AFL live: Bombers soar over undisciplined Swans early; rampant Hawks hold off brave Dees after umpire howler

This is the missed trip that cost Melbourne the half-time lead against Hawthorn at the MCG.

Damaging Demons forward Kysaiah Pickett was blatantly brought down in the goal square during a tight second term, but the umpires allowed play to continue as Hawthorn held on to a one-point lead at the long break.

It is not the first time the umpires have been blind to the obvious this week, copping criticism on Thursday night for not seeing Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz suffer a concussion and stopping play.

Usually unflappable, Gerard Whateley was incredulous on SEN at that decision. “How can you miss that?,” he screams. “There’s four of them, four of them! Sack em all.”

The Demons have served it up to the higher-ranked Hawks in this match, but have wasted opportunities in front of goal to trail 5.5 (35) to 4.10 (34).

Melbourne lead the possession count 189 to 17, the inside-50 count 27 to 19 and are way ahead in the free-kicks 16 to 9. Their leading possession winners are Christian Petracca with 16 and Caleb Windsor with 14, while the returning Clayton Oliver has been quiet with six.

The Hawks have made the most of their limited forward forays. Opportunist Nick Watson has two goals, while James Worpel tops the game’s disposal count with 18 (four kicks and 14 handballs).

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