THE AFL umpires department has conceded one of two contentious short passes by St Kilda in the final quarter of its match against Hawthorn did travel the required 15 metres.
With the match evenly poised, the Saints found themselves in trouble midway through the final term after a short kick-in from full-back and then a pass from the back pocket were deemed not 15 metres long.
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Hawk Jordan Lewis swooped on the confusion after the ball spilled free in a tackle, snapping a goal to bring his side within three points of the Saints.
AFL head umpires coach Hayden Kennedy said while it is "difficult" to judge the ball's distance in that situation, the second pass from Sean Dempster to Shane Savage was the legal distance.
"I think the second one sneaks over 15 (metres), it's probably 16 or 17 or thereabouts," Kennedy told AFL.com.au's Whistleblowers program.
"I'm not too sure about the first one as to whether it's 15 or not.
"We know the distance between the point post and the goal post is 6.4 (metres) and that gives the (umpire) a fair indication.
"We've got to understand how difficult it is at that particular time to measure up the 15 and give the player receiving the ball enough opportunity to dispose of the ball if it isn't a 15-metre kick."
Kennedy denied the umpires department made the rule a focus in the week preceding round four following some indifferent adjudicating earlier in the year.
"We didn't talk about it (at training) on Tuesday or Thursday; we knew we weren't terribly accurate with it during the NAB Challenge period so we've had a few skill drills through the season to try and increase our accuracy," Kennedy said.
Former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said it was commonplace for coaches to position a man in the back pocket as a 'release' option for the player kicking in.
"I guess from a coaching point of view you do practice kicking in drills," Sanderson said.
"You normally set up that release (player) at least 15 metres (from the kick in), it would be unusual for a player to set up (closer).
"I think it's pretty straightforward but it's always going to be quite subjective because there's no marking on the ground."
A rushed behind by Crow Richard Douglas also created discussion on the weekend after the midfielder soccered the ball through under pressure in the win over the Sydney Swans.
Many have argued that rule needs to be tightened in line with the new interpretation of the deliberate out of bounds rule, which has resulted in more attacking football.
While Kennedy said they were "two different rules", Sanderson agreed with the general consensus and predicted a change in interpretation could be on the cards.
"It's the correct decision with the current rule but it feels like with success of the deliberate out of bounds rule, potentially we might see that adjusted as well," Sanderson said.
