‘We got a memo...’: Lion’s reality check to fuming Hawks as AFL world reacts to ‘biggest ever’ call
A controversial 'holding the ball' umpire decision in the final seconds of an AFL preliminary final has sparked intense debate among fans and experts. The call effectively ended Hawthorn's comeback attempt, allowing the Brisbane Lions to advance to the grand final.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the high-stakes nature of officiating in professional sports and the intense scrutiny of game-deciding calls.
AFL ‘We got a memo...’: Lion’s reality check to fuming Hawks as AFL world reacts to ‘biggest ever’ call "It hurts and it burns!" | 11:12 Jack Jovanovski from Fox Sports @jackjovanovski September 20th, 2026 9:07 am It was the gutsiest umpire call we’ve seen in a long time, and we might not see another one quite as brave for years.
According to those who know, it was the right one. But for those in brown and gold, it certainly wasn’t received well.
With 45 seconds left in Saturday’s preliminary final , Hawthorn — after a truly special seven-goal last-quarter comeback — led back-to-back reigning premiers Brisbane by three points.
The Lions, who surrendered a 20-point three-quarter-time lead to go behind Sam Mitchell’s spirited crew, forged one last foray forward to try and book a fourth-straight grand final berth.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in