Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says the controversial free kick against defender Mac Andrew that delivered St Kilda's dramatic match-winning goal over the Suns was "unwarranted".
With Gold Coast leading by three points at Docklands on Saturday night, Andrew was penalised for an off-the-ball hold on Saints spearhead Max King as the pair jostled close to goal late in the final quarter.
Much to Andrew's dismay, King converted from point-blank range and St Kilda held on to prevail 7.9 (51) to 7.6 (48) in front of 17,992 spectators.
Loading Twitter content
"It was clearly in my view, a free kick that was unwarranted," Hardwick said.
"It's tough. Those guys are battling all day. I just think the umpire calls it, that's his job, but unwarranted for mine.
"When two guys are going toe-to-toe, one's grabbing, the other one's grabbing, it's like well, which way do you go?
"He's probably only looking at one person trying to give away the free kick and it's the defender. So that's life."
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon refused to weigh in on whether the free kick should not have been paid.
"I'd say I've been to grand finals, where I could bang on about free kicks but I never have, good or bad," Lyon said.
"So I'm not here to bang on, good or bad.
"People get kneed in the head, they don't get paid free kicks. Stuff happens. Everything's good 'til it's not, isn't it?"
It spared St Kilda's blushes, mere minutes after Suns skipper Touk Miller escaped Marcus Windhager's tag to give the visitors the lead for the first time after the Saints had dominated much of the match without reward.
"Our inability to cash in was incredibly frustrating and left the door ajar for them," Lyon said.
"It could have gone either way in the end but I would have been devastated if we had have lost that game because I didn't think we should have been in that position."
The Suns (7-6) had the opportunity to cement themselves in the top eight but they will instead drop out by the round's end.
St Kilda (5-8) sit 14th, two wins outside the top eight.
"We let the game slip," Hardwick said.
"We should've, could've but didn't win."
Eagles' tight-lipped after loss to Kangaroos
West Coast coach Adam Simpson chose to remain silent for fear of getting into trouble after his side copped a controversial late umpiring decision in a nine-point loss to North Melbourne.
It was the Kangaroos' first win over the season after 11 defeats.
The Kangaroos looked set for a cruisy win after Jy Simpkin's goal early in the final quarter gave them a 33-point lead.
But six unanswered goals from West Coast — including three to Jake Waterman — put the home side in front with six minutes remaining.
Controversy erupted with a little over two minutes to go when Eagles star Elliot Yeo was adjudged to be holding the ball.
Yeo laid a big tackle on George Wardlaw, then was tackled himself by Simpkin immediately after grabbing the loose ball.
The Eagles were left astounded by the decision, with Simpson also displaying his disbelief from the coaches' box.
Simpkin nailed the 45-metre set-shot to give the Kangaroos the lead, and Paul Curtin kicked truly a short time later to seal the 11.8 (74) to 8.17 (65) win.
It marked North Melbourne's first victory since beating Gold Coast in the final round last year.
When asked about whether the free kick against Yeo should have been paid, Simpson replied: "I can't comment."
He was a bit more open when asked about the recent tweak to the holding-the-ball rule, which gives players less time to dispose of it.
"I think it will settle," Simpson said.
"Players adjust, but on the fly it is difficult.
"We can't coach differently, so I don't know what to say to Elliot … I don't know."
When again pushed on the Yeo free kick, Simpson bluntly batted it away.
"I'm not talking about that free kick any more, because I'll get in trouble," he said.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson claimed he did not see the free kick, but sympathised with the umpires.
"This is the hard thing for the umps, they're making hundreds of decisions a game," Clarkson said.
"And not just the ones where they're actually blowing the whistle, but they're making a decision all the time on what aren't free kicks or what aren't marks and that sort of stuff.
"It'll be disappointing given that there was 150 tackles or something in the game to just pinpoint one.
"But when it's a close game you can understand that fans would be upset."
Hawks win after late free
Hawthorn came from behind to beat the GWS by six points courtesy of a Luke Bruest goal from a free kick with about a minute left to play in Launceston.
The Hawks drew a down-field free with a minute to play after James Sicily was bumped late by Tom Green while kicking the ball inside 50.
Substitute Luke Bruest slotted the goal from near the posts, breaking a 79-79 deadlock for Hawthorn's fifth win from its past six matches.
The 12.13 (85) to 12.7 (79) result came after Hawthorn trailed by 19 points at half-time and puts them one win outside the top eight.
