Clock controversy with Dixon0:40
AFL: All the talk after Port Adelaide’s loss to Geelong is about this piece of umpiring. Power forward Charlie Dixon was called to play on after using his 30 seconds for a set shot – but was it the right call?
Charlie Dixon was called to play on in a costly decision.
A CONTENTIOUS play-on call against Charlie Dixon has overshadowed Geelong’s hard-fought two-point win over Port Adelaide on Thursday night.
Dixon marked with the Power three points in front and with less than four minutes remaining in the final term and a goal would have likely sealed a famous victory for his team.
WAS IT THE RIGHT DECISION? WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE VIDEO ABOVE AND HAVE YOUR SAY
But the tall forward took too long to begin his run up, with his 30 seconds to begin his set shot action expiring after taking a strong mark 35m out from goal.
Geelong players, including midfielder Mitch Duncan were well aware of the situation but Dixon was oblivious.
The umpire called play-on as soon as Dixon’s 30 seconds expired as he had not started his run up, with television cameras clearly picking up the countdown on the Simonds Stadium scoreboard.
Duncan was one of the first to react and put pressure on Dixon, eventually forcing him to handball to teammate Justin Westhoff whose kick inside 50 went nowhere near the goals.
“I heard the umpire talk to him and he said ‘you’ve got eight seconds left’ and I looked up at the screen and saw it (the countdown) get to three and I was looking at the umpire waiting for him to throw his hands up (and call play on),” Duncan said.
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“I just reacted as soon as the umpire put his hands up.
“I guess Charlie took a lot of time and I was lucky enough to read it quickly.”
When asked whether Duncan noticed Dixon was oblivious to how much time he was taking, the Cats midfielder said: “Yeah a little bit I think.
Umps nailed the Dixon play on call though. He only has to take his first step by the time the shot clock hits zero. Hadn’t moved by then
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) May 25, 2017
Dixon stiff but he had a huge night. Port kicked three goals directly from his tackling/smother. Don’t lose sight of what they did tonight.
— Reece Homfray (@reecehomfray) May 25, 2017
“When I heard the umpire it cued my memory that he only had 30 seconds to take his shot and he had to start his run up within that 30 seconds.
“I suppose watching a bit of footy over time has made me click.”
Some have suggested Dixon may not have been able to hear the umpire because of the crowd noise given it was late in a close game but Duncan said he had no trouble hearing the umpire’s warning.
“I could hear the umpire. I’m not sure if Charlie did or not but I certainly did,” he said.
Duncan had no doubt the right decision was made.
“It was zero and he hadn’t started his run up,” Duncan told Fox Footy post-match. “From what I know, that’s play on.”
Despite it proving extremely costly for his side, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley conceded the umpire made the right decision.
“Time ran out,” Hinkley said. “Unfortunately, they got it 100 per cent correct, right on the dot.
“I don’t think I have ever seen it before. But that does not matter. The umpires got it right.”
Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton believes the umpire made the right call by signalling play on and Jason Dunstall labelled it a “brave decision”.
Patrick Dangerfield ended up kicking the match-winner. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource:News Corp Australia
Brisbane premiership champion Jonathan Brown, who was one of the first players to be called to play on since the introduction of the 30-second rule, was sympathetic to Dixon.
“It is a terrifying experience because you’re looking down,” he said.
“You look up and you just get a fright because all of a sudden players are running at you.
“You’re just not expecting it. It’s the last thing in your mind as a player.”
Dunstall said Dixon simply needed to be more aware given the circumstances of the match.
“He needed to look up at the clock on the scoreboard,” Dunstall said. “He was trying to count the clock down as well. He wanted to take his time because they were trying to ice the game.
“He’s got to sit there and say ‘I’ve got 30 seconds, I can take my 30 seconds but on 29 I have to be moving in my run up.’
“I’m not having a go at the man himself, Charlie but when the umpire is telling you to move it on plus the shot clock on the scoreboard, you really don’t have a lot of excuse.”
The issue with Dixon call isn’t that it’s wrong , the issue is that players are given leniency 99% of the time in situation. #AFLCatPower
— Cameron Luke (@camluke) May 25, 2017
Charlie Dixon call was bang on, plenty of warning.
— James McKern (@jLmcKern) May 25, 2017
You obviously can’t count to 30 or see the big screen. Should be single handedly blamed for that loss. #AFLCatsPower@charlie_dixon23
— Brandon O’Connor (@boccy92) May 25, 2017
#AFLCatsPower Good game with a close finish. I don’t think Charlie Dixon realised the clock was still running when he went to ground
— Michael Shillito (@tealfooty) May 25, 2017
Did Charlie Dixon just run into trouble for taking too long doing his hair? Crucial… #AFLCatsPower
— Lynton Manuel 🕶 (@lyntonmanuel) May 25, 2017
Unforgivable Charlie Dixon. Are you that dumb? #AFLCatsPower
— KS (@_bourbontime) May 25, 2017
Originally published as Dixon controversy: ‘That’s play on’
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