Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Ex-AFL ump’s verdict on controversial non-call that decided WAFL GF
SEN • September 22nd, 2025 2:02 pm
Former AFL umpire Dean Margetts has ticked off the controversial finish to Sunday’s WAFL Grand Final.
Controversy erupted on the final siren with South Fremantle leading East Perth 56-54, leaving Royals’ players furious after going down by two points.
The decision, which drew the ire of fans and players, came after East Perth’s Jordyn Baker won a holding-the-ball free kick after tackling South Fremantle’s Matt Parker in the middle of Optus Stadium.
While Baker was too far out to score, South Fremantle’s Aaron Drage kicked the ball away in jubilation once the siren rang out instead of handing it back to the East Perth player.
Given that Baker still had to take the kick to finish the game, East Perth’s players felt a 50-metre penalty should have been awarded, much as it would have been at any other stage of the game.
While that would have been the case when the clock was ticking, Margetts says the correct call was made as time-wasting 50-metre penalties can’t be paid once the siren has gone.
He explained the umpire’s decision on SEN WA Breakfast.
“South Fremantle have the footy in their hand, and they’re about to hand the ball back. Then he hears the siren and in jubilation kicks the ball away,” Margetts said.
“To the East Perth players’ credit, they were still in tune with the game and thought, ‘That should be 50!’.
“But in essence, the umpire has got it 100 per cent right. You cannot pay a time-wasting or delay of game 50 once the siren has sounded.
“The only time a 50-metre penalty will be paid (after the siren) is if you run over the mark, give away a holding free or a slap in the face type of thing.
“The actual right decision was made. The only disappointing part was the holding the ball… he took half a step, and it wasn’t there.”
While Drage was made to take the final kick after the siren, his long effort predictably fell well short as the Bulldogs won the premiership.
WATCH THE CONTROVERSIAL FINISH HERE.
