Sydney have escaped with a heart-stopping three-point AFL win over Collingwood after a controversial non-decision in the final minute of the game.
Having conceded five goals in a row, the Magpies had one last foray forward with about 40 seconds left on the clock when Dan McStay took a mark between centre half forward and the centre circle.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sydney get away with controversial umpiring decision.
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He went back off his mark and was followed by his direct opponent Tom McCartin, who ran clearly over the mark.
Seven’s commentators thought for sure it would have been a free kick, but McCartin went unpenalised despite McStay’s protests.
“He’s five metres over (the mark)!” Luke Hodge said of McCartin.
The Swans defender eventually did retreat back, but Hodge thought the free kick should have already been paid by then.
Made to go back off his mark, McStay pumped it into the forward line for one last roll of the dice, but the Swans repelled and the siren went shortly after.
Discussing the moment after the game, Matthew Richardson said he had some sympathy for the umpire.
“(McCartin’s) got momentum coming through, you can’t stop dead straight away,” he said.
“He does come back, and the umpire’s right there and obviously thinks he’s come back far enough.
“Then he’s (the umpire) called ‘play on’.”
A 50-metre penalty would have given McStay a shot for goal from about 20 metres out, directly in front, to take the lead back with just seconds left on the clock.
“I’d be fuming if I were a Collingwood fan,” North Melbourne great David King said.
“Exactly the same as the North Melbourne 50-metre penalty a few weeks back.
“Just call it — it’s there. Have the prunes to administer the rules!
“Great game, lots to celebrate, but gee whiz!”
The Swans were 27 points down 14 minutes into the last quarter before kicking five in a row to “come from the clouds”, as James Brayshaw said, to win.
It was a late Errol Gulden goal that gave the Swans the lead and helped snap their three-game AFL losing streak.
After trailing at every break, the Swans dug deep and surged to life in the final term in front of 37,584 fans to scrape together a 13.11 (89) to 12.14 (86) victory at the SCG on Friday night.
A 21-point three-quarter time deficit was quickly shaved to two points in 10 minutes courtesy of goals from Will Hayward (three goals), Logan McDonald, Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney, before Gulden kicked the match-winner.
It marked the league-leading Swans’ first win since round 18, and marked a swift response to their 112-point loss at Port Adelaide last Saturday.
Meanwhile, 11th-placed Collingwood’s premiership defence is almost certainly over.
Craig McRae’s side, who sit outside the top eight by four points, must defeat premiership favourites Brisbane and 11th-placed Melbourne to keep their finals hopes alive but other results will need to fall their way.
Warner (two goals, 33 touches) was outstanding for the Swans, while Heeney (one, 32) produced an electric fourth-quarter performance to haul his side over the line.
A Hayward goal got the Swans’ machine humming early in the first quarter, courtesy of a free kick from Collingwood’s milestone man Jeremy Howe in his 250th match, for tackling without possession.
But the Magpies responded with five of the last six goals of the term to lead by 13 points at the first break and condemn the Swans to their 13th first-quarter defeat of the season.
Luke Parker helped put Sydney ahead with his second of the night to ignite a three-goal chain in the opening 10 minutes of the second term.
Collingwood forward Beau McCreery rebuilt the Magpies’ lead with their only goal of the quarter, earning a three-point buffer at halftime.
Bobby Hill then extended their advantage to 21 points with two goals within 10 minutes in the third term, before Sydney flicked the switch in the final quarter.
Pies veteran Steele Sidebottom wound back the clock with an impressive midfield display, collecting 21 touches, 10 contested possessions and six clearances.
Nick Daicos faced close attention from Sydney tagger James Jordon all night but managed to shine with 25 disposals and seven clearances.
Meanwhile, Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz could be in trouble for a dump tackle on Heeney that left the Sydney star dazed in the first quarter.
– With AAP
