ISAAC Smith correctly avoided being penalised for holding the ball in the dying seconds of Hawthorn's three-point win over Adelaide, according to the AFL umpiring department.

With the ball 20 metres out from the Crows' goal and three seconds remaining in the game, Smith took possession of the ball after it spilled from a contest and was tackled by Rory Sloane just before siren sounded.

Umpires head coach Hayden Kennedy told AFL.com.au’s Whistleblowers program he was "satisfied with that decision".

"We don't think he (Smith) had prior opportunity before he was tackled," Kennedy said.

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"There's certainly no prior (opportunity) or illegal disposal because (the ball) is stripped from him."

Kennedy said he was impressed with umpire Shaun Ryan's assessment of the incident at a time when such fierce pressure was on the players and umpires.

"Shaun was very aware of the possible consequences to whether it was going to be a (free kick)," Kennedy said.

"We're more than happy with how Shaun summed it up on the night."

Kennedy was also happy with how shorter kicks were adjudicated across the weekend, after being one of the bigger talking points in round four.

"There didn’t seem to be as many shorter 14, 15 or 16 metre kicks, but nothing jumped out at us from a coaching point of view," Kennedy said.

"It's one of these things that will continue to creep up."