‘Disgraceful’: Lions star accused of ‘intimidating’ ump just before controversial double goal

Fresh vision has emerged from before Brisbane gun Cam Rayner’s controversial double goal in the qualifying final loss to Geelong, with Fox Footy’s David King accusing him of “intimidatory behaviour” towards the umpire before it happened.

Rayner was handed an off-the-ball free kick for being knocked to the ground by opponent Mark O’Connor at the other end of the ground as the Cats prepared to take a shot on goal in the second quarter of Friday night’s clash.

Moments later after kicking truly from the goalsquare a gloating Rayner was knocked over by Zach Guthrie, resulting in a second free kick in the goal square, the two goals keeping the Lions somewhat in the game before they were blown away in the second half.

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The AFL conceded on Saturday the initial free kick paid against O’Connor was wrong after the footy world almost unanimously felt it was too generous to Rayner, though they ticked off the Guthrie free.

Now fresh behind-the-goals vision has emerged on Fox Footy’s The First Crack showing Rayner speaking with umpire Brett Wallace, who paid the free kicks, moments before the initial, incorrect free was given.

While it’s not clear exactly what they were discussing, St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna believes the clips showed Rayner warning the umpire about how he was being treated.

After Rayner’s apparent warning the umpire can be seen turning and watching Rayner and O’Connor rather than the unfolding play.

“Cam Rayner clearly had a strong conversation with the umpire, particularly about what was happening with Mark O’Connor. I think Mark O’Connor didn’t like that,” Montagna said on Fox Footy.

“They (Rayner and the umpire) were having a conversation about what he was doing. He’s going over saying, hey, leave me alone. I’m playing within the rules – just because it’s annoying you, there’s nothing illegal.

“But clearly the umpire there is saying to them, you know, okay, I’m watching. My eyes are going to be on you guys, so I’m going to keep close attention.

“So then look at this play’s going on down the other end of the field. You can see the umpire. He’s actually staring at the players. He’s just watching those two in particular when the ball’s down the other end of the field. So he was waiting for something, and as soon as he saw the slightest bit of contact and Rayner fell, he’s paid the free kick.”

But dual premiership Kangaroo David King went after Rayner for speaking with the umpire in that manner at all.

“That’s an horrific look. Him being in the face of the umpire, Cam Rayner. That’s disgraceful. He should be sanctioned for that alone. We do not want players getting in the face of the umpire,” King said on Fox Footy.

“We’re setting the standard for competitions across the land. The last thing local football needs are players walking up to the umpire’s face like this. That is intimidatory behaviour, that is unacceptable. Look at him. He’s almost bumping him off his line!

“It’s irrelevant what he’s saying. He’s in the face of the umpire, almost pushing him off his walking line to make a point, irrelevant what the point he’s saying. That needs to be stamped out immediately.”