The first siren controversy of the AFL season took just a quarter of footy to rear its head, before reigning premiers Melbourne trumped the Bulldogs by 26 points in a grand final rematch at the MCG on Wednesday night.
After the Demons began the season-opening game with four goals in succession, the Dogs struck back with eight majors on the run across the first and second terms to take a nine-point buffer into half-time.
But the second major of the Dogs’ eight-goal barrage came in polarising circumstances, when lively forward Cody Weightman won a free kick and slotted the ensuing set shot.
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Weightman was awarded a free kick because an umpire deemed that defender Joel Smith had infringed him.
However, the free kick was met with a chorus of boos from the Melbourne faithful, who clearly thought the siren had sounded before Smith’s contact with Weightman.
“Melbourne fans hate it,” said commentator James Brayshaw on Fox Footy.
“They thought the siren beat it, but the umpire’s got to hear the siren.”
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