The AFL Umpiring Department has admitted that two of the 50 metre penalties paid in last night’s Carlton v Richmond season opener were wrong.
The league made a statement today saying that two of the 50s paid for infringing on the “protected area” around the mark were wrong, while one was marginal.
Both of the wrong calls were made against Richmond, with a 50 against Shai Bolton early in the first quarter deemed wrong, and one against Josh Caddy late in the third term also considered incorrect.
Bolton’s incident was deemed to have no evidence of infringement, while Caddy showed “intent to clear (the) protected area immediately”.
Meanwhile, a call midway through the third term against Kamdyn McIntosh was considered marginal.
The AFL will brief umpires on the wrong calls and reiterating that a player making a genuine attempt to clear the protected area shouldn’t have a 50 paid against him.