AFL fans and commentators are calling for yet another rule change after Harry McKay took advantage of a major loophole to help Carlton beat Essendon on Sunday night. The Blues continued their unbeaten streak under interim coach Josh Fraser, winning their fourth in a row with the 10.12 (72) to 10.7 (67) victory at the MCG.
But it was the actions of McKay late in the game that proved a major talking point. The Carlton forward took a mark with under two minutes to play, and indicated to the umpire that was going for a shot at goal.
Harry McKay was given all the time he wanted despite never being likely to reach the goal. Image: Fox/Getty
Under the rules he was therefore given 30 seconds to chew up, despite the fact he was some 70 metres from goal and long odds to make the distance. He used up all the time he was allowed (and plenty more) and then simply lobbed the ball into the goal-square.
Speaking in commentary for Fox Footy, former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said: “No, no, no, you can’t do that.” Hinkley then asked McKay directly after the game whether he was deliberately time-wasting, and McKay admitted he was.
“I always have a theory that late in the game, if you have a shot anywhere, somewhere within the 50-metre line, in theory you can go back and take your 30 seconds and a little bit more,” McKay said. “I think it was slightly ambitious to think I was going to kick it from 75 metres, but nah, any time you can take a little bit of time off the clock late … we practice it a lot at training, so I’m glad it kind of worked.”
When asked if he would have argued if the umpire called him to play on, McKay said: “Probably not. I think you just play on. But from memory I reckon I was back far enough to kick it long if I didn’t get allowed to have my 30 (seconds). But once the umpire said I was allowed to have 30, then I went back in routine, so I think it was fine.”
Harry McKay helped Carlton beat brother Ben’s Essendon.
(Michael Willson/AFL Photos)Calls for another AFL rule change
AFL fans and commentators have been pointing out the farcical nature of the rule that allowed McKay to do what he did. On social media, many called for a rule change and demanded players only be allowed to take up the 30 seconds for a set shot if they’re actually near the 50-metre line (unlike McKay being 70 metres out).
One person wrote: “They should just make it a rule that you only get the 30 seconds if you mark inside 50. That takes away any thought about the player’s capabilities.”
Another wrote: “AFL’s so keen on rule changes, they’re sure to address this in the off-season. Maybe stop game clock from time kick is declared until the actual kick. Or, disallow set shot time unless mark defender is inside the 50.”