The top-four aspirations of the Giants have copped a blow — they have lost four of their past five matches after a 5-0 start to the year.
GWS coach Adam Kingsley refused to blame the umpiring call for the loss.
"I didn't see the free kick so I can't really comment on whether it was a free kick or not," he said.
"He's desperate to try and stop a score. Things happen when you're trying to stop a score. It is what it is, you move on."
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell also played a dead bat when asked about the free kick.
"I'm not sure. I haven't watched it again since. I was a bit worried Sicily has missed [his kick at goal]," he said.
ABC/AAP
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
Key events
- FT: Saints hang on to edge Suns
- 3QT: Saints lead but Suns in the hunt
- HT: Suns kick late goal to cut back Saints' lead
To leave a comment on the blog, please log in or sign up for an ABC account.
Live updates
Thanks for your company!
By Luke Pentony
That's all from us tonight after three tight matches on an action-packed Saturday.
The Hawks were the first to post a victory, defeating the Giants by a goal.
It was then the turn of the Kangaroos, who struck through for their first win of the season via a nine-point defeat of the Eagles.
And finally, it was the Saints who emerged triumphant against Suns with a three-point win.
Umpiring decisions across all three matches are being scrutinised, so expect to hear more on that front in the coming days.
Tomorrow, round 13 continues with the following matches:
- Swans vs Cats at the SCG from 3:20pm EST
- Bombers vs Blues at the MCG from 7:20pm EST
Thanks for joining is today and make sure to come back tomorrow as we take you through what promises to be two bumper matches.
Good night!
Match report: St Kilda 7.9 (51) def. Gold Coast Suns 7.6 (48)
St Kilda has beaten Gold Coast by three points in controversial circ*mstances 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 Docklands, 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.
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 spectators on Saturday night.
It spared St Kilda's blushes, mere minutes after Suns skipper Touk Miller escaped Marcus Windhager's tag to give the visitors the lead for the first time after the Saints had dominated much of the match without reward.
Damien Hardwick's Suns (7-6) had the opportunity to cement themselves in the top eight — and sit outside the top four on percentage alone — with a victory, but they will instead drop out of the eight by the round's end.
Ross Lyon's St Kilda (5-8) sit 14th, two wins outside the finals places.
For the Saints, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (28 disposals) and Jack Sinclair (31) were classy, while Rowan Marshall (24 hit-outs, seven clearances) and Jack Steele (20 disposals, six clearances) got to work on the inside.
Sam Collins worked hard in defence all game for the Suns, while Sam Flanders (42 disposals) continued his prolific form off half-back and Noah Anderson (29 touches) fought hard.
St Kilda's Dan Butler kicked two goals in the opening term and three for the match.
Butler's first came in controversial fashion after Andrew was penalised for shoving him off the ball, with the small forward going down easily then converting.
It helped the Saints to a 12-point lead at the first change.
But St Kilda suffered an early blow, with defender Dougal Howard forced off with a hamstring injury and replaced by veteran Seb Ross.
Across the second and third quarters, the Saints failed to make their dominance count and led by just eight points at the final change.
Talented young Suns defender Bodhi Uwland took a terrific flying contested mark over Max King early in the final term, then stopped a would-be goal with a fingertip smother.
The Suns kept pressing and finally hit the front for the first time when Miller swooped on a Ned Moyle tap-down and snapped truly.
But King's late goal left the Suns to rue what might have been.
That free kick - yay or nay?
By Luke Pentony
What did you think of the late free kick awarded to the Saints?
Yes or no?
Loading Twitter content
Enjoy the win, Saints fans
By Luke Pentony
Loading Twitter content
Take a bow, Sam Flanders
By Luke Pentony
Sam Flanders can hold his head high after a massive night at the office for the Suns, despite the result.
Loading Twitter content
Key Event
FT: Saints hang on to edge Suns
By Luke Pentony
SAINTS WIN!!! SAINTS WIN!!!
It won't go down as a classic, but what a frantic finish!
The Suns poured on the pressure inside the Saints' defensive 50 but the home side found enough in the tank to hang on and win 7.9 (51) to 7.6 (48).
It's back-to-back victories for the Saints, although the result was in doubt until the final siren.
The Suns had got their noses in front late in the fourth term but Max King put the Saints on top with the match-winning goal after being awarded a free kick.
The Saints move to 14th place on the ladder with their fifth win of the season.
