The AFL has acknowledged that umpires made a mistake during the final quarter of Friday night's match between Adelaide and Fremantle, according to reports. The error involved a 6-6-6 rule infringement by the Dockers that went unpenalized, sparking frustration from Crows veteran Taylor Walker.
With 6.36 minutes remaining and Fremantle leading by three points, the Dockers had seven defenders in their defensive 50-meter arc, violating the 6-6-6 rule which requires six players in each zone at centre bounces. The boundary umpire was seen alerting the field umpire to the issue, but play resumed without a penalty.
As it was Fremantle's first infringement of the rule, they would have received only a warning. However, the mistake was raised by Adelaide officials this week, and the AFL has reportedly admitted the on-field umpires got the call wrong. The Crows do not believe the error impacted the game's outcome, according to veteran journalist Caroline Wilson.
Footy pundit Kane Cornes described the incident as a 'big story', noting Walker's visible anger. Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge argued the warning system for first-time 6-6-6 infringements should be scrapped, saying players know the rules and umpires should blow the whistle immediately.
