Consistency in the AFL is once again in the spotlight after Melbourne's Latrelle Pickett avoided scrutiny for running off his mark during a set-shot, only days after Hawthorn's Nick Watson was denied a goal.
Football media was thrown into a frenzy when Watson's goal on Thursday night was disallowed after the umpire, standing directly behind the Hawks livewire, said he ran off his line from a set-shot after the half-time siren. It was the correct call, but it was pedantic.
Nevertheless, the league moved to support the call, releasing the following statement:
"The umpire, positioned directly behind the kick, correctly disallowed the score after Nick Watson moved off his line to the right and didn't kick the ball over the man on the mark," a statement, released on Friday afternoon, read.
"The AFL have contacted Hawthorn and St Kilda today to provide an explanation regarding the decision."
A fan's angle confirmed the AFL's assertion, even to the perplexity of the fans. But you'd assume consistency in the professional competition.
On Sunday, merely days after Watson's controversial call, Pickett, with the broadcast camera directly behind him, did the same thing.
Latrelle Pickett goals on the HT siren 🚨#AFLDeesGiants pic.twitter.com/T92w5TmIAW
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 31, 2026
To keep the Demons in touch with the Giants, Melbourne's forward veered, albeit slightly, to the right of the man of the mark in a bid to avoid kicking directly over his hands.
The umpire, standing directly behind, had no issue with it as the clock ticked down towards the half-time siren. Same action, different outcome.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell was baffled by the call, suggesting it didn't make sense for a right-footer to push himself towards the boundary, as Watson did.
"Why would he run wider to give himself a harder shot and get called a play on? Didn't make a lot of sense, I'm glad it was in a game where individual tiny scores didn't matter, but I hope that's something they rectify," he said.
Watson, a goalsneak, was dirty with the call.
"Don't get me started. Was I actually off?" he questioned on Fox Footy after the win.
"They are pretty keen to get the whistle out. I just copped it on the chin. I thought I ran as straight as I could. I thought I did my best, but it is what it is."
