The AFL has addressed the ongoing umpiring controversy stemming from last Thursday’s Collingwood-Fremantle match, which focused on the treatment of Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz, who sustained a concussion during play. In the aftermath of the incident, the league initially stated that umpires failed to halt the match because they were unaware Schultz was injured. This claim left many fans and analysts perplexed, questioning how the umpires could overlook such an obvious injury.
However, a subsequent revelation, aided by audio footage released by Channel Seven, contradicted the AFL’s original statement, showing that the umpires were indeed aware of Schultz’s condition but opted not to stop the game. This led to the AFL publishing a second statement that further undermined the umpires’ credibility, indicating a failure in communication from the AFL’s umpires department that contributed to the false assumptions made in the initial statement.
During this succession of statements, AFL football boss Laura Kane acknowledged the misinformation, admitting, “The statement we released was incorrect,” and underscored the importance of accurate communication in such critical situations. The AFL ultimately took responsibility for the mishap, with Kane pointing out that the failure to follow appropriate procedures fell on the organisation, not the field umpires.
On Wednesday evening, Kane issued a third statement clarifying the matter, admitting that a miscommunication from the umpiring department led to the initial failures. She stressed that all umpires involved have been reminded of proper protocols and that the league has engaged with the AFL Umpires Association to ensure player safety is the paramount concern.
Collingwood’s football boss, Charlie Gardiner, voiced his surprise at the AFL’s internal communication during the ordeal, reiterating the club’s belief that play should have been stopped for Schultz. Despite the AFL’s later admissions, the club indicated that the initial position on the matter remained unchanged.
Schultz is currently undergoing light training at Collingwood’s Olympic Park facilities but remains sidelined indefinitely due to his concussion. The Magpies are set to face Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday, navigating the implications of this controversy as they deal with their player’s health and the scrutiny surrounding the officiating decisions made during the match.