The AFL’s questionable ‘contact listed below the knees’ guideline has actually been thrust back into the spotlight after St Kilda protector Liam Stocker was punished for a controversial occurrence that left him damaged and bruised. Stocker had his head over the ball and tapped it towards a colleague as Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield, who was plainly 2nd to the contest, can be found in from the side and clipped Stocker with a knee as he leapt over the St Kilda gamer. SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE: Liam Stocker hands out questionable totally free kick versus Geelong. Stream analysis, regional footy and the most significant minutes complimentary on 7plus Dangerfield was left successfully unblemished as Stocker lay on the ground in discomfort with what seemed a corked lower back. To make matters worse, he likewise distributed a totally free kick while doing so. The Cats skipper was granted the complimentary for contact listed below the knees, much to the confusion of Seven’s analysts. “Stocker in incredible discomfort, on the other hand Dangerfield has the ball in hand,” Hamish McLachlan stated. Joel Selwood included: “I do not understand about you guys, however I in fact believed it was going the other method.” Liam Stocker was in discomfort however he distributed the complimentary kick. Credit: Channel 7 Jobe Watson and Luke Darcy both concurred. “I believe this is the guideline that requires to be usually took a look at,” Darcy stated. “The ‘contact listed below the knees’ guideline was generated a variety of years back. We comprehend why, however what more can Liam Stocker do there, apart from attack the footy because position?” The guideline was initially generated to alleviate versus injuries triggered by gamers diving in recklessly at the ball on the ground after then-Sydney forward (now Geelong) Gary Rohan had his leg shattered by previous North Melbourne livewire Lindsay Thomas. It has actually been continuously criticised in the 12 years considering that due to the fact that of the method it disincentivises gamers to be very first to the ball when another gamer’s legs are in the area. Stocker’s effort on Saturday night looked like absolutely nothing of the Thomas-Rohan one from 2012. “He got hands on it initially– wasn’t he initially to the football? Or is that not how it’s ruled?” McLachlan asked rhetorically. Dangerfield struck Stocker with his knee as he flew over the top. Credit: Channel 7 Selwood concluded: “It simply all goes so quickly. It’s certainly not a complimentary kick; the umpires, similar to the gamers, often make errors.” Stocker left the ground and took no additional part in the video game. SEN’s Nic Negrepontis stated he could not think it. “If that’s a complimentary kick versus Liam Stocker, the guideline requires to be revamped as soon as possible,” he stated. Brad Klibansky went an action even more: “That’s a disgraceful complimentary kick versus Stocker. A gamer needs to NEVER get penalized for assaulting and winning the ball initially.” Dangerfield missed out on the stubborn chance at objective he obtained from the complimentary kick, in what might have been a substantial dagger into the Saints’ hearts, however offseted it right after with the match-sealing objective in the passing away seconds. The super star kicked a long-range objective in the last minute to raise the incorrect Cats to a tense eight-point win over St Kilda in their AFL season opener. Patrick Dangerfield clinched an exhilarating eight-point win for Geelong over St Kilda. Credit: AAP Three fast Saints objectives in time-on had actually cut the margin to one point with time delegated finish an amazing resurgence. Geelong won the next centre clearance to acquire field position and Dangerfield obstructed a rushed St Kilda protective clearance on the 50 metre line. The Cats champ held his nerve to seal the 10.16 (76) to 9.14 (68) triumph in front of a record 39,352 fans at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night. Dangerfield (25 disposals, 8 clearances) was extremely prominent, supported well by Tanner Bruhn (20, 6) and Max Holmes, who completed with 24 touches and 683 metres got. Jeremy Cameron impressed with 2 fantastic first-half objectives and young forward Ollie Dempsey shone with 3 objectives and 9 rating participations. St Kilda were gallant however dropped to a 12th straight loss in Geelong, where they have not won because 1999. Saints captain Jack Steele (25 disposals, 9 clearances) battled hard in a losing cause and Tim Membrey kicked 3 objectives in his very first video game considering that his shock late withdrawal from a removal final last September since of an individual health matter. Max King kicked 2 objectives, as did highly-rated teen Darcy Wilson on his launching. Before the very first bounce, Geelong formally opened the brand-new Joel Selwood Stand in honour of their record-breaking previous captain. Joel Selwood at the opening of his own stand. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos through Getty Images Membrey briefly silenced the home fans when he kicked the very first significant however Cameron brought them to their feet with his first-quarter objective of the year competitor. The essential forward caught a loose ball and burst through blockage on the wing, broke a kick forward to Brad Close, operated on to get a return handpass and kicked really on the run near the limit line. Cameron jumped onto the fence and pumped his fist to the adoring home crowd in event. He included a 2nd dazzling objective from the border– stepping around to nail a curling set shot– as the Cats bent their muscle for a duration of the 2nd quarter. 3 successive objectives extended the margin to 24 points, however it was back to 13 by the primary break regardless of the Cats controling the inside-50 count (36-19). An inefficient Geelong kicked 0.6 in the 3rd term– simply their 6th goalless quarter in 403 under Chris Scott at GMHBA Stadium– to the Saints’ 1.3. Membrey kicked the very first objective of the last term before 3 straight Cats objectives wanted to have actually sealed the outcome. Fast objectives to Cooper Sharman, King and Wilson cut the margin back to one point in the passing away phases before Dangerfield kicked the match-winner. – With AAP
Liam Stocker hands out questionable ‘listed below the knees’ complimentary kick regardless of copping struck from Patrick Dangerfield
