Hawthorn will seek answers over a half-time umpire call that revoked a Nick Watson goal for running off his mark as he was heading into goal.
The Hawks' livewire had a shot after the siren, with one adjudicator deeming he went off his line, ultimately denying Watson six points.
Sam Mitchell moved to ensure the club will seek answers.
"We'll certainly be going to the AFL to ask about it. It makes sense to me that that is a rule on the other side of the ground. As a right footer, there is absolutely no reason that a player would go wider to give themselves an advantage, and that's what the rule is there for," Mitchell said post-match.
"And it makes sense, but the vision doesn't look like he goes off his line much, but that's the umpire's call, and I can accept that. But the fact that you can go off the line towards the boundary and it be called play on ... there's no common sense about that.
"So, I would hope that we get an answer from the AFL, and I'm sure we will. They've been very good at giving us answers and giving us adjustments; they've done that really well. When something doesn't make sense, they fix it pretty quickly. So, 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."
"They're pretty keen to get the whistle out!" 🤐
Nick Watson could NOT believe his goal after the HT siren was wiped off for coming off his line, saying he asked questions of the umpire afterwards. #AFLSaintsHawks pic.twitter.com/fJ6gTTtKrv
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 28, 2026
Watson, who admitted at times he can go on an arc when kicking long distances, believed he ran as straight as he could, even though he got picked up by the umpire.
"Don't get me started. Was I actually off?" he questioned on Fox Footy.
"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."
