Brisbane AFLW star is slammed for very sneaky way of getting a free kick in crucial Richmond match

 Brisbane have escaped with a 5.9 (39) to 3.4 (22) AFLW finals win against Richmond but many Tigers fans have been left fuming by the questionable play from the Lions.

Brisbane booked their ticket to a home preliminary final after securing the 17-point win at Metricon Stadium but a controversial piece of play from midfielder Sophie Conway angered Tigers supporters.

Brisbane’s Cathy Svarc earned a free kick for her side in the tight contest for a quality follow-up tackle, but what happened left supporters divided.

Richmond’s Eilish Sheerin appeared to do the right thing, immediately handing the ball over to Conway. 

However the midfielder refused to take the ball, letting it fall to the ground and immediately appealing for – and getting – a free 50 metre march up the ground that led to a crucial goal. 

Conway is seen appealing to the umpires after letting the ball drop to the Metricon Stadium turf when Richmond player Eilish Sheerin tried to hand her the ball for a free kick

‘This is elite s**thousery from Sophie Conway to earn a 50m penalty and a goal,’ one fan posted.

‘Love it. But would be fuming if it was other way round,’ said another.

‘That’s a disgrace. Live it looked dodgy as and scratched head why 50 seeing it slowed down that umpire should be dumped and put back a level or 2 the lions player should be sanctioned,’ fumed another. 

Others could not see the light side of the play from Conway. 

‘I don’t see the hilarity in this. Very unsporting and very unprofessional. That said, it’s probably happened in the AFL in the past and it’s been laughed off,’ posted a supporter.

While Conway was blasted by many for appearing to manipulate the umpires to earn the call, she was actually correct in her actions.

Sophie Conway ( left ) and Isabel Dawes celebrate during the AFLW Qualifying Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Richmond Tigers at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast

Under the rules, Sheerin should have passed or handed the ball to Svarc – who had earned the free kick.

Because she handed the ball to Conway instead, the 50 metre decision was correct. 

‘So many people not understanding the rules too, saying the umpire fell for it. Fell for what? The Richmond player failed their responsibility to give the ball to the right person. Clear 50m penalty whether Sophie let the ball drop or called for it or not,’ one fan explained.

‘Regardless of how you feel, the rule is that the ball must be given straight back to the player that has the free kick. Not via someone else. Directly! It’s hardly confusing,’ posted another. 

Other fans felt that the punishment did not fit the crime.  

‘Just out of interest, because I’m a relatively recent AFL fan, what’s the purpose of the rule? It seems really daft to me – as long as the ball goes back to the right team without delay, a 50m penalty seems ridiculously harsh,’ one fan posted.