Even the umpires are getting among the fast-paced elimination final action on Friday night!
Early in the first quarter at of the Dogs-Hawks clash the MCG, officiating umpire Nick Foot unknowingly wandered into the running lane of oncoming Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton, resulting in a heavy collision between the pair.
The contact was completely incidental, with Naughton’s eyes solely on the ball as he stormed desperately towards a marking contest.
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Foot appeared to realise Naughton at the last second, but contact was inevitable by that stage — leaving the man in green second-best and visibly dazed in the aftermath.
However, thankfully, after initially taking a moment to collect himself, Foot was back up and going and indicated he was OK to continue.
“I think (umpire Nick Foot’s) been hurt there, looks like he may have copped one in the ribs or shoulder area,” Channel 7’s Brian Taylor said immediately after the collision.
“You see the umpire going down there.”
The Western Bulldogs held an early lead at quarter time, outscoring the Hawks by two goals.
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