Latest news with #Worner
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Footy boss suggests Worner should cop spray for 50m penalty
New AFL footy boss Greg Swann has laid the blame for the controversial 50m penalty paid against Karl Worner firmly at the feet of the Fremantle defender, even suggesting he should cop a spray from the coach. Worner was penalised for umpire dissent after waving his arm towards the scoreboard after a marginal high contact call on Lachie Schultz, giving away 50m and allowing the former Docker to kick an easy goal. The penalty drew widespread criticism from fans and experts, with commentator Nick Riewoldt labelling the call as 'ridiculous.' However, Swann, who took over as head of football operations on Monday, defended the umpire's call, saying Worner had no one to blame but himself. 'The interesting part about that stuff is if you're going to give away 50m penalties by pointing at the scoreboard, and everybody knows you don't do it, the coach would go nuts,' he said. 'My understanding is that there have been 13 of those paid this year, it's not just that one, and some will argue some have been missed as well. 'But everybody knows you're now allowed to do that, so don't do it.' AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon and Greg Swann. Michael Klein Credit: News Corp Australia Dockers coach Justin Longmuir called for clarification over how the rule is being applied. 'I'm not allowed to say anything about it, but how often have we seen that paid this year?' he said post-game. 'I see it 10, 20 times every weekend, players pointing (at the scoreboard). I just don't see it paid. 'So, are we going to stamp it out, or are we not? Is it going to be paid, or is it not? I don't make that call.' Sunday's clash between Collingwood and Fremantle saw several controversial calls, reigniting debate over the standard of umpiring throughout the competition. But Swann believes the focus should be on clearing up grey areas in the rule book rather than on umpiring standards. 'I think the umpires are doing a great job, it's the rules we need to simplify to make it easier to adjudicate,' he said. 'They're going to make mistakes, but in the main, they do a fantastic job.'
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Football boss Gregg Swann defends umpiring standards after Fremantle's Karl Worner dissent penalty
New AFL footy boss Greg Swann has laid the blame for the controversial 50m penalty paid against Karl Worner firmly at the feet of the Fremantle defender, even suggesting he should cop a spray from the coach. Worner was penalised for umpire dissent after waving his arm towards the scoreboard after a marginal high contact call on Lachie Schultz, giving away 50m and allowing the former Docker to kick an easy goal. The penalty drew widespread criticism from fans and experts, with commentator Nick Riewoldt labelling the call as 'ridiculous.' However, Swann, who took over as head of football operations on Monday, defended the umpire's call, saying Worner had no one to blame but himself. 'The interesting part about that stuff is if you're going to give away 50m penalties by pointing at the scoreboard, and everybody knows you don't do it, the coach would go nuts,' he said. 'My understanding is that there have been 13 of those paid this year, it's not just that one, and some will argue some have been missed as well. 'But everybody knows you're now allowed to do that, so don't do it.' Dockers coach Justin Longmuir called for clarification over how the rule is being applied. 'I'm not allowed to say anything about it, but how often have we seen that paid this year?' he said post-game. 'I see it 10, 20 times every weekend, players pointing (at the scoreboard). I just don't see it paid. 'So, are we going to stamp it out, or are we not? Is it going to be paid, or is it not? I don't make that call.' Sunday's clash between Collingwood and Fremantle saw several controversial calls, reigniting debate over the standard of umpiring throughout the competition. But Swann believes the focus should be on clearing up grey areas in the rule book rather than on umpiring standards. 'I think the umpires are doing a great job, it's the rules we need to simplify to make it easier to adjudicate,' he said. 'They're going to make mistakes, but in the main, they do a fantastic job.'
