A last-second controversial umpiring decision marred Adelaide’s loss to the Bombers, with Essendon player Sam Draper getting away with a clear infraction, and then re-enacting the play for teammates in front of cameras after the siren.
Essendon was up by three points with literally seconds left and they desperately tried to stop the Crows from scoring, when Draper dived on a loose ball in defence and held it in as he was tackled by two Crows.
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Adelaide players widely appealed for holding the ball, only for the umpire to call fulltime, denying Taylor Walker a shot at goal to win the game.
Walker was left fuming over the disputed the call and remonstrated with the umpire over the dubious ruling.
“He is a fire blanket that literally just put the Crows’ season out. This is one of the all-time flops… that was a flat out holding the ball,” Cameron Mooney said commentary.
“It was embarrassing, really… There’s almost no excuse. That was as blatant as you can see,” former Hawk Ben Dixon said.
Demons legend Garry Lyon added: “Adelaide might’ve thought they were unfortunate given big Sam Draper decided to lay on top of the footy. Not sure you can do that.
“It’s unfair to isolate it into one incident at the end. But it looks to me like he fell on it and then hooked it back in.”
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley firmly believed it should’ve been called holding the ball against Draper.
“He’s made sure it’s there and lied on it. Technically in any part on the field at any time of the game, that is holding the ball. It was a little tap in then he laid on it,” Buckley said.
“The reaction of the players was clear too. The umpire made the decision that was a ball up before the siren went because you saw the Adelaide players put their head in their hands (implying) ‘that should’ve been a free kick’.
“Then the Essendon guys go up. It was a clear decision unaffected by the final siren.”
To add insult to injury, Draper had a laugh with his teammates and re-enacted the game-sealing flop while running off the field with teammates.
“That’s just rubbing it in now,” said Johnathan Brown.
Mooney later said: “Now he’s actually taking the P-1-5-5 (piss).”
Essendon skipper Zach Merrett said the last few moments were nailbiting for all involved.
“I’ll be honest I was holding my breath a little bit that last few seconds,” Merrett said.
“We obviously learned the hard way last year against Port Adelaide kicking it out and Houston kicking an amazing goal.
“We’ve certainly spent a lot of time and work and energy on those moments. To execute it for the most part was very pleasing.
“But no doubt it was a line ball call.”
