Geelong coach Chris Scott has taken aim at the AFL for attempting to "clarify" the missed umpire's call that denied Adelaide livewire Izak Rankine a shot at goal in Round 4.
The league admitted - for the fourth time in 37 games to the Crows - that they got the decision wrong, saying Rankine should've been awarded a free-kick inside 50 with just under two minutes to go in the tight contest.
However, Scott believes that "cherry-picking" certain examples to respond to due to "public pressure" is not the right call.
"They can be completely transparent and clarify every single mistake so everyone knows, or don't do it at all," Scott told reporters on Tuesday.
Chris Scott has labelled the AFL's call to clarify Izak Rankine's non-mark as "laughable" and "cherry-picking". The Cats' coach believes the league bowed to pressure from angry Crows fans | @GeelongCats @AFL @NickButler10 #AFL pic.twitter.com/wwV2tSpan8
โ 10 News First Melbourne (@10NewsFirstMelb) April 8, 2025
"But when you cherry-pick examples because there's public pressure, I think that's an error."
The 2022 premiership coach also alluded to the fact that umpiring calls - especially late in games - can tend to favour the home side, and the stats are "irrefutable".
And Geelong could be subject to that on Thursday when they face the Crows to kick off Gather Round.
"There's such a thing as human nature, and I think the stats over the journey โ the objective stats โ are irrefutable, the home team tends to have an advantage,โ Scott said.
"But I also think you can override human nature to an extent, and know that that is a possibility this week.
"The reality for (umpires) and for the other 17 clubs in the competition, regularly there are umpiring mistakes late in games that if you isolate them, cost teams the game.
"This is not a unique situation. What's rare is that the AFL voluntarily came out and clarify it.
"Most of the time that clarification happens behind closed doors, but I would say (a costly umpiring error) happens a lot โ I'm going to say at least a few times a game, especially in close games."
Heโs right about the โcherry pickingโโฆโฆ it was not the only โdubiousโ (biased) call or non-call made during that match.
The game started with a blatant umpiring โerrorโโฆโฆ.. and not much changed for the rest of the game
But we do recognise that Geelong get a shit fixture (losing home games to the benefit of their opponents) as well as face opponents who get a home ground (whether itโs earned or not).
Itโs reasonable to look at Geelong and wonder at how successful theyโve been in spite of the advantages given to their opponents during that time.