The Bombers were nearly caught with 19 players on the field at the start of the fourth quarter during their clash with Geelong.
Just before the siren sounded to start the final term, Markย Baguley sprinted from half forward to the interchange, causing Geelong players to try to alert the umpires. Luckily for Essendon, Baguley made it off the field before the ball was bounced.
Had 19 players been on the field and Cats skipper Joel Selwood called for a head count, Essendon's score would have been wiped per league rules.
Therefore, the Bombers, who led by 48 points, would have trailed the Cats by 23 points had they started the quarter with 19 players on the field.
It would have been nothing short of a disaster for Essendon, who have endured their fair share of critics this week and finally put in a big performance at the MCG, upsetting the Cats.
AFL rules of the game read:
5.5.3 Players Exceeding Permitted Number
Where a Team has more than the permitted number of Players on theย Playing Surface, the following shall apply:
(a) a field Umpire shall award a Free Kick to the captain or actingย captain of the opposing Team, which shall be taken at the Centreย Circle or where play was stopped, whichever is the greater penaltyย against the offending Team;
(b) a 50-Metre Penalty shall then be imposed from the positionย where the Free Kick was awarded; and
(c) the Team shall lose all points which it has scored in the Match upย to the time of the count.
