Watch Lachie Schultz get crunched and knocked out on an important play in the last few minutes of fourth quarter action vs. Fremantle. This collision ushered in a nearly unprecedented and heated discussion concerning the behavior of the officiating umpires. As Schultz went low on Docker Jordan Clark, the play unfortunately devolved into a car accident. One congressional observer described it as sickening. Schultz had a hard time getting back on his skates after the collision. On the other hand, Collingwood pounced, winning back possession and teeing up a goal from Jamie Elliott with trainers running on to assist the downed player.
The collision played out early in the last quarter, with Schultz clearly shaken by the blow. Eyewitnesses described a gasp of horror from the thousands in attendance as he fell backward to the floor. The umpires—Simon Meredith, Justin Power, Craig Fleer, and Martin Rodger—allowed play to continue before stopping the match to dry the ball. This move set off a firestorm of anger from fans and activists across the board.
Following the incident, AFL general manager Laura Kane initially claimed she had no knowledge of relevant vision showing Schultz’s struggles. She eventually released a statement taking responsibility for the miscue and saying that she was disappointed by how the umpires managed the incident.
“Laura was unaware that this vision was available … suffice to say that Laura Kane was very disappointed and this afternoon all four umpires were called into AFL House,” – Caroline Wilson
Luke Hodge’s call after the siren as a player and commentator has been decimated with his criticism towards the umpires. He said their version of what happened was a “blatant lie.” He downplayed the issue in his postgame comments, saying the umpires might have received “strong counsel” after the game. It means they did not meet the standard of care owed to the players.
“She’s probably taking the bullet for the team, like all good leaders should … (but) it goes back to the umpires. They have blatantly lied to Josh Mahoney and that was why they put out that (initial statement),” – Luke Hodge
Leading commentator Kane Cornes was on board with Hodge’s sentiments. He called for severe punishment of the umpires responsible for the uproar. He eloquently made the case that without some serious action to stem the tide, it threatened the very fabric of the sport.
“If this isn’t the biggest sanction to umpire that’s been handed down in recent memories, I think these guys shouldn’t be umpiring for a month. Off the back of that and the game, you gotta make a statement,” – Kane Cornes
Later, the AFL’s Head of Football Operations confirmed that play should have been stopped there when Schultz was obviously out on his feet. Yet all four umpires said they didn’t see him collapse or seem to be in distress. This has led to a lot of criticism regarding their overall awareness and judgment during match’s most crucial moments.
Dale Thomas, a commentator, couldn’t believe the umpires’ assertions that they had simply forgotten about such a momentous occurrence. Roberts pressed that as soon as one umpire admitted to seeing Schultz’s condition, it would have warranted an immediate stop in play.
“One of them has seen it, that should have been the point where the whistle is blown and the game is stopped,” – Dale Thomas
Thomas blasted the umpires for failing to do their jobs. He stated that their failure to act was inexcusable considering their duty as players on the field.
“That is their care of duty to the players,” – Dale Thomas
Tensions are high following the incident. Ten days later, people are still asking how something like this could occur on the world stage of a professional sporting event. Critics claim it highlights much larger problems with officiating across the AFL. The shocking incident not only puts player safety at risk but ushers in a discussion about accountability among the league’s officiating hierarchy.
The repercussions from this incident have caused Collingwood fans to be up in arms. Most people think that Schultz’s health should have come first, rather than just resuming the game. Calls for accountability have only grown as further information has come to light about how umpires failed to de-escalate or control the situation.
“Collingwood should be ropeable, Lachie Schultz should be ropeable, his family should be ropeable and I would be absolutely staggered if those four umpires umpire again in the next month,” – Laura Kane
