Collingwood fans are demanding the AFL Grand Final be replayed or given to the Magpies, claiming the umpires robbed them of a premiership.
A petition signed by almost 1,000 sore loser supporters claimed two West Coast goals were invalid and one Collingwood goal was wrongfully called a point.
‘We as Collingwood supporters, as well as most of the general public feel that a grand final should be allowed to be won on merit, and not be awarded as the result of poor umpiring and biases toward clubs and particular players held by the governing body,’ petition writer Rod Craven wrote.
Collingwood fans demand the AFL Grand Final result be reversed or replayed because the Magpies were robbed by the umpires – chiefly by Brayden Maynard being given an illegal shepherd by star rookie Willie Rioli in the last two minutes
Maynard and Rioli tussled as the ball was in the air several metres from Sheed with Maynard facing away from the play towards Rioli when the mark was taken
‘We DEMAND that the decisions made on Saturday the 29th Sept be overhauled and reviewed in their entirety, and that either the result reversed, or the game declared a no-result and replayed in its entirety at a future date.
‘Failure to act on on this will effect in a vote of no confidence in the AFL administration, the umpiring panel, and the competition in general.’
The Eagles won what was widely hailed as one of the best Grand Finals ever by just five points with the goal that put them ahead scored in the last two minutes after a Dom Sheed mark.
That mark is the chief complaint of the petition and was hotly debated by commentators since the final siren sounded on Saturday night.
Collingwood fans claimed as Sheed was marking the ball he was protected from Magpies player Brayden Maynard with an illegal shepherd by star rookie Willie Rioli.
Maynard was upset a free kicked was not called for him and vented his frustrating at the umpire nearby
Umpires did not call a free kick against West Coast, and Dom Sheed marked the ball and kicked a goal from a set shot to put the Eagles ahead 78 to 74 (Sheed pictured after kicking the goal). They would go on to win less than two minutes later
Maynard and Rioli tussled as the ball was in the air several metres from Sheed with Maynard facing away from the play towards Rioli when the mark was taken.
Umpires did not call a free kick against West Coast, and Sheed kicked a goal from a set shot to put the Eagles ahead 78 to 74. They would go on to win less than two minutes later.
Commentators and ex-players debated the umpiring decision with some saying it was a free kicked but the Eagles had other call made against them, and others standing by the call.
Four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews declared the non-call ‘proves that umpires can choke as well’ and shouldn’t decide not to call many free kicks in the last quarter of a close game.
‘That’s a shepherd, that’s not a protection, that’s an illegal shepherd,’ he said on Channel 7’s coverage.
The petition also complained about Liam Ryan’s goal at the end of the first quarter where he touched the ball with his shin as it bounced away from a contest, just as it was about to cross the goal line
A Collingwood fan is in tears after her team lost the Grand Final in heartbreaking fashion
Former Essendon premiership player Tim Watson agreed: ‘I think they swallowed their whistles in the last quarter. They decided this game won’t be decided by our decision making.
‘In any other game, that is a free kick,’ he said on SEN Breakfast.
However, Herald Sun sports writer John Ralph said ‘early indications are that the umpiring department was supportive of the non-call’ during its review of officiating during the match.
‘Rioli definitely makes position to try to block him, but I also think Maynard plays it up a fair bit,’ 26-game umpire and former Collingwood official Matt James said in the article, agreeing with the decision.
The petition also complained about Liam Ryan’s goal at the end of the first quarter where he touched the ball with his shin as it bounced away from a contest, just as it was about to cross the goal line.
The third play complained about was a Collingwood behind in the fourth quarter that was touched in the air by the fingertip of an Eagles player that fans believed was untouched and should have been a goal.
The petition writer also complained about when Liam Ryan flattened Brayden Maynard with a crunching hip and shoulder right to his ribs as he tried to take a mark in the second quarter
The massive hit prompted some scuffles on the field, though the hit was completely legal
Mr Craven also complained about when Liam Ryan flattened Brayden Maynard with a crunching hip and shoulder right to his ribs as he tried to take a mark in the second quarter.
‘Maynard should have received a free kick with a subsequent report for striking being given to Ryan,’ the petition writer claimed, despite all experts agreeing the hit was legal.
Collingwood shot out to a 17 point lead at quarter time, kicking the first five goals unanswered before West Coast clawed two back – including Ryan’s – just before the first break.
From there they chipped away at the lead slowly before levelling the score 55-all at three-quarter time to set up a thrilling final term that was decided within the last minute.
West Coast have won the 2018 AFL Grand Final by five points in a contest for the ages against Collingwood that went down to the very last minute