A FUMING Mick Malthouse says the umpires should have been "brave" enough to pay free kicks to Blues Mitch Robinson and Troy Menzel late in Carlton's five-point loss to Geelong on Friday night.
The incidents involving Robinson and Menzel took place in the final minute of Friday night's game, when Carlton had the ball pinned deep in its forward line as it desperately searched for the goal that would almost certainly have won the game.
Malthouse raised the Robinson incident first in his post-match press conference.
It occurred when Geelong runner Nigel Lappin walked front-on into Robinson's path with just 13 seconds remaining on the clock, prompting the Blue to push Lappin away.
The contact took place after a ball-up had been called at the top of the Blues' goal square, but Malthouse was in no doubt a free kick should have been paid to Robinson.
"Our player can't get to the football," Malthouse said.
"It should have been a free kick then, shouldn't it?"
The Menzel incident happened with just 33 seconds remaining in the game, when the Blues' forward was caught high by Geelong defender Jared Rivers as he dove in to take possession the ball about 15m out from Carlton's goal.
Asked whether he thought the umpires had put their whistles away late in the game, Malthouse said: "I think Troy Menzel would have thought that."
Malthouse then added that the umpires should be brave enough to pay free kicks late in games if they were warranted.
"I just think it doesn't matter what time of the day it is. You've got two very brave sides out there, it needs a brave decision [if] it's there to be free kicked," Malthouse said.
"This is not about if it's the last minute or the last 10 minutes, the last 10 minutes of your journey you still can't travel 70km in a 60km zone.
"That's just disappointing when those things take place."
Malthouse also expressed his disappointment in a wayward centre bounce late in the second quarter that was not called back and which led directly to a goal to Cat Josh Walker.
The bounce flew wide to Geelong ruckman Hamish McIntosh's advantage and a Steve Johnson clearance ultimately ended up with Josh Walker kicking a goal from point-blank range.
"We're disappointed in a bounce that clearly was outside the thing, that everyone stopped, and we've been told it comes back," Malthouse said.
Malthouse's disappointment was exacerbated by the fact the Blues had contacted the umpiring department before Friday night's game to seek clarification on certain rules, but had not heard back.
"We spoke to the umpiring group during the week. They were supposed to ring us on Thursday or Friday … (and) we haven't received a call," Malthouse said.
"So you can say I'm very disappointed."
Malthouse said he would contact the umpires department next week to seek clarification of the decisions in Friday night's game.
Malthouse praised Bryce Gibbs' best-on-ground performance against the Cats, in which his star midfielder had 29 possessions and kicked four goals.
"It's a great game that Bryce played today," Malthouse said.
"I'm not surprised at the way he goes about it, he's a highly professional footballer.
"He's a skilled player and I thought he had a terrific day."
