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Sport Nation
King: Umpiring stood between Collingwood and victory
Jaiden Sciberras • May 4th, 2025 12:39 pm
Saturday night’s thrilling contest between Collingwood and Geelong has spawned numerous talking points, with the Cats holding on in controversial fashion to claim victory by three points.
With the game on the line, two on-field decisions determined by the umpires had major implications on the result of the game.
One of the major talking points from the contest was Bobby Hill’s chase-down tackle on Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh, which was ultimately ruled a trip.
As Hill caught Mannagh in sensational fashion, the Magpie wrapped his arms around the waist very briefly before the tackle slipped below the knees, taking Mannagh to ground.
Beyond the tackle, controversy remains surrounding a Lachie Schultz goal that was ruled as touched. Geelong ruckman Mark Blicavs claimed that the football grazed his finger on the way through, with the on-field call stating that the kick was touched.
The AFL Review System (ARC) explored all angles of the reported touch, however found the vision inconclusive, resulting in the umpire’s call of touched to stand.
Post-game, Fox Footy and SEN’s David King stated that the umpiring decisions in the final term of the contest were enough to cost Collingwood the game.
“One man stood between Collingwood and victory,” King said.
“I should say five men: four in green (the umpires), and one with number 35 on it (Patrick Dangerfield).
“I have to say it, and I’ve talked about the umpiring a lot this year.
“Collingwood were hard done-by in the last 12 minutes of football. There is absolutely no other way of looking at this.
“Patrick Dangerfield had 13 touches in the last quarter, five score involvements, 10 contested possessions, he was everywhere, and he was everything.
“But the umpiring has had a massive impact on the game.”
Regarding Bobby Hill’s chase-down tackle, King believes that the call should never have been a trip, citing that the tackle commenced around the waist.
“It has always been where the tackle starts,” King continued.
“It can slide down. The tackle starts at the hips; it can move down.
“I know they will tick it off, but in the spirit of the game I think that’s been a run-down tackle every time except for this time.”
The Cats move to 5-3 on the season after grinding out victory, while the Pies’ loss will see the winner of Sunday's Q-Clash leap to the top of the table.
