AFL in meltdown as ‘cover up' exposed before league forced to backflip
AFL House is reported to be in crisis with the Lachie Schultz concussion storm taking several twists.
The Collingwood star was evidently dazed after an ugly fourth-quarter collision with Fremantle's Jordan Clark during the Magpies' win on Thursday night at Optus Stadium.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
The small forward struggled to gather himself in the aftermath, even while in the hands of medical staff, but play was allowed to continue as the Pies went forward and kicked a goal.
Sixteen seconds of open play elapsed between the collision and Jamie Elliott taking a mark inside the 50m arc with no whistle from the umpires to halt play.
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore said after the game 'it didn't feel right' for play to continue.
You can listen to the new audio in the video player above.
The AFL on Friday released a statement saying the umpires 'did not see the injured player at the time so play continued'.
AFL executive general manager of football Laura Kane has now been forced to come forward and admit the information given by the four umpires to AFL general manager of football performance Josh Mahoney was 'inconsistent' with new audio first uncovered by Channel 7's Agenda Setters.
The audio, which can be heard in the above video player, showed the umpires were clearly aware of Schultz' condition but allowed play to continue anyway.
The umpires running the game were Justin Power, Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer and Martin Rodger. Meredith is one of the most experienced umpires in the game and has overseen 509 games and nine grand finals.
The audio shows one of the whistle-blowers said: 'Got an injured player in the middle.'
The same umpire then said: 'I'm watching. Let it go. Let it go.'
Kane on Tuesday issued a statement to Channel 7 addressing the damning audio clip.
'The statement we released was incorrect, but we were given the wrong information from the umpires. It's inconsistent with the vision,' Kane said.
'They (the umpires) were going off memory and not the vision and we should always look at the vision.
'All the field umpires from the game have all been coached this afternoon that they should have stopped the game.
'Having said that, this is on me. It's the footy department that runs umpiring and that sits with me.'
Port Adelaide great turned footy commentator Kane Cornes on Seven said 'those guys (umpires) should not be umpiring for a month'.
Cornes said the AFL was 'in crisis' as a result of the new audio.
Leading footy reporter Jon Ralph on Tuesday said the AFL was not in a position to be able to say if further action will be taken against the four umpires.
'Laura Kane is extremely disappointed by the umpires,' Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy's Midweek Tackle.
'My question to the AFL tonight is: will those umpires be stood down? 'The league could not provide clarification on that, they are still working through it.'
Ralph said: 'The cover up is always bigger than the crime.'
There were more twists to emerge on Tuesday night with veteran reporter Caroline Wilson reporting Kane's 'coaching' meeting with the umpires involved was in reality a 'pretty tense meeting'.
Wilson said on Agenda Setters the Schultz incident had been 'sickening'.
Meanwhile, AFL journalist Tom Morris on Tuesday night told Channel 9's Footy Classified umpires are not happy with Kane's handling of the incident.
Morris said he has been told by one umpire: 'A large section of umpires are filthy. They feel they continually get thrown under the bus'.
Schultz will miss at least Collingwood's Round 10 clash with Adelaide as he progresses through concussion protocols.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
16 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Collingwood recruit Dan Houston in the gun for two crucial errors in loss to Brisbane
Collingwood recruit Dan Houston gave away two crucial free kicks as Brisbane defeated the Magpies by 27 points in a classic at the MCG. In a match was fitting of a final, the Lions had all the answers to boost their top-two hopes with three matches left in the season. While Brisbane fully deserved the victory, Houston had a night to forget. After having just three touches in the first half, the gun defender gave away a crucial high tackle free kick to Zac Bailey in the shadows of three-quarter time. Bailey converted to push the margin out to 19 points at the final change. During a tense final term and the margin still hovering out 20 points, Houston was again at fault, this time tackle Logan Morris high in the pocket. Houston was furious with the decision and argued with the umpire as he watched a replay on the big screen. The young forward finished expertly for his sixth of the night to land the knockout blow. Houston, a two-time All-Australian, has failed to reach those lofty heights since joining the Pies from Port Adelaide in the off-season. While Morris will grab the headlines for his incredible six-goal haul, the midfield quartet of Hugh McCluggage, Josh Dunkley, Will Ashcroft and Lachie Neale were outstanding. Young forward Henry Smith also bobbed up with three crucial goals in the first half.
