Days after the AFL gave the all clear to a controversial non-decision on Friday night, Sydney Swans defender Dane Rampe has been charged with conduct unbecoming for climbing the goalpost.

Rampe sent the AFL world into meltdown by pulling a Spider-Man impersonation and climbing the goalpost, causing it to shake as Essendon’s David Myers — a prodigious kick by anyone’s standards — launched an after the siren shot at goal from 60m out.

The kick didn’t make the trip but Essendon stars Jake Stringer and Cale Hooker remonstrated on the ground with umpire Andre Gianfagna demanding what under the laws of the game should have been a free kick from the goal line.

But on Saturday, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan stood by the umpiring decision.

“I’ll wait and see what the footy department says, but for me it seems pretty practical umpiring,” McLachlan told SEN.

“Apparently there is lots of different camera angles. But he gave him the warning and the guy got down and it didn’t impact on the play.

“That seemed to be a very practical response. People are getting into the technicalities of what the rule says, but if he’d stayed there it would have been a free kick. He gave him the warning and it didn’t impact the play.

“It seemed a pretty pragmatic piece of umpiring.”

But now it seems that the AFL have changed their stance and, as reported by The Herald Sun’s chief football writer Mark Robinson, charged Rampe for the act.

Dane Rampe has been effectively charged with conduct unbecoming for climbing the goal post. Has been sent a pls explain. Also charged with saying:'' You talk like a girl.'' Extraordinary outcome after AFL ticked off non-free kick on Saturday. @superfooty — Mark Robinson (@Robbo_heraldsun) May 13, 2019

The unbelievable moment was followed by severe backlash on Friday which only amplified following McLachlan’s comments the day after.

Now the latest news has left fans scratching their heads and left one former Western Bulldogs star up in arms.

Rampe charged for that, world going mad! — Lindsay Gilbee (@LindsayGilbee) May 13, 2019

If the letter of the law had of been followed, Myers would have been awarded a free kick from the goal line and would have kicked the match winning goal.

It would have left Essendon with a 4-4 record, instead they sit fuming over the non-decision and in 13th spot on the ladder at 3-5.

The outrage over the incident was led by Aussie comedian and media personality Dave Hughes who believes the Bombers “should appeal the result”.

No way goal umpire, four boundary umpires and three central umpires could miss this. Obviously decided to not pay it. It’s against the rules. Essendon should appeal the game result. Ridiculous. https://t.co/xTyxQBOnMu — Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) May 10, 2019

I’m hearing @afl have ticked off goal post shaking cos ball didn’t make distance. So if anyone taking kick from outside fifty after siren it’s no rules from now on. King hits, whatever. Just go for it. — Dave Hughes (@DHughesy) May 10, 2019

Hughes was far from alone in condemning the AFL’s swift attempt to dismiss the outcry with The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph labelling the fiasco “a bats*** crazy 20 seconds of football”.

Rampe addressed the two incidents on Monday after his coach John Longmire addressed the media earlier in the day.

“You address it and move on. That’s all you can do as a player and coach — look at that, speak about it and get on with the next thing,” Longmire said.

“He’s a real quality person. He made a couple of mistakes, he’ll learn from that and move on.

“I spoke to him on Saturday morning and he said I ‘just genuinely didn’t know the rule’,” Longmire said.

“I said ‘well you do now and it’d be best to stay away from goalposts in the future’.

“It was a pretty brief conversation and, it’s be fair to say, I wouldn’t expect him to do it in the future.”

Dane Rampe addresses two incidents from Friday night's game against Essendon. pic.twitter.com/i5r9V5CmLq — Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) May 13, 2019

“Being called a girl is something that should be celebrated and I genuinely mean that. I’ve learnt from my mistake and I’ll definitely keep that front of mind going forward,” Rampe said.

“I just want it to be known that by no means did I mean any disrespect by (comments to the umpire at the end of the second quarter of the win over Essendon) .

“I know it’s a hard job they do. And at times my frustrations can boil over but I hope that’s seen or portrayed in a way that shows my passion and excitement for the role I play in the team.

“I put my hand up and say I can overstep the mark at times and I will keep that in mind going forward.”

Rampe addressed the now famous goalpost climb and admitted the moment was purely a brain fade.

“I don’t know what I was thinking, to be honest, at the time, but my intention was certainly not to shake the post,” he said.

“There was a bit going on down there at the time, and I think I just got caught up in the emotion of it.

“Safe to say I won’t be doing it again. I’m a little bit embarrassed by it, but I guess there was no malice intended.”