AFL boss Gillon McLachan has described as "pretty practical" the umpiring of Sydney co-captain Dane Rampe's goalpost climb at the death of Friday's dramatic clash with Essendon.
Defender Rampe jumped onto a SCG goalpost and started climbing as Bombers midfielder David Myers attempted to slot a match-winning goal from beyond the 50m arc.
Myers' shot fell well short and the Swans prevailed by five points, but Rampe's bizarre acrobatics put him at risk of conceding a free kick in front of goal, which would have ensured the visitors claimed the four premiership points.
AFL laws stipulate that players must not intentionally shake a goalpost or behind post.
Jake Stringer and Cale Hooker were among the Bombers to rush over to controlling umpire Andre Gianfagna following Myers' failed shot.
Gianfagna, who saw the chaos unfold and had ordered Rampe "down, down!", dismissed their complaints.
"I'll wait and see what the umpiring department and the footy department says but for me, it seems pretty practical umpiring," McLachlan said on SEN.
"Apparently there are lots of different camera angles but he gave him the warning and the guy got down and it didn't impact on the play.
"For me, it's a good analogous to when a guy is a metre over the mark and the (umpire) will say 'Come back or it's 50'. The guy comes back immediately and if he doesn't, it is a free kick.
"That seemed to be a very practical response. People will get into the technicality of what the rule says.
"If he had stayed there, it would have been a free kick. He gave him the warning, and it didn't impact. It seems a pretty pragmatic piece of umpiring."
Rampe's fellow co-captain Luke Parker said it would have been shattering if his colleague's action had cost Sydney just their second win in eight games.
"He (Rampe) was incredible that last quarter so we will forgive him for that, but sometimes I'm not sure what goes through his head," Parker told SEN.
Essendon coach John Worsfold, speaking before Seven dug up footage of Rampe's rollick, suggested Myers was a "one per cent" chance of kicking the goal.
"He was a long way out and it was pretty blustery out there, so it was going to be a miracle kick," Worsfold said.
It wasn't the first time on Friday night that Rampe found himself in hot water with the whistle-blowers.
Rampe, told to play on in the second quarter after the umpire deemed he stepped off the mark, was caught holding the ball by Stringer.
"I can't hear that ... you talk like a little girl," Rampe fired back at the official.
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