The AFL world explodes over the ‘disgraceful’ decision in Carlton’s win over the GWS Giants

The AFL world erupted after Carlton was awarded a controversial free kick in the final quarter of his narrow 10-point win over the GWS Giants on Saturday.

As the Giants took a five-point lead with 11 minutes left, young Blue Corey Durdin came up from behind and it looked like the Giants were about to get the ball back.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The controversial call that helped Carlton win.

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But the referee awarded a free-kick to Stephen Coniglio for objection, although that wasn’t immediately clear.

Lachie Whitfield protested, thinking he was called, but the referee explained that Coniglio was penalized for stretching his arms and denying a call that failed to save the ball.

“Contradiction. All clear (behind) and dissent so there will be a Carlton free kick here,” referee Craig Fleer is heard saying.

The referee later explained what had happened.

“It’s not what he said — it wasn’t you (Whitfield), it was Steve Coniglio,” Fleer said.

“There was a decision that didn’t pay, so the ball went through (for a deficit) and he (Coniglio) went. ‘How’s that not a free kick?’ – with outstretched arm.

“That is dissent.”

Jesse Motlop scored the easiest goal of all and Charlie Curnow added another to seal the win, 9.20 (74) to 9.10 (64).

Channel 7 commentator Jobe Watson suggested that something Coniglio said may have influenced the decision.

“What we don’t know is what was verbalized in that exchange,” he said.

“You see the outstretched hands and you think the punishment doesn’t match the crime. There really wasn’t a free kick in there.

“They don’t know what was said between the player and the referee. Maybe that influenced the referee’s decision.”

There was an uproar over the decision on social media, with a host of former players weighing in.

A former referee, who often explains decisions on social media, backed the call.

Patrick Cripps and Giants young gun Tom Green went head-to-head for much of the competition in a thrilling duel between the on-ball master and the apprentice.

Cripps was outstanding for the Blues with game bests on dismounts (42), clearances (13) and scores (11), while Green nearly matched him with 34 touches and seven clearances.

Blues runners (2-1) and clean-ball users Sam Docherty (39 dismounts, one goal), Adam Cerra (28 dismounts) and Adam Saad (23) were also influential, but Nic Newman arguably had even more of an impact on the result.

The halfback outplayed Toby Greene to limit the Giants captain to just five dismounts and one goal while amassing 24 touches himself.

Matthew Owies put on two of the Blues’ early majors but was substituted in the second term due to a hamstring injury, while Curnow also finished with two.

The Giants have been bolstered by the return of Josh Kelly (30 disposals, one goal) and Lachie Whitfield (27) from concussion, while Coniglio (29) will be disappointed with the late appeal against him but will continue his stellar start to the season.

In a tough day for big forwards in blustery conditions, the Giants’ Jake Riccardi scored his first two goals of the season, while Jesse Hogan also scored two.

– With AAP