SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Tom Hawkins of the Cats reacts after kicking a behind on the final siren to draw the match during the round 15 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Geelong Cats at Spotless Stadium on July 1, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Geelong forward Tom Hawkins missed a set shot on the siren last night against Greater Western Sydney which would have handed the Cats victory against the ladder leaders.
Hawkins' shot went wide and the game ended in a draw, with the two sides splitting the points.
As Hawkins kicked for goal, the siren sounded and the umpire blew his whistle to signal the end of the game.
But teammate Cam Guthrie has questioned why the umpire, who was standing close to Hawkins at the time, felt the need to blow the whistle immediately, believing it may have had an impact on the big forward's kick on goal.
"I think it was a strange one to blow it, because as players, we’re quite conditioned to respond to the whistle, so I actually thought it was a 50-metre penalty," Guthrie said on Melbourne radio station, 3AW, on Sunday morning.
"I was thinking why is he blowing the whistle at this time.
“I just think you can wait until after the kick’s been taken.
"I know Tom said it didn't affect him, but I'd like to see it blown well after he's kicked the footy personally."
Former Richmond forward, Matthew Richardson, echoed Gurthrie's sentiments, telling the Cats' onballer he too believed the umpire had blown his whistle to signal a 50-metre penalty.
Geelong, who led by 13 points at three-quarter time, remain third on the ladder after the draw with the Giants.