AFL clears Collingwood Hawthorn Interchange Breach in round eight draw

The AFL says there was no collingwood hawthorn interchange breach in the final seconds of Collingwood’s round eight draw with Hawthorn. That ruling leaves the result in place and shuts down the idea that a rotation error could have turned the finish into a Collingwood win.

Greg Swann on Hawthorn rotations

Greg Swann said the interchange official had Hawthorn on 74 rotations, with Jack Gunston as the 75th and final change. He added that Gunston did not enter the field of play before the siren sounded.

"On the night, the AFL interchange official had a count of 74 rotations with Gunston being the 75th and final" — Greg Swann. The AFL said it will take no further action on the incident.

Champion Data and the first quarter

The dispute started after a Monday night report suggested Gunston had become Hawthorn’s 76th interchange in the draw against Collingwood. That version of events would have mattered because the alleged over-rotation came before Dylan Moore kicked a goal after the siren to tie the match.

Swann’s review also pointed to a discrepancy earlier in the game. At the 20-minute mark of the first quarter, Hawthorn was listed by the AFL interchange official as having made three rotations, while Champion Data logged four.

What the cap would have changed

The AFL interchange official has the final call on the number of rotations used in a match, and clubs are required to follow that count. The League’s 75-rotation cap carries a 50m penalty and possession for the opposition if it is breached.

Had the alleged error occurred here, Collingwood would have received a free kick and the win. Instead, the ruling leaves the draw standing and closes the file on the final-seconds protest over Hawthorn’s rotations.