St Kilda have beaten Gold Coast by three points in controversial circumstances to condemn the finals-chasing Suns to their sixth defeat on the road from as many attempts. With Gold Coast leading by three points at Marvel Stadium, young Suns defender Mac Andrew was penalised for an off-the-ball hold on Saints spearhead Max King as the pair jostled close to goal. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Mac Andrew blows up as thrilling finish turns on dramatic free kick.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today With less than three minutes to go, much to Andrew’s dismay, King converted from point-blank range and St Kilda held on for a 7.9 (51) to 7.6 (48) win in front of 17,992 fans on Saturday night.
“He’s doing it to me! Oh my god. It’s gotta go both ways!” Andrew told the umpire. Luke Darcy in commentary noted the free kick was paid “about 100 metres” off the ball.
As replays rolled, both Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling struggled to come to terms with the decision: “Little bit of a tangle-up. I don’t like that. I’m not a fan of that at all,” Ling said.
Ex-Essendon captain Jobe Watson added: “Lot of off-the-ball (touches) — both players doing it to each other. There wasn’t an obvious pull-back from Andrew on King.” Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick argued it was “clearly in my view a free kick that was unwarranted”.
“Those guys are battling all day. I just think, the umpire calls it that’s his job, but unwarranted for mine,” he said. The .
