Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson has questioned a crucial ball up during the late stages of Essendon’s narrow over West Coast that led to Kyle Langford’s match-winning goal.
With less than a minute and a half remaining in the fourth quarter and the Bombers trailing by five points with their season on the line, the umpire’s loopy ball up sailed across Andrew Phillips and Bailey Williams and “gave the ruckmen no chance whatsoever to compete,” according to Johnson.
The ball then bounced into Nick Hind’s possession as the Bombers speedster fed it out to set up Langford’s go-ahead goal – one of five kicked from the gun forward on the day in a blistering performance – as Brad Scott’s side survived a late Eagles charge at Marvel Stadium.
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Essendon survive scare from West Coast | 01:49
However speaking on Fox Footy, Johnson challenged the critical ball up, arguing it didn’t go up straight in the air.
“When it’s thrown up, it’s purely to go straight up so it gives both clubs the best opportunity to win the ball,” he said.
“That should’ve been at least called back because it gave the ruckman no chance whatsoever to compete for the ball – I don’t think personally – and then Essendon was able to get the clearance, go down and this is the result – the handball over the top to Langford, who kicks the sealer.
“When I first looked at it, I went, ‘Aw no!’ This is a bad throw, it’s gone more flatter than straight up.”
Dons clap back at late West Coast surge | 00:44
Johnson added that Phillips and Williams slightly “push themselves under” the ball, but still ultimately thinks the ball up wasn’t executed correctly.
“It’s a little bit both ways, I get that,” he said. “But the throw has got to go straight, not looped, straight up.”
Carlton and Adelaide great Eddie Betts concurred, saying “It’s got to go straight up, so where (the umpire) is standing now, straight up in the air,” Betts told Fox Footy.
“Even to your point, saying the ruckmen got underneath it, it still landed like two metres behind (the ruckmen) … Nick Hind got onto it, got the clean hands out and then they’re on their way.”
The win saw the Bombers stay in the finals hunt, sitting half a game and healthy percentage behind the eighth placed Cats ahead of clashes against North Melbourne, GWS and Collingwood on the run home.
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