This brings back painful memories for me of a colts GF at Claremont Oval a decade ago. After being undefeated all season, we lost the grand final by 2pts in a low scoring affair.
The only problem was, the opposition kicked 2 of their 5 goals in the 10min after half time while having an extra player on the field. I couldn't understand how they had so many free players and after kicking the first goal and finding myself lined up on 2 opposition players at CHB, I immediately counted the number of players on the ground and told the umpire about the problem. He wouldn't perform a head count unless the captain requested it who was on the other side of the ground as they kicked a second goal.
In arguing with the umpire and yelling out at our captain, the opposition bench and runner realised the problem and immediately came out to drag a player off which I understandably yelled at the umpire about. Just as the extra reached the boundary, our captain overheard the commotion and called a head count which was obviously too late and so the umpires resumed the game. The consolation GF medals the club made us and the following season points docked off the opposition meant nothing to me.
It's a stupid rule requiring a head count to be ordered by a captain and a waste of time that will cost a side a game. The rules are outdated as they were in the SANFL and NEAFL where both sides should have had at least that quarter wiped from their score. Extra players on the ground can have huge repercussions and should be an immediate penalty, not the pathetic slaps on the wrist in these recent matches.
