Post Game Passion: AFL 2020 Rd 4: Carlton vs. the Drug Cheats

[madbluboy]

I watched the replay of the last couple of minutes several times and Eddie does take off before Saad leaves the goal square.  However, he started a couple of metres from where the mark was and had probably just crossed it fractionally before Saad played on.  Technically, it’s a correct decision and the AFL will support the umpire.

The thing is, Eddie’s actions were inconsequential, particularly when he had no chance of affecting Saad’s run or disposal.  50 metres is a huge penalty for an action that has no effect on the game.  The context of the game made it an even bigger penalty.

As for the length of the penalty, is wasn’t 90 metres; more like 70  :

If the free kick was from before Saad "played on" then it had to have been in the goal square which means he was less than 9 metres from the goal line. The penalty brought Essendon to the centre of the ground which is 85 metres from the goal line so the penalty was a minimum of 76 metres. Of course Saad was well outside of the goal square when the free was paid.