Brisbane Lions may have reason to feel badly hit after a late call-up in the AFL grand final had huge implications for their fate as premier.
In a tense, frenetic finish to Saturday’s clash with Collingwood, the Lions were given an advantage after Lachie Neale was taken out by Oleg Markov as Brisbane approached the 50th.
However, Lions star Zac Bailey was seemingly unaware of the advantage decision and continued playing when a free-kick would have been more favourable.
Bailey fired in a kick inside the 50, which was collected by Nick Daicos. The referees were confident the Lions star had played the advantage and the match continued, with the final siren sounding moments later to seal a memorable four-point win.
But the incident sparked much debate, with Tigers hero Matthew Richardson adamant that Bailey was unaware of the advantage.
Brisbane fell victim to a controversial call in the final moments of the grand final
Fans and pundits claimed the Lions were struggling before Collingwood won the match
“Did Brisbane know this was a free kick?” Richardson said on Channel 7.
“That wasn’t a good advantage, that.”
‘That is ridiculous. They didn’t even know it was their free kick.’
Two-time Lions best and fairest winner Tom Rockliff also gave a scathing review of that decision.
‘How is that an advantage? Outrageous,” Rockliff wrote on X.
‘Lions robbed.’