A veteran journalist has highlighted Melbourne’s disappointment with a notable absentee from the celebrations for Max Gawn’s 250th game on Sunday.
Meanwhile, big changes have already been outlined for one of the AFL’s newest rules after multiple controversial incidents in Round 3. MORE IN AFL DAILY.
Watch every match of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Melbourne could hardly have been happier with how club champion Max Gawn’s milestone match played out as the Demons’ rampaging second half lifted them to a come-from-behind victory against Carlton at the MCG.
The day was one of true celebration for Melbourne’s premiership captain and eight-time All-Australian.
Many of Gawn’s former teammates including the likes of former No.1 draft pick Jack Watts, Collingwood premiership player Jeremy Howe as well as premiership teammates Michael Hibberd and James Harmes were in attendance to also celebrate fellow 250-gamer Tom McDonald.
But long-standing journalist Caroline Wilson noted one key absence from a group photo Gawn shared on Instagram.
“A lot of Max Gawn’s former teammates were invited back to the club,” Wilson said on Seven.
“One man who didn’t turn up, who was invited and was expected to come, was Clayton Oliver.
“Who was in Melbourne for the weekend. Of course, playing for GWS. Who was out on the town with some of his GWS teammates on the Saturday night.
“That’s absolutely fine. Nothing wrong with that.
“But there was a level of disappointment from Melbourne, who are trying to redevelop their relationship.
“Max Gawn lived with him. He protected him. He mentored him. He stuck up for him. He did a lot of stuff for Clayton Oliver.
“Look, it clearly didn’t take away from what happened in the second half, but I know Melbourne leaders were disappointed.
“He was back at the club early doors for another milestone game earlier in the year. Just a level of disappointment that he didn’t turn up from the Melbourne Football Club.”
Would sacking Scott be too costly? | 00:34
‘MASSIVE CHANGES’ ANNOUNCED FOR THE ‘LASSO RULE’
One of the big changes introduced to the game this season has been the last disposal out of bounds rule, and after a series of controversial moments across the weekend, it set to be adapted going forward.
Geelong’s Tom Atkins caused a stir on Thursday night when he convinced the umpire he should be awarded the free kick when replays showed the ball clearly came off his boot, not his opponents’.
The final quarter moment undoubtedly had a big say in the Cats’ eight-point win as Atkins quickly got the ball moving forward and Jack Martin got on the end of the passage of play to kick a goal.
By Sunday, the umpires’ approach to the rule changed as in the final minute of West Coast’s two-point victory against Port Adelaide, the ARC intervened to call a boundary throw-in after a free kick was awarded to the Eagles because the ball had come off Power ruck Jordan Sweet.
The latter example is what fans will see more of going forward.
“NRL is winning the ratings battle” | 02:10
“Massive changes to the protocol with the last touch rule. A big change to the lasso rule,” Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph told On The Couch.
“What will happen now is in key moments in late contests, the AFL will now stop that clock,” he added.
“They won’t be worried whether it’s a field umpire or the ARC.”
Geelong champion Tom Hawkins was supportive of the move to trust the video replays and ensure the correct call is made.
“If you’ve got the technology, which they clearly do, let’s use it,” he said.
“The Tom Atkins incident, Jack Martin goes down the other end and kicks a goal.
“So, if we have the access to it, let’s absolutely use it.”
But Collingwood great Nathan Buckley was not convinced that the ARC got the decision right in the Sweet incident as the ball appeared to hit leg after slipping through his fingers.
“I don’t think there’s enough to overturn that decision and I don’t think it’s that important,” Buckley said.
“It’s not that important, is it? To go to the video and to stop play. The whole idea of this (is to keep the play moving).
“If it’s inconclusive, throw it in.”
Another issue that has been a common occurrence in the early rounds of the season is players diving and sliding to lay a finger on the ball to stop it being a free kick before it goes out.
Geelong’s Tom Stewart protested on Thursday night when Izak Rankine did exactly that, saying it should be a free kick for insufficient intent.
Moving forward, that will the case.
“That will now be a free kick. He does not have sufficient intent to try and keep it in,” Ralph said.
“He will need to try to knock the ball back in rather than escort it to the boundary.
“It’s a big change. It will cause more controversy.”
Hawthorn legend Jordan Lewis believes that example may be too harsh on the player.
“I don’t think in that particular instance, he was able to physically get his hand behind the ball and flick it back in,” Lewis said.
Richmond great Jack Riewoldt responded: “The AFL are looking for players to make an attempt to try and keep the ball in.
“The wording was, if he used the left hand there to try and flick it back in and keep it in play, it’d be okay.”
Meanwhile, Buckley was left sniggering.
“We create a rule to save a certain situation and we create more situations,” he said.