Carlton have held on for a thrilling five-point victory over arch rivals Essendon in a pulsating AFL clash that went down to the final seconds at the MCG. The Bombers, trailing by 11 points with less than 30 seconds remaining, mounted a desperate comeback when defender Zach Reid was swung forward and took a spectacular mark in front of goal. He quickly went back and kicked the goal, keeping his side's slim hopes alive.
With just nine seconds left on the clock, Essendon had one last chance to generate a score. A perfect centre clearance and a mark or free kick inside 50 could have snatched the game. However, an uncharacteristic fumble from Zach Merrett stalled their break from the centre circle, and the clock ran down to zero, sealing Carlton's win.
Controversy Over Harry McKay's Gamesmanship
The Bombers may feel hard done by, as a controversial moment involving Carlton forward Harry McKay occurred about a minute earlier. McKay took a mark outside 50 near the boundary line with one minute and 43 seconds left. With the player on the mark standing at about 55 metres and a pack on the goal line, McKay would have needed to kick the ball nearly 65 metres to score a goal. Despite the long odds, the former Coleman medallist gestured towards goal, convincing the umpire to allocate 30 seconds for a shot on goal instead of the usual eight seconds for a mark around the ground.
Commentators were divided. Kane Cornes on Channel 7 questioned whether the umpire would believe McKay's intent. Brian Taylor was skeptical, saying, "Surely not. You can't give him 30 from there. He's appealing for it. Oh, c'mon — the man on the mark's at 55! They're giving him the 30. Even he is having a giggle."
McKay began his approach to goals with 1:14 left and didn't kick until the 1:03 mark. Predictably, he didn't take the shot, instead kicking to the top of the goal square. "He doesn't even go for it in the end," Taylor said. "Umpires were completely conned on that one I reckon, late in the game. And it's cost them (Essendon) 30 seconds."
The ball was contested by a pack of players, leading to a stoppage with 55 seconds left. After Reid's goal a minute later, those seconds proved crucial in the final result.
More to come...
