St Kilda veteran Nick Riewoldt used all of his valuable experience to win the Saints a 50 metre penalty against the Docker late in the Saint's nine-point win over Fremantle on Sunday night.
St Kilda forward Tim Membrey marked the ball inside 50, before the Sherrin was knocked out of his hands as he fell to ground. As Membrey was walking back to his mark and the umpire was facing the opposite direction as he adjudicated where the man on the mark should stand, Riewoldt called for the ball from Dockers youngster, Griffin Logue, who threw the ball to the Saints' veteran.
However, as it was Membrey's kick and not Riewoldt's, Rooey stepped out of the way the ball came to him and it landed on the ground as he put his arms up and complained to the umpire, who awarded a 50 metre penalty for not passing the ball back to Membrey.
A 50 metre penalty was given for this incident. #AFLFreoSaints pic.twitter.com/r5KGi5em84
— AFL (@AFL) July 2, 2017
The cheeky ploy received mixed reviews from fans, with some believing he crossed the line, while others simply applauded his intelligence.
The goal which followed put St Kilda in front with six and a half minutes remaining.
What Nick Riewoldt was nothing but cheating and the umpires have a lot to answer for @AFL #AFLFreoSaints
— Shan๐ซ๐ท๐ซ๐ท๐ซ๐ท๐๐ฅ (@Holdenman78) July 2, 2017
Thought Nick Riewoldt was better than this. @TrevorRobb https://t.co/S0tZUrR4tI
— Andrew Burrell (@AndrewBurrell7) July 2, 2017
Harsh lesson but Nick Riewoldt teaching a young player a lesson in naivety isn't cheating. It just showed his young opponent to be naive.
— Mitchell Scott (@WhippingBoySEN) July 2, 2017
Pretty average behaviour by Nick Riewoldt yesterday. It might be legal, and it's not a punch behind play, but still average. #AFLFreoSaints
— Dan Ranson (@danranson_) July 2, 2017
That was disgraceful from Nick Riewoldt, really poor form
— Stephen Trotman (@bodyfortyeight) July 2, 2017
Shame that a player of Nick Riewoldt's caliber resorts to this. Reminds me of the diving that goes on in soccer, embarrassing.
— Craig (@100lyds) July 2, 2017
Just saw the Nick Riewoldt incident..nothing wrong done on his behalf. #donthatetheplayerhatethegame #AFLFreoSaints
— Adrian (@Ar__dixon) July 2, 2017
Bit of a dick move by Nick Riewoldt tbh
— แตสณสทแตโฟ (@arwon) July 2, 2017
Absolutely no issue with Nick Riewoldt baiting Logue. Brilliant by the veteran, actually.
— Nic Negrepontis (@NicNegrepontis) July 2, 2017
Just saw Nick Riewoldt's little trick to win a 50m penalty. That's shocking form if it is what it looks like. Very, very poor.
— Simon Morawetz (@SYMorawetz) July 2, 2017
nick riewoldt. can't walk into milk bar and buy $5 worth of experience #genius
— Keegan Carr (@keegancarr30) July 2, 2017
like: the experienced Nick Riewoldt tricking the youngster into a fifty metre penalty late in the game
— Brendan Davis (@Brendandavis97) July 2, 2017
Nick Riewoldt as bad as Clayton Oliver and Alex Rance. Staging for a free is staging for a free. Dick moves, all of them. #AFLFreoSaints
— Matt (@opiatus) July 2, 2017
