Hawthorn v Geelong: Does Gary Ablett dive after minimal contact and should he be fined?

Angus Reid

Hawthorn v Geelong: Does Gary Ablett dive after minimal contact and should he be fined? image

No, Gary, no.

AFL superstar Gary Ablett may have a case to answer with Match Review Officer Michael Christian after vision showed the midfielder taking what looks to be a dive in the Cats' loss to Hawthorn on Saturday.

During the first quarter of the hugely anticipated blockbuster at the MCG, a throw-in occurs and Ablett finds himself away from the contest being closely marked by the Hawks' Isaac Smith.

Smith appears to give Ablett a bit of a shove, who accentuates the contact and falls to the ground, which earns him a free kick from the umpire.

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Former AFL star Kane Cornes took to the Sunday Footy Show to voice his displeasure with Ablett's actions.

The incident can be seen in the video below.


"I didn't like this one, and if Alex Rance is penalised for a dive, Gary Ablett should equally be penalised by Michael Christian this week," Cornes said.

"This is an ordinary incident, minimal contact from Isaac Smith, Ablett takes a dive.

"The umpire is right there. Why are we rewarding players that do this?

"We shouldn't be rewarding players that dive, Gary Ablett took a dive and should be sanctioned."

It wasn't the first time that Cornes has targeted a player for diving.

Back in June, reigning All Australian captain Alex Rance took a dive in the Tigers' win over Essendon and copped it big time.

You can see that vision in the video player below.

“It’s the worst free-kick of the year,” Cornes told AFL.com.au when discussing Rance's efforts.

“Let’s face it and be honest, great player, but he has a history with staging.

“He’s channelling his best Superman impersonation. He’ll wake up and be embarrassed.”

Cornes wasn't the only one, as Wayne Carey revealed he thinks it will have a long-term effect on Rance's legacy.

“It puts a stain on his career. He’s got to cut that crap out,” Carey told Triple M.

Rance was fined $1000 for the dive, and if Michael Christian wants to be consistent, Ablett might have to suffer a similar sanction.

 

Angus Reid

Angus Reid Photo