I don't understand why people still have such strong opinions about Rampe climbing the post. Myers’ shot fell 10-15m short, so you can’t really say some minor indirect post-wobbling affected the outcome of the game.
There’s one rule about post-shaking, and it doesn’t quite cover what Rampe did. The umpire in a high-pressure situation had to make a decision whether to apply an ill-fitting rule and decide the game on a technicality, or use his discretion, make in his view a common-sense call to tell the player to knock it off, and let the players decide who won. I think he made the right call.
The AFL then had to decide whether to effectively condone what Rampe did, suspend him for (maybe?) breaking a rule, or give him a fine because on the night he was basically acting like a knob. Again, I think they made the right call.
But just so we’re clear, do people actually think the right decision is that Essendon was awarded a free kick and the game was decided that way, or are people just flapping their hands in the air saying ‘where is the consistency’?
