THE AFL has found the umpiring in the 2016 Grand Final fell short of the standard expected from the three umpires of that elite calibre.

The league has reviewed the umpiring from the Grand Final and found that there were three to four decisions that were incorrect that went against the Sydney Swans.

Those decisions deemed incorrect by the review included some failures to call sliding free kicks, most notably the contentious slide by Easton Wood on Dan Hannebery that resulted in a medial ligament injury to the Swan in the final quarter when the game lay in the balance.

At least one other slide that wasn’t paid was viewed as a mistake. Incidents that were contentious included below the knees contact from Toby McLean on Kieren Jack that went against Jack for being too high, as well as a slide from Dale Morris on the wing which saw Tom Papley tumble over.

Finals Week 1

Dan Hannebery is taken down by Easton Wood. Source: News Corp Australia

Another incident involved Dane Rampe being called for holding the ball in the third quarter, which the league deemed an incorrect decision. The free against Rampe was quickly followed by a Clay Smith free for too high and goal.

The AFL review did not deem the overall umpiring performance to be poor, but the league’s view was that it was beneath the level expected, bearing in mind the highly-experienced and capable umpires who officiated — Matt Stevic, Simon Meredith and Scott Jeffery.



Overall, the Western Bulldogs received 20 free kicks to the Swans’ eight. The differential of 12 was the biggest in a Grand Final since the three-umpire system was introduced in 1994.

The umpires have been informed of the content of the review. The Grand Final is reviewed like any other game during the season, with each decision evaluated.

While the Swans were on the receiving end of a lopsided free kick count, and their fans were incensed, the club has chosen not to make an issue of the umpiring and is mindful that it was beaten by 22 points and outplayed.

The Sydney coaches’ own review of the Grand Final largely attributed the loss to not having enough contributors from their 22 in comparison with the more evenly-performed Bulldogs.

Jeffery was umpiring his first Grand Final after more than 300 games while Stevic and Meredith were each in their fourth Grand Finals.

One contentious decision that was proved correct upon review was the score review of a Jason Johannisen shot for goal that was subsequently overturned on replay, with Jeremy Laidler shown to have touched the ball before it crossed the goal line.