Richmond v Collingwood: Jack Higgins' incredible goal sparks throw debate

Tom Naghten

•
Richmond v Collingwood: Jack Higgins' incredible goal sparks throw debate image

Richmond livewire Jack Higgins kicked an incredible goal in the third quarter of his side's 28-point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, but questions around the legality of his actions quickly sprung up.

The first-year forward cleverly finished off a goal by dropping the ball onto his foot, around the goalpost, though it looked suspiciously like a throw.

Check out the video below.


Commentators Anthony Hudson and Garry Lyon were impressed with the quick thinking, but thought the wrong decision had been made.

"That's a throw, isn't it?" Lyon asked.

"That is a throw but they can't overrule that," Hudson responded as the goal was reviewed to see if it was touched off the boot.

"The question has to be asked, did he throw the ball up in the air to enable himself to get around the goalpost?" Lyon asked after the goal got given the all clear.

"He could say it's an elevated ball drop, that would be his answer."

As it turned out, Higgins didn't have an answer when asked about the moment after the match.

"I just put it up and I was hoping it wasn't a throw but I luckily got onto it," Higgins said.

"I thought it was a throw. I haven't practiced anything like that. That was just a fluke."

His skipper Jack Riewoldt was also of the opinion that the Tigers got away with one: "It was probably a throw," Riewoldt said post-match.

MORE: Richmond Tigers v Collingwood Magpies: Darcy Moore knocks out teammate Jeremy Howe

Social media was torn, though that 100,000-strong Tiger army have a strong Twitter presence.







So what do the laws of the game say? Well, not a lot really.

Regarding correct disposal:

15.3.1: A player correctly disposes of the football if the player kicks or handballs the football.

While here are the definitions of a kick:

Making contact with the football with any part of the player's leg below the knee.

and a throw:

Shall be given its ordinary meaning, but also includes the act of propelling the football with one or both hands in a scooping motion. A player does not throw the football if the player hits, punches or taps the football without taking possession of the football.

It may have looked a bit dodgy, but it seems the correct call might have been made.

We're still not convinced and will eagerly await the weekly umpire's report, but for now, we'll just admire the genius of the excitement machine that is Jack Higgins.

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.