Coach calls for explanation from AFL after West Coast dudded against Collingwood
Collingwood kicked away in the final term for a 29-point victory, but it came on the back of a momentum-swinging call that went against the Eagles. The umpires pinged Liam Duggan for holding the ball, even though it looked like he had no prior opportunity, and the Magpies kicked a goal for a 15-point lead on the ensuing free-kick.
The Eagles were left incensed by the call as it came mere seconds after the umps allowed Ned Long to do a full 360, take on three West Coast defenders and only then dispose of the ball. Long's pass went straight to Duggan, who appeared to be wrapped up before he had a chance to get rid of the ball. But the umpires still pinged Duggan, leaving McQualter gobsmacked.
"There were a few challenging ones that I'm going to seek some clarity on, because I thought that there were a couple that I just wasn't sure which way they were going to go," the West Coast coach said after the game. "It's a challenging job, umpiring this game. It's a really hard job, and we'll just get some clarity from the AFL on some of those decisions, and look to train our players once we get that."
Tellingly, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said he hasn't been clear on the holding the ball rule for a long time. "Way back when I was teaching (Collingwood veteran) Mason Cox the game, he says, 'what's this holding the ball thing?' and I said, I don't know, we'll work it out," McRae admitted. "What are we, 10 years later, still I'm not sure.
"I just don't want to be the guy that rings the AFL every week. That's not my go. I'd let the game be the game. I'll let the game settle. It's amazing how many things, if you just give time and space to, somehow find a way of balancing itself out."
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Fox Footy's Jon Ralph posted the incident on social media and wrote: "How does new AFL footy boss Greg Swann simplify holding the ball? Hall and co. do such a good job tackling Long and don't get rewarded for holding the ball, then the Pies get a free kick only moments later with absolutely no prior opportunity. Mystifying."
Another person wrote: "Everything wrong with umpiring right here. Collingwood player does a 720 with one arm free, play on. Duggan takes one step, wrapped up and hold the ball. Joke. Ball goes inside 50 and goal for Collingwood."
Mystifying indeed. Two very poor decisions just seconds apart. Frustrating.
— George Boubouras (@GeorgeBoubouras) June 28, 2025
I'm a pies fan but and can confidently say that was a ridiculous call 👍🏽
— noah diana (@noahdiana8) June 28, 2025
Two similar tackles, one called holding the ball. Yeah, good one umps. #AFLPiesEagles
— Scott Hayes (@sconesbie) June 28, 2025
How was one not holding the ball, and the next holding the ball. Jesus. #AFLPiesEagles
— Damien (@DamoMK) June 28, 2025
The Eagles will rue their lack of polish and experience, after Jack Williams sprayed a set shot from 35m out at the start of the final term that would have reduced the margin to four points. It came after he inexplicably launched a kick from West Coast's defensive 50 in the dying seconds of the third term, which landed straight in the lap of Dan Houston who kicked truly from outside 50.
McQualter was hesitant to be critical of Williams. "Clearly, Jack would like his time again in the defensive 50, but he's probably not in that position too often," McQualter said. "But probably not going to concentrate too much on those little moments, because there's lots of errors throughout a game of footy, and it's about moving on and what you can do next."
with AAP
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