Salter marked the ball in the Power’s defensive goal square during Saturday’s clash at Subiaco and did not hear umpire Michael Jennings’ call of play on after the ball failed to travel 15 metres.
Fremantle’s Hayden Ballantyne, who did hear the call, then pursued Salter, who moved backwards to take the kick and stepped over the goal-line, believing he had legally marked the ball.
Questions have been asked over why Salter was not penalised by umpire Michael Jennings for his move.
Gieschen says while the kick was probably 13-15m, the benefit of the doubt was given to Salter and his claim he didn’t hear the play on call.
“The spirit of this law is based around the blatant and obvious situations where players turn around and kick it through, where they handball it through from five or 10m, and they’re under no direct pressure,” he told afl.com.au.
“This isn’t a blatant and obvious one. It was a kick not deemed to be 15m, but had it been a handball, everybody knows you can’t claim a mark from a handball and the player would have then had to try and make the play.
“The fact there was a bit of confusion over whether there was a mark, because Salter genuinely believed he had marked the ball, means we give that player the benefit of the doubt.
“At no stage did he deliberately try to rush the ball. He thought he had marked the ball and was legitimately walking backwards to take his kick and thinks he’s got the mark and can’t understand why Ballantyne is rushing at him.
“Under those circumstances, he gets the benefit of the doubt.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s Mark Jamar wasn’t so lucky when he gave away a free kick for thumping the ball through the goals from a bounce in St Kilda’s goal square.
Gieschen said that was a clear cut, correct decision made by the umpire in question.
“Jamar punched the ball across the opposition’s scoring line. In this situation, there is no interpretation needed,” he said.
“The rule clearly says here that if you knock the ball across the opposition’s scoring line on the full, it is an automatic free kick for a rushed behind.”
