Angry Hawthorn fans have hurled abuse and bottles at the umpires after the Hawks were denied a spot in the grand final by a free kick in the during stages of the preliminary final.
The Hawks were clinging onto a three-point lead in the final minute with the ball deep in the Brisbane’s forward line.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Controversial free kick decides AFL thriller
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The ball ended up Jarman Impey’s hands as he was tackled immediately by Hugh McCluggage. Impey had one arm free but made no attempt to dispose the ball and the umpire penalised him for holding the ball.
McCluggage went back and slotted the go-ahead goal before will the Lions added another after the siren win by nine points in what was quickly anointed the greatest preliminary final ever.
Hawthorn players could be seen speaking to the umpires in the aftermath of the chaotic finish.
And angry Hawthorn fans were left irate at the decision as boos rained down while the umpires were quickly escorted off the field.
In ugly scenes, the umpires were met with a barrage of bottles and cups as they disappeared down the race.
One umpire even stopped to point out a person in the crowd to security.
“We have just witnessed one of the most controversial moments in football history unfold before our very eyes,” 7NEWS reporter Xander McGuire said.
“The Hawthorn fans have absolutely revolted at ground level.
“It is pandemonium all over the ground. Beer cups, cans, water bottles, even items of clothing thrown onto the ground in complete fits of rage at the umpires and an absolutely raucous boo echoing around the ground as the umps were immediately escorted off the ground.”
Hawthorn great Luke Hodge immediately condemned the actions of the fans.
“This isn’t great. Umpires walking off, they should not have things thrown at them,” he said.
While the decision was controversial given it came in the final minute of the match, there is little doubt it was the correct call.
“A technical free kick, an accurate free kick, but it was there. You feel for Jarman Impey,” Kane Cornes said on Seven.
Hodge added: “It’s a free kick. You’ve got one arm free. He was trying to lock it in and the umpire had a clear view. It was so smart by McCluggage, a lot of people would have taken him to ground but he held him up. Correct call.”
Hamish McLachlan also agreed: “Terrible way to have the game decided but it’s the right call.”
But Hawthorn defender Tom Barrass didn’t mince his words post-match.
“I don’t think anyone is going to be sleeping well tonight after how that last goal went down,” Barrass said.
“I suppose when you get handballed the ball and you’re already being tackled, there’s not really a whole lot you can do. That’s the way the cookie crumbles and unfortunately we were on the wrong side of it tonight.”
More to come
