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SEN • May 13th, 2025 9:33 pm
Sports journalist Caroline Wilson has revealed that the umpires involved in the clash between Collingwood and Fremantle were aware of Lachie Schultz’s collision, however failed to stop the game.
Schultz was concussed when attempting to tackle Fremantle defender Jordan Clark last Thursday night, with play continuing despite Schultz collapsing in the centre of Optus Stadium.
It was announced by the AFL, in the following statement, that the four field umpires failed to stop play as they were not aware of the injured player.
"The play can be stopped by the umpires, who are instructed to stop play as soon as they are aware there is an injured player in the vicinity of play. In last night's match the umpires did not see the injured player at the time, so play continued," read an AFL statement.
"Upon review, if umpires were aware, play would have been stopped when Daicos had possession in the middle of the ground."
On Channel Seven's The Agenda Setters, Wilson revealed that the field umpires did in fact witness the collision, citing vision that has emerged displaying the umpires clearly identifying the injured Schultz, however choosing to continue play.
“We’ve got an injured player in the middle,” one of the field umpires said.
“Let it go,” another said.
“How are we looking?”
“We’re okay.
“What do you think Craig?”
“We haven’t been told… not yet.
“We can only stop it if the ball is coming towards (the injured player) or if they instruct us to stop.
“I understand, but that is what we are instructed to do.”
With the AFL’s statement clearly outlining that the umpires did not see the incident, Laura Kane has spoken with The Agenda Setters to claim responsibility for the error.
Taking responsibility for the incorrect statement, Kane said this:
“The statement we released was incorrect, but we were given the wrong information by the umpires.
“They (the umpires) were going off memory, and not the vision and we should always look at the vision.
“All the umpires from the game have all been coached this afternoon that they should have stopped the game.
“Having said that, this is on me. It’s the footy department that runs the umpiring and that sits with me.”
