“I think I got pushed, my legs gave way, either one. I am not sure,” Draper said.
As he watched a replay of the incident, Draper added: “What else can I do?” he said, laughing. “It makes up for the one at half-time they gave the Crows.”
The Crows react with disappointment.Credit: James Elsby / AFL Photos / Getty Images
Draper had conceded a 50-metre penalty in the second term that gave life to the Crows.
In the minutes after the final siren, Draper, celebrating with teammates Nick Hind and Jake Stringer, then re-enacted the umpire’s non-call by mimicking himself diving on an imaginary ball. The trio were full of grins.
Stringer, later speaking in the dressingroom, said the Bombers had been fortunate. “[There were a] couple of nervous moments when ‘Drapes’ laid on the ball there,” Stringer said.
“[It was] 50-50. They [the umpires] did a good job. Lucky we were on the right end of the result tonight.”
Hodge insisted the umpire should have paid a free kick, adding he believed the umpire “panicked” in the heat of the moment.
“It’s a free kick anyway you look at it … they made the wrong decision and Tex Walker should have been having a shot for goal,” he said.
David King, the dual North Melbourne premiership player, and now a prominent commentator, said Draper’s decision to dive had been the “dumbest thing I have seen a ruckman do in many a year”. But he added on SEN: “Clearly it was a free kick, I just think the umpire froze.”
Crows coach Matthew Nicks opted not to discuss the controversy. “I’m not going to make a comment around umpiring,” Nicks said. “That’ll just add to the night.”
Sam Draper was involved in late controversy against the Crows.Credit: Getty Images
Extraordinarily, it is the third time in less than 10 months that the Crows have controversially been denied potential victories by last-minute umpiring decisions.
The AFL admitted an error after Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson wasn’t awarded a late free kick at goal after being collected high by Jamie Elliott in a two-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG last June.
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The league then apologised after a Bean Keays goal deep into the fourth quarter was called a behind without a score review as the Crows suffered a one-point defeat against Sydney in round 23, killing off their finals hopes.
While Nicks opted to shoulder arms, Essendon counterpart Brad Scott played a straight bat.
“[With] masses of numbers around the ball, there are a lot of holding-the-ball decisions, for and against throughout the night,” the Bombers boss said.
“We’ll, obviously, focus on the one in the last couple of seconds … but I can show you a couple of others, too, if you’d like.”
Essendon midfielder Jye Caldwell was madly trying to put a body on emerging Crows star Jake Soligo during that late scramble but backed the umpire’s call not to ping Draper.
“I’m going to say ‘no’ (free kick) because it’s my team,” said Caldwell, who shone with his two-way midfield run, collecting 26 disposals and 10 tackles.
The Bombers enter their Anzac Day blockbuster against Collingwood riding a two-game winning streak and feeling they owe the Magpies one after last year.
“We probably should have won last year, being up by 29 points at three-quarter-time It’s a six-day break, so we don’t have long for it,” Caldwell said.
Scott, gearing up to coach his second Essendon-Collingwood April 25 clash, said the marquee fixture is as big as a major final.
“I’ve been really fortunate in my AFL life to be a part of some really big games and finals and grand finals. Anzac Day is out on its own. We’re privileged to be able to put ourselves in a finals-like atmosphere, at round seven against the reigning premier. What an opportunity,” he said.
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