Former AFL umpire Ray Chamberlain believes the Nick Watson no-goal call last week was wrong for one key reason.
The Hawks livewire was denied a major against St Kilda last week after the half-time siren due to the adjudicating umpire deeming Watson ran off his line - towards the boundary - before having a shot on goal.
Chamberlain, noting the law in the rule book, explains the incorrect call was made because Watson didn't improve his angle to goal.
"Just because he goes around the corner makes no difference," he said on AFL360.
"The law, as it states, addendum B is you can go wherever you like, so long as you do not improve your angle towards the goal posts. And he doesn't do that.
"The literal application of the law says there is no problem with that. Whether he goes one step, two steps, is that okay? Doesn't matter, because he didn't improve his angle on goal.
"I do want to highlight, for one second having been a senior-listed umpire, that the intention of addendum B was to allow them to go out to the side.
'HOW CAN THE AFL SAY THAT'S RIGHT?!'
Ex-AFL umpire 'Razor' Ray Chamberlain says the Nick Watson call last weekend was wrong, as the #AFL360 panel questions how the league could've ticked it off. pic.twitter.com/W2ykWaUzNR
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 2, 2026
"We'll see two reasons why that is the case. I don't think there's any requirement for umpire intervention (with Watson).
"My interpretation of their behaviour is (the AFL) know that part B, addendum B is cumbersome and doesn't represent what they want to see on the field."
Examples throughout the season are being pulled out of the woodworks.
On Sunday, Melbourne's Latrelle Pickett looked to veer off his line during a set-shot routine, but wasn't called play on.
Carlton's Talor Byrne against Collingwood, when he had a shot after the siren, was another who swerved, only minimally, in his run-up before kicking the ball.
Some have even gone back to the 2023 grand final between the Pies and Lions, where Jordan De Goey, after the quarter-time siren, curved right to assist with extending his kick from outside 50.
The AFL backed the umpire's call of Watson's disallowed goal, and now has opened up interpretation of the rule, which Chamberlain says is there only when players improve their angle to the big sticks.
