AFL great Leigh Matthews has slammed the league's treatment of the umpires who paid contentious free kicks to Brisbane star Cam Rayner off the ball.
Lions forward Cam Rayner was paid two free kicks in the goal square for contact off the ball in the qualifying final between Brisbane and Geelong on Friday night, a game that the Lions ultimately lost by38 points.
Matthews, who has won eight premierships across his playing and coaching career, explained that the AFL shouldn't have thrown the umpires under the bus.
"I hate the fact the AFL have thrown their umpire under the bus. Okay, it was probably a bad decision, but you don’t have to say it too categorically,” Matthews said on AFL 360.
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“They employ the umpires — it’s like a coach and his team. The AFL’s team of officiators is the umpires; treat them with respect, and don’t throw them under the bus.
“(I think) they should’ve said: ‘It was a very contentious decision, and the umpire at the time chose to give it’… you’ve got to look after your umpires, and every other umpire out in the suburbs."
Matthews continued on by saying that there shouldn't be contact between two players so far away from the ball.
“It’s not like you’re 10m from the ball and you’re pushing and shoving each other. There’s no doubt that Cam Rayner exaggerated the contact, and the contact from the defender was very little," Matthews said.
"But at the same time, there should be no contact … all I’m saying is, there should be no contact 100m from the ball, in principle.”
Brisbane will be hoping to rectify their loss, taking on Gold Coast at the Gabba this Saturday night in a semi final, the first time there has been a 'Q Clash' in finals.