A controversial call has somewhat marred the frantic, thrilling finish to Saturday’s Grand Final, with commentators left bemused by an ‘advantage’ decision awarded to the Brisbane Lions.
With Collingwood leading by four points with less than one minute remaining, Lions star Lachie Neale was tripped by Magpie Oleg Markov while handballing. The umpire blew the whistle and paid a free kick.
But Lions star Zac Bailey, seemingly unaware of the free kick being paid to Neale, kept the play flowing and the umpire called ‘advantage’.
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Bailey rushed a kick inside 50, which led to Magpies star Nick Daicos gathering a loose ball. He chipped perfectly to Will Hoskin-Elliott after Jarrod Berry had stormed out of the next centre bounce, before Tom Mitchell, playing his best game for Collingwood, was caught high as he scooped the ball off the ground on his knees.
The Pies then held onto the ball until the final siren to seal a memorable four-point win.
Tigers legend Matthew Richardson was left flabbergasted by the decision to pay advantage to the Lions when it seemed Bailey had none while in congestion.
“Did Brisbane know that was a free kick?” Richardson said on Channel 7.
“That wasn’t a good advantage, that one.”
“That is ridiculous. They didn’t even know it was their free kick.”
Dual Lions best and fairest winner Tom Rockliff led the incredible post-game reaction to the call.
“How is that advantage? Disgraceful,” Rockliff wrote on X.
“Lions robbed.”
Here’s how the footy world reacted to the moment.
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