VAFA Statement: U19 Division 2 Grand Final

There has been a lot of media focus on the ending of the VAFA U19 Division 2 Grand Final between Old Camberwell and University Blues played last Saturday at La Trobe University.

Unfortunately not all the commentary around the issue has been based on fact.

It is therefore important for us to outline the key matters as follows:

• Just prior to the final siren, the controlling umpire paid a free kick for a trip to the University Blues player.
• AFL Law of the Game 10.5 applies when the umpire believes a free kick is warranted before the siren, but the siren then goes before they have had time to pay it. The umpire is required to ‘… signal that play has come to an end and then award the Free Kick or Mark to the Player.’ The umpire has applied this law correctly, and there has been no mistake in the timing of the signals for end of quarter and the free kick;
• The Old Camberwell players on the bench, upon hearing the siren and possibly reacting to the umpire’s signal, mistakenly run onto the field; 
  • At least two field umpires signal to the Old Camberwell bench players to remove themselves from the area, but their instructions are not registered by the players;
  • The Old Camberwell bench players run into the protected area of the University Player taking the free kick;
  • The controlling umpire awards the 50m penalty under AFL Law of the Game 19.2(d):
    “19.2 WHEN IMPOSED”- Where a field Umpire has awarded a Mark or Free Kick to a Player, a Fifty Metre Penalty in favour of that Player will be awarded if the field Umpire is of the opinion that any Player or Official from the opposing Team: d) enters the Protected Area.

The VAFA are fully satisfied that the umpire correctly adjudicated the situation in accordance with the appropriate AFL Laws of the Game.

Ends.