Perth Now
16 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Lions roar back in style against flat Magpies
The Brisbane Lions have responded from a QClash debacle to knock off Collingwood by 27 points in a potential grand final preview in front of 82,326 fans. After suffering a 66-point belting by Gold Coast last Saturday, the reigning premiers roared back to defeat the Magpies at the MCG for the first time since 2014. Leading by 19 points at three-quarter time, Brisbane had to overcome some nerves in the final term to win 14.8 (92) to 10.5 (65) in front of the biggest home-and-away for a non-Victorian team. Emerging forward Logan Morris bagged a career-best six goals in a commanding display - the first Lions player to kick that many majors in a MCG game since Jonathan Brown in 2004. Morris had terrific support from young ruck-forward Henry Smith, who slotted three first-half goals in his first game for 2025. Smith came in to replace sore Oscar McInerney, who continues to struggle with a debilitating back injury. Darcy Fort and Smith battled manfully against star Collingwood ruck Darcy Cameron, helping the Lions comfortably win the clearance battle 50-36. After being towelled up by Suns stars Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson last week, premiership stars Lachie Neale (36 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (34) were outstanding in the middle. Brisbane were dealt a major blow to their defensive structure when they lost premiership veteran Ryan Lester to concussion at the start of the second quarter. Trailing by 20 points at quarter-time, Collingwood powered ahead with five goals to two in the second term, including a long bomb to returning star Jordan De Goey. But after being sidelined for three months, the Magpies opted to take it easy with their dynamic ace, subbing him out during the third quarter. Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who has missed a month due to personal reasons, came into the game for De Goey. Hill flew for a trademark speccy in the last quarter after Lions star Will Ashcroft inexplicably kicked across goal. The Pies' second term was the only period when they looked close to their best, managing just three goals after halftime in a concerning form line so close to September. It was Collingwood's third defeat in four matches, meaning they will finish the round off the top of the ladder, replaced by surging Adelaide. The Daicos brothers, Nick and Josh, were typically dominant early, but their influence faded as the game went on. It was the Magpies' first loss to the Lions since round 23, 2023, having won their previous four games against Brisbane.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
World Aquatics Championships: Cameron McEvoy wins gold in 50m freestyle final
Death. Taxes. Cam and Kaylee. Some things in life you can take to the bank and when it comes to Australian swimmers stepping up on the international stage and delivering epic performances, Cameron McEvoy and Kaylee McKeown are as dependable as the sun rising tomorrow morning. In a replica of their fantastic August night at the Paris Olympics 12 months ago, McEvoy stormed to the 50m freestyle gold medal at the world titles in Singapore and not long after McKeown charged home to win the 200m backstroke gold medal. You've just got to admire the steely resolve and excellence this duo show time after time, defending their 2023 world titles and showing that despite massive life changes after Paris their commitment to superhuman performance remains resolute. For McEvoy he has welcomed his first child, a son Hartley, just 23 days ago with wife Madeline. For McKeown she has suffered the broken heart of an ended relationship, had her coach Michael Bohl depart for China and moved back home to the comfort of family on the Sunshine Coast to push her career towards a potential Olympic three-peat in Los Angeles. At this rate, McKeown just might become Australia's greatest ever Olympian. Already she is the first Australian to do the double-double, winning both the 100m and 200m backstroke in Tokyo and Paris. A three-peat beckons in Los Angeles in 2028. And now she's done a world title double-double, winning the 100-200 in both Fukuoka and Singapore. Her victory on Saturday night was classic Kaylee. Out strong and then destroy them on the final 50m to win in a championship record time of 2:03.33. McKeown said she was thrilled with her time, especially after her recent shoulder issue and the gastro illness that has hit the Australian swim team. 'I wasn't feeling too great heading in, a bit of illness and stuff going around, dealing with a bit of a shoulder,' she said. 'I had to put my best foot forward tonight, I dug really deep, and I'm really happy with the time that I posted. 'Something I've been really working on is focusing on my own race. I think it really helped me on the outside lane (six), not seeing the other girls around me, and just really focusing on what I've been working on. I don't see a whole lot when I'm racing. I had to ask for my time at the end.' Yet again US backstroker Regan Smith had to settle for silver in 2:04.29, no doubt cursing the fact she is confronting one of the greatest racers the world of swimming has ever seen. Father time and fatherhood, it seems, will not stop McEvoy. The 31-year-old Olympic champion again destroyed a field containing the fastest men on water, obliterating them off the blocks and holding strong to claim his second world title. The 50m freestyle specialist had an incredible 0.56s reaction time off the blocks and emerged ahead from the outset to race down and win in 21.14 seconds. In the process he became Australia's oldest ever swimmer to win a world championship gold medal, eclipsing former backstroke and butterfly champion Matt Welsh in 2007. It is the third year in a row McEvoy has been the toast of world swimming and the fastest man in the pool, with Great Britain's Ben Proud (21.26s) completing another veteran quinella just as the two elder statesmen did at the Paris Olympics last year. For McEvoy this victory is especially sweet given the major life changes back home with the Queenslander marrying his sweetheart Madeline after the Olympics and the pair welcoming their first child, son Hartley, just 23 days ago. 'It is pretty nice, a little bit different now compared to last year, I didn't have a son last year,' McEvoy said. 'Life has changed pretty dramatically, as it does with a newborn. 'I have to shout out Maddie, I couldn't be here without her … shout out little Hartley too. 'It's a very different life now, I've got to navigate it. I will figure it out.' US sprinter Jack Alexy completed the podium, touching third in 21.46s.
