The Adelaide Crows have found themselves on the wrong end of the umpire’s whistle once again, with a controversial call in their recent clash against Geelong sparking renewed frustration among fans and club officials. This latest incident, which saw Geelong awarded a crucial free kick due to an incorrect umpire decision, marks the fifth such contentious moment for the Crows in just three seasons. The recurring nature of these calls has led to a growing sentiment that the club is suffering from a string of bad luck or, at the very least, a consistent officiating oversight.
Let’s take a look back at the series of unfortunate events that have plagued the Adelaide Crows:
Dawson’s Pie to the Face: Round 15, 2023
During a pivotal Round 15 match in 2023 against Collingwood, a game that held significant implications for Adelaide’s finals aspirations, a critical moment unfolded with just 15 seconds remaining. Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson received the ball deep in his team’s forward 50. In a play that would later be heavily scrutinised, Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott made contact with Dawson’s face, leading to him dropping the ball.
Adelaide’s ruckman, Reilly O’Brien, expressed strong conviction that Dawson should have been awarded a free kick, citing the AFL’s high contact rules. He noted, “Daws had a pretty fat lip with a lot of blood coming out of it post-game, he certainly got some contact.”
The AFL subsequently acknowledged that the incident was missed by all four umpires due to restricted viewing angles.
Keays’ Post-Goal Goalpost Call: Round 23, 2023
Just eight weeks later, in what was essentially Adelaide’s last chance to secure a finals berth in 2023, another controversial call marred their game against Sydney. Ben Keays kicked what appeared to be a crucial goal with only 78 seconds left on the clock, putting the Crows four points ahead. However, Keays’ jubilant celebration was cut short when the umpire ruled the ball had grazed the goalpost. Subsequent replays, however, strongly suggested otherwise.
No score review was initiated, and despite the perceived injustice, Adelaide was awarded a single point. The AFL attributed the error to human fallibility. This explanation, however, did little to appease Crows chairman John Olson, who labelled the incident “appalling, inexcusable injustice.”
Draper’s Ball Grab: Round 4, 2024
The Crows’ struggles with officiating continued into the 2024 season. In an early-season encounter against Essendon, they were again denied what many believed should have been a free kick. Essendon’s ruckman, Sam Draper, appeared to be holding the ball, but no whistle was blown.
An AFL spokesperson later commented on the incident, stating, “In review, and with the assistance of the broadcast angle and behind the goals Hawkeye vision providing a clearer look, you can see that the ball moves from under Draper’s chest – to under his armpit/shoulder – which means the ball is still in his possession, and he has not immediately knocked it clear. Therefore, it technically should have been a holding the ball free kick.”
Had Adelaide been awarded the free kick and converted, they would have won the match. Instead, they ultimately lost by three points.
Rankine’s Ruined Catch: Round 4, 2025
The pattern of contentious umpiring continued into the 2025 season. In a match against the Gold Coast Suns, Izak Rankine appeared to take a clean mark on his chest in the left forward pocket. However, following a challenge from Gold Coast’s Sam Collins, Rankine dropped the ball. The umpire called play on, and the Suns went on to secure a narrow one-point victory.
The following morning, the AFL conceded that Rankine should have either been awarded a mark or a free kick for being held up during the marking contest. This admission offered little solace to the Crows, with CEO Tom Silvers stating that such post-game acknowledgements were “of no use or benefit to our club.”
Taylor’s Second-Last Touch: Round 3, 2026
The most recent incident, occurring in Round 3 of the 2026 season, involved Zac Taylor and a new interpretation of the “last touch” rule. Replays indicated that the ball had last been touched by Geelong’s Tom Atkins, yet the free kick was awarded against Taylor. Once again, the league has since acknowledged an error and has committed to reviewing its “late-in-game process.”
This ongoing saga of incorrect calls has undoubtedly taken a toll on Crows supporters, who are forced to witness their team suffer the consequences of officiating mistakes time and time again. While some may dismiss these occurrences as mere bad luck, the sheer frequency of such incidents for Adelaide suggests a deeper issue that requires more than just post-game apologies. The club and its fans are left hoping for a more consistent and accurate application of the rules to ensure fair competition moving forward.
