Gold Coast defender Dan Rioli is in danger of being cited for making careless contact with an umpire, putting the Suns at risk of a fine of up to $50,000.
Rioli is likely to face scrutiny from match review officer Michael Christian after colliding with an umpire at a stoppage during the first quarter of the Suns’ loss to Geelong on Friday night.
Rioli had his back turned to umpire Matt Stevic as he attempted to shadow Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh at a ball-up in the Cats’ forward 50. Contact was made as the veteran whistleblower was backing out of congestion. The contact was forceful enough to jolt Stevic but did not bring him to ground.
Umpires typically warn players the path they will take to exit the stoppage but Stevic did not do this, which may count in Rioli’s favour, though the umpire had made a signal at a ball-up only seconds earlier.
If Rioli is cited, he would become the fifth Gold Coast player this year to be charged with careless contact with an umpire. A club can be fined up to $50,000 if their players transgress five or more times in the same season.
Alex Davies (opening round), Touk Miller (round six), Matt Rowell (round 11) and Noah Anderson (round 13) have all been fined this season for contact with an umpire.
A fine would add to the Suns’ frustration with the umpires after their 45-point defeat to Geelong.
Coach Damien Hardwick hit out at umpires, accusing them of paying free kicks due to the partisan Cats crowd behaving like a “Roman Colosseum”.
The triple premiership coach exploded in the coach’s box just before half-time when Cats forward Jeremy Cameron received a free kick for front-on contact from Gold Coast’s Oscar Adams. It happened minutes after the out-of-zone umpire awarded Cameron a free kick for high contact following a spilled mark.
Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall said on Kayo Sports the umpires had “given away some reasonably soft ones tonight” after Cameron was given the free kick for high contact. Suns captain Anderson approached the umpires at half-time for clarification.
In his post-match press conference, Hardwick said the lasso rule needed to be changed so it was not paid if the ball accidentally came off a boot, and then he was asked about his outburst on half-time. He said it almost seemed as if the crowd were able to influence a decision by giving the thumbs up or thumbs down.
“It was like the Roman Colosseum. I reckon they [the umpires] were waiting for the crowd to do this one [thumbs down] then, all of a sudden, free kick,” Hardwick said.
“At the end of the day it is what it is, home-ground advantage, we understand that, we know you’re up against it from the start, but a couple of them, I thought, weren’t there.”
Anderson was bemused by some of the umpiring but held back on his criticism.
“It was a frustrating night,” Anderson said on 3AW on Friday night. “It’s a bit confusing at times, to be honest. But that’s not the problem we face tonight, can’t really focus on it.”
The Cats could also argue Ollie Dempsey was denied a goal when an umpire paid a free kick against him for a push in the back after he marked in the goal square.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
