Balance is restored

FOOTBALL has a bizarre way of leveling itself out over the course of a game, a week, season or in this case, a year. Highlighted perfectly at the Gabba on Saturday night when the resilient Brisbane Lions notched their first win of the year over North Melbourne.

North supporters will still be seething following a throw from Lions veteran Simon