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Essendon coach Ben Rutten concedes AFL games are tough to umpire but just wants consistency in how they officiated following the Bombers' loss to Melbourne.
Essendon coach Ben Rutten has called for consistency in umpiring interpretations but has refused to thrown any blame on officials following the Bombers' close AFL loss to Melbourne.
A parochial Essendon crowd was fired up at the MCG on Saturday night and strongly booed umpires off the field at halftime and post-game.
It all came to a head in the final quarter when the Bombers faithful were left fuming after Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was not paid a free kick for a tackle on Melbourne's James Harmes.
If sharpshooter McDonald-Tipungwuti had been able to go back and kick the goal from about 40 metres out, the margin would have been cut to just five points with three minutes remaining.
But Rutten was measured when asked about the strong reaction from Essendon fans, who made a lot of noise for a crowd of just 19,414.
"We know it's a tough game to umpire, but in those tight games we look at all those sorts of moments where we could have potentially done better," he said.
"It's difficult for the umpires out there but I don't think it was a reason why we lost the game.
"It's a difficult game to umpire and they're doing their best, it's not a perfect game but I think we just want to make sure there's consistency.
"The players will adapt, the coaches will adapt, as long as there's consistency in the umpiring and interpretation.
"If the free kicks are there, they should be paid."
Essendon only had themselves to blame, at times, with Devon Smith giving away a certain goal through a double 50m penalty during a crucial period in the third quarter.
"I've already spoken to Dev about it, he's aware of that. He got a bit distracted by the umpire and it cost us," Rutten said.
"I think it's an area of the game that he's improving and he's getting better at."
The Bombers sit at 6-8 with only one of their wins - against West Coast - coming against a top-eight side.
But Rutten believes the Bombers are gaining more composure and sticking with better sides for longer than earlier in the year.
Essendon will get another golden opportunity to test themselves next Friday night when they travel to play a rebounding Geelong - the club's first match at the Cats' GMHBA Stadium fortress since 1993.