HERE is a tip for players to avoid embarrassment.

Understand the rules and how they can be applied.

Understand what happens with score reviews and countdown clocks.

Understand how various grounds' scoreboards display certain information.

It's important, because the reality is Greater Western Sydney and Geelong made moves in games six days apart in rounds nine and 10 that were the difference between winning and losing because they were switched on to such things better than their opposition.

The coaches – to their credit – understood the decisions and backed the umpires after both matches.

However, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has since made the salient point that his players were caught out when Shai Bolton's 'goal' late in the game against the Giants in round nine was overturned through score review after it was seen on replay to be touched.

Part celebrating, part disappointed, part disoriented, the Tigers scrambled to set up to save the game from a kick-out and failed to do so quickly enough, opening the door for GWS to kick the latest of late goals to win the game.

The lesson for players is that every goal is reviewed, so it can be important to hedge your bets in such situations as the decision will determine how you set up to save the game.

If the umpire calls a behind, however, it will only be reviewed if the on-field adjudicators call for it, not as a matter of course, a fact Fremantle coach Ross Lyon was uncertain about when Brady Grey kicked what appeared to be a goal against the Tigers in round eight.

If the umpires don't call for a review, get on with the game, because the moment has gone.

At Simonds Stadium, with Port Adelaide three points up against Geelong, Charlie Dixon took a mark inside 50 but was caught out by old thinking that says take your time.



Play on: Charlie Dixon gets the handball away as Mitch Duncan storms in. Picture: AFL Photos



As soon as the umpire signalled a mark had been taken, the countdown clock began ticking, allowing Dixon 30 seconds to begin his approach to goal.



Watch: Charlie Dixon loses track of time after mark

Some have argued the countdown should have begun when Dixon stood up, as he fell to the ground when he took the mark.

The truth is, an umpire can use his or her discretion to call time-on and delay the countdown if a significant halt is likely, which may happen if a player is injured or the ball is kicked away.

However, waiting for a player to pick himself up is not reason enough to call time-on, so the clock – operated by an AFL-appointed official at all venues – kept ticking.

When the 30 seconds elapsed, the controlling umpire, who appeared to have his back to the scoreboard at the time, correctly called play on.

Geelong players knew time was ticking.

Speaking on RSN927 on Tuesday, Joel Selwood said, "If you take your eyes off what you're doing, the game can quickly go past you.

"I saw Charlie get up really slowly, and I thought, let's put some pressure on the umpire here."

"Not that he's going to call to him to play on before the 30, but understand we've been looking at the clock and that it is ticking down."

Cats midfielder Mitch Duncan also twigged to the situation when he heard the umpire yell in Dixon's direction he had eight seconds left.

Dixon clearly didn't hear that call, his mind focusing on the set shot, but there is only so much an umpire can do to make him aware.

As Port's Brad Ebert said on Monday, Dixon's teammates probably had some responsibility to hurry him up.

The fact that Duncan, Lachie Henderson and Selwood were so switched on to the situation is a credit to them and played a significant role in Geelong winning the game. Port Adelaide's players weren't.

Perhaps the Cats knew to look at the bottom right of the scoreboard for the clock, whereas Port players were in unfamiliar territory and therefore didn't know where to look.

The lesson is that these days it's not just about knowing the rule, but about how it will apply at each venue in each situation.

That time has arrived where it can be the difference between winning and losing.

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