For the Suns, they will stay in eighth place until Monday when the Magpies and Demons face off in the King's birthday match at the MCG.
The Suns, Magpies and Demons are all 28 points so whatever result comes from Monday's match, Damien Hardwick's troops will slip out of the top eight.
Max King puts Saints back in front
By Luke Pentony
Max King coolly slots his second goal of the night after Mac Andrew gave away a free following an off-the-ball incident inside the Saints' attacking 50.
Saints are ahead, but only by three points.
Suns denied as Saints save a goal
By Luke Pentony
The Suns appeared set to to build on their lead with a major when Ben Ainsworth had a shot on goal.
But great defensive work from Anthony Caminiti saw the Saint touch the ball on the line and upon a score review, it was judged to be a behind.
Suns hit the front
By Luke Pentony
It's taken until late in the fourth term, but the Suns have claimed the lead for the first time in the match.
Touk Miller scoops up loose ball inside the Suns' attacking 50 and with a crisp snap on goal he puts his side on top.
Suns in front by two points.
Fatigue a factor in final quarter
By Luke Pentony
There's some tired legs out there as we enter the final eight minutes of the match.
Fatigue is playing a role with the decision-making of both sides, with each making some late interchange plays.
Ben King stands tall for Suns
By Luke Pentony
The Suns trail by only three points after Ben King converts from in front of goal.
Ben Long, who has been one of the Suns' best all night, got a right-foot snap away under heavy pressure from the Saints and it was King on hand to take the mark.
That's King's second goal of the match.
Saints denied a goal
By Luke Pentony
Some desperate defensive work from Bodhi Uwland saves a goal for the Suns.
Dan Butler was celebrating what he thought was his fourth goal of the night, but upon a score review it was shown that Uwland had got a hand to the ball when he attempted a smother.
A behind for the Saints, who lead by nine points.
Fourth quarter starts - who you got?
By Luke Pentony
Can the Saints fire in the final quarter to ice the win?
Or will the Suns get a long-awaited away victory?
Here we go in the fourth quarter!
Key Event
3QT: Saints lead but Suns in the hunt
By Luke Pentony
We're set for a grandstand finish in the final quarter, as the Saints take a 6.7 (43) to 5.5 (35) lead into the fourth term.
The Suns lifted their effort in the third term after trailing by 14 points at half-time.
The Saints have their noses in front but the Suns will back their chances of finishing over the top of the home side.
Matt Rowell opens his account for Suns
By Luke Pentony
Matt Rowell shows his class as he gets his first goal of the match.
Rowell produced some outstanding defensive work from the centre bounce that followed Butler's goal, before the ball moved forward inside the Suns' attacking 50.
The former number-one draft pick was later on hand to take a snap on goal, and with one awkward bounce the Suns had their fifth major as we approach three-quarter time.
Dan Butler gets his third
By Luke Pentony
Swallow's goal is cancelled out, as Dan Butler adds his third major of the match.
Butler was awarded a free kick and he nailed his set-shot to move the Saints back out to a 14-point advantage.
David Swallow on the board for Suns
By Luke Pentony
After being activated as a tactical sub to replace Brayden Fiorini, Suns veteran David Swallow makes his presence felt with a much-needed goal for the visitors.
The Suns trail by eight points as we head towards the final change.
Jack Higgins stretches Saints' lead
By Luke Pentony
Loading Twitter content
Some great lead-up work from the Saints sees Jack Higgins kick his second goal of the evening.
Bradley Hill found Mason Wood inside the attacking 50, before the ball went forward with pinpoint delivery to Higgins, who was lurking on his own in the goal square.
Higgins slotted the major and the Saints are back out to a 14-point lead.
Suns waste golden chance
By Luke Pentony
The Suns have upped their intensity in the third quarter but they have been their own worst enemy at times when it comes to efforts on goal.
After Mason Wood turned over possession inside the Saints' defensive 50, Jack Lukosius appeared to have a regulation set-shot attempt but he sprayed his attempt to the left and only came away with a behind.
It's unlikely Wood would have been spared a bake from Saints coach Ross Lyon, who was straight on the phone after he turned the ball over to the Suns.
Suns start brightly in third quarter
By Luke Pentony
Ben Long has been putting in the effort for the Suns all night and he is rewarded with the first goal of the third quarter.
It's the Saints still in front, but their lead is down to eight points.
The ABC of SPORT
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.
Your information is being handled in accordance with the
ABC Privacy Collection Statement.
