Three contentious free kicks, one crazy minute: The detailed verdict on preliminary final umpiring calls

September 20, 2026 — 1:25pm

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The skills of the players in this intense, classic preliminary final between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions were the real highlight but when three free kicks are paid in the final 61 seconds and the lead changes those umpiring decisions will be examined and reviewed in fine detail.

Football writers Peter Ryan, Marc McGowan and former AFL grand final umpire “Razor” Ray Chamberlain took a close look at the final three free kicks to the Brisbane Lions and whether they were justified.

1. Lewis shows insufficient intent (62 seconds remaining)

Peter Ryan says: The only query is whether a free kick would be paid in the first minute of a game, but beyond that, there is no doubt it was a free kick. The AFL clarified the rule after round two this season in a memo to clubs, which basically said a token effort to touch the ball before it went out of bounds would be insufficient intent. Mitch Lewis would have got away with it if he’d either grabbed the ball and momentum took him out or made a genuine attempt to keep the ball in play (which is difficult as he would have risked missing the ball). It’s a fair call. And remember Lewis hardly fumbled all match. His response to the decision was very professional.

Marc McGowan says: Lewis wasn’t trying to keep the ball in play. AFL........

© Brisbane Times