown added: “When this pops up, some would go: ‘Come on umpire, late in the game, understand the game scenario.’ But the rules are rules and you need to keep composed in those situations.
“So Steve Coniglio, he’s a leader in that team, it cost them the victory.”
