AFL admits umpire error tackle after concussion-causing AFLW tackle

This masthead revealed on Tuesday that Brisbane was set to query the decision with headquarters after Svarc was pushed in the back in the goalsquare by Annabel Kievit after kicking a goal in Saturday night’s Q Clash against Gold Coast.

Svarc, who was concussed in the tackle and will miss this weekend’s game against Port Adelaide, should have been awarded a second shot at goal, but the umpires instead paid only the initial free kick and called advantage.

“The AFL umpiring department spoke to the Brisbane Lions on Tuesday to clarify an incident relating to a tackle on Ruby Svarc during the match against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on Wednesday.

“A correct free kick was paid to Brisbane for a push in the back on Svarc after she kicked the ball.

“Advantage was paid, as the controlling umpire was uncertain whether the ball had crossed the goal line before the infringement.

“Upon review, the ball had crossed the goal line, therefore, as per Law 16.4.1, a subsequent free kick should have been awarded to Brisbane where the incident occurred, giving them a second shot on goal, rather than advantage.”

Kievit was not cited by the match review officer for the incident.

“You can see in this instance that Annabel, you can clearly see that she probably doesn’t know that Ruby’s disposed of the ball,” league best and fairest winner Ebony Marinoff told The W Debrief of the incident.

“But rightfully so, that should be a free kick every day of the week.”

AFLW captains raised concerns about a stricter interpretation of holding the ball in a pre-season meeting with the league, and Marinoff said there had been clear “inconsistency” in its application over the first eight rounds.

“As players, we’ve all spoken about it so we’re all on the same page,” she said.

“They’ve brought in this interpretation around holding the ball … it’s just probably been the inconsistencies around it.

“You’ve got to remember that it’s a hard job, but it’s the inconsistency.

“You’re actually seeing people not go for the ball because they’re not actually getting rewarded for getting that ground ball get.”

‘IN ABSOLUTE SHOCK’: LION PUNISHED FOR UNPRECEDENTED HAIR PULL

Brisbane forward Dakota Davidson has been let off with a $200 fine for an unprecedented AFL Women’s hair pull.

And it could be reduced to as little as $100 with an early guilty plea.

Vision captured Davidson, a two-time premiership player, approach Suns opponent Meara Girvan in a heated moment during the third quarter of Saturday night’s Q Clash at People First Stadium and pulled her ponytail which wrenched Girvan’s head backwards.

Davidson then pointed towards the Sun.

The match review officer on Monday assessed the incident and graded it as “other misconduct” which attracted a fixed financial sanction of $200, reduced to $100 with an early plea.

Davidson was also hit with the same fine for a striking charge for a second quarter incident on Sun Charlotte Wilson.

Reigning league best and fairest winner and Adelaide captain Ebony Marinoff said on Sunday that she had been astounded by Davidson’s action.

“We were all together watching that game at the hotel and we were in absolute shock,” Marinoff told The W Debrief.

“I don’t think we’ve seen that before.

“Unfortunately it was really intentional and even for Dakota Davidson to turn around and point (at Girvan) ... you just don’t want to see that.”

Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps was fined $1000 in 2023 for pulling the hair of then-Bulldogs player Bailey Smith during a match, though it is thought that Davidson’s is the first charge of its kind in 10 seasons of AFLW.

In July, NRL Women’s player Evah McEwen was hit with a one-match ban for a hair pull, with Canterbury Bulldogs player Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa sin-binned for the same action earlier this year.

The match review officer hit Cats player Claudia Gunjaca with a $400 fine for tripping Blue Meg Robertson, with Tiger Beth Lynch and Port Adelaide’s Shineah Goody hit with the same financial penalties for rough conduct in their respective games.