Sorry Cats fans, look away now ...

EXTRACT from The Advertiser, 15/09/1997, following Geelong’s semi-final loss to Adelaide. UMPIRES director David Levens has admitted Geelong’s Leigh Colbert should have been paid a mark at a crucial stage of Saturday night’s second semifinal against Adelaide.

Levens said field umpire Grant Vernon made a mistake when he awarded a ball-up after Colbert took a courageous mark 35m out from goal during the third quarter.

“It was an error. He should have paid the mark,’’ Levens said. The incident incensed Cat officials.

With Geelong leading by eight points and appearing to be gathering momentum, Colbert took the mark directly in front of goal as he ran with the flight of the ball into a pack of players.

Levens admitted Vernon had looked to colleague Mark Nash for help with the decision but Nash could offer none.

Colbert said: “He (Vernon) said he didn’t see it and the next umpire said he didn’t see it. The third umpire up the other end apparently saw it but there was nothing he could do about it.’’

Levens, who was at the game, said the video showed Colbert had taken the mark and that when Vernon looked at the incident on replay, he could see it was a mark.

Asked whether the mistake would jeopardise Vernon’s chances of umpiring again in the finals, Levens said: “The bottom line is that we want to get the right decision, clearly. But if the umpire can’t see it, then the umpire can’t pay what he doesn’t see because we start getting into guessing and that’s not on.’’