St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has torched the AFL with a cheeky prank over the league’s umpire abuse storm.
In a case that continues to dominate headlines, Port Adelaide are launching an appeal after Zak Butters was hit with a $1500 fine after being charged with abusive and insulting language towards an umpire.
An AFL tribunal on Tuesday found the stand-in Power captain asked umpire Nick Foot “how much are they paying you?” after a contentious free kick was awarded to St Kilda during their Sunday night clash at Adelaide Oval.
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Foot took that as a suggestion he was being paid by the Saints and a shot at his integrity.
Butters told the Tribunal he actually said “surely that’s not a free kick”, and his case was backed up by nearby teammate Ollie Wines.
However, the tribunal found Foot was more credible in his testimony.
It emerged on Wednesday that juror Jason Johnson tuned in from his car during a crucial time in the hearing.
Demons legend Garry Lyon said the situation makes the AFL “look like a circus” after league headquarters approved of Johnson’s behaviour, knowing the two-time Essendon best and fairest winner had a prior commitment to attend.
Fox Footy AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley said at one point Johnson dropped out.
Riewoldt joined the list of commentators to criticise the league when he spoke out in support of Butters.
“If I’m Zak Butters… I am absolutely furious and I have no doubt that he will win on appeal,” Riewoldt said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.
“That is mind-boggling that that’s where we’re at. That the AFL, an organisation who are obsessed with optics, have no problem with a tribunal member being on Zoom driving a car while a player‘s reputation is at stake.
“That is country league football.”
To emphasise his point, Riewoldt cheekily finished the show by crossing live from the front seat of a car.
“Guys. I’m sorry I had to bail out early,” he told host Craig Hutchison.
“Jason Johnson’s having a shindig around at his joint. He doesn’t like anyone to be late. He holds it to a very high standard.
“We’re going to order some Chinese. We’re going to do our Brownlow form guide. Maybe place a few bets. And then watch The Front Bar.
“It’s going to be a fun night over at Johnno’s joint.”
Port Adelaide is not laughing.
The club said in a brief statement it “believes strongly in Butters’ account of events and will formally contest the verdict”.
The Appeals Board hearing will be held later this week. A time has not been announced.
Lyon, meanwhile, was just as scathing as Riewoldt.
“If your reputation is on the line, and it’s a hotly-disputed argument, and there’s a level of detail that needs to be absorbed, I don’t want the bloke who’s sitting in judgement of me … in his car, in transit,” Lyon said.
“I want them sitting down, taking copious amounts of notes, cross-referencing, listening intently, and not being distracted by what may or may not be going on in the outside world because you’re in a car, and the fact you may go past the local McDonald’s and the service drops out.
“It’s embarrassing at worst, and how would that wash on the world stage? This is a multi-billionaire-dollar business.”
