AFL umpires boss Dan Richardson has admitted that Brisbane forward Zac Bailey should have been awarded a free kick for his tackle on Geelong defender Mark Blicavs on Friday night.
Blicavs was dispossessed of the ball with 30 seconds remaining in the game, with Bailey likely to have put his side in front should a free-kick have been paid.
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Should this Zac Bailey tackle have been paid holding the ball? ๐#AFL #AFLCatsLionspic.twitter.com/1TkHIAyVOi
— Stats Insider (@StatsInsider) March 26, 2021
The non-call infuriated Brisbane players and fans, with Geelong ending the game as one-point victors in a thrilling encounter at Kardinia Park.
The decision was met with league-wide disbelief, with Richardson now conceding a holding the ball free-kick should have been paid to Bailey.
Blicavs took the tackler on, he clearly failed to get rid of it legally, the umpire was in perfect position to see it. Thatโs a free kick. Cut and dried. Oh boy
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) March 26, 2021
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"The umpire at the time called play-on and, upon review, we acknowledge that it was a missed free kick on this occasion," Richardson said, perย AFL.com.au.
"By attempting to evade the player with the ball (Blicavs) had prior opportunity and as a result the call should've been holding the ball."
The loss places the Lions with an 0-2 record to open their 2021 season, with Brisbane set to face Collingwood on Thursday in Round 3.
