The Saints phoned the AFL following their NAB Cup loss to the Brisbane Lions at Gold Coast Stadium on Saturday night in which Eddy suffered a medial ligament injury – courtesy of his first-quarter collision with field umpire Ben Ryan.
With Eddy expected to miss at least a month with the injury, St Kilda officials were curious as to whether the umpire had taken every possible care to avoid their player.
Video footage shows that neither Eddy nor Ryan saw one another with the umpire, following a boundary throw-in, appearing to sprint through the middle of the ground where he collided with the young Saint.
Eddy limped from the field while Ryan was able to continue umpiring.
Umpires’ boss Jeff Geischen will speak to the Saints later today but League spokesman Patrick Keane said after reviewing video footage the umpiring department was comfortable with Ryan’s actions.
“The AFL umpiring department has viewed the footage of the contact between the umpire and Robert Eddy from Saturday night,” Mr Keane said.
“It's their view that the umpire was doing exactly as instructed for any boundary throw-in. He was running into the corridor to be able to see the play as the controlling umpire.
“Neither the umpire nor the player saw each other, as both were looking at the contest for the ball, and contact was accidental. Jeff is going to speak to St Kilda later today, in response to their phone calls last night.”
St Kilda has accepted the AFL's explanation that the incident involving Eddy and a field umpire was an accident.
Eddy was on crutches with his left knee in a brace when he returned to Melbourne yesterday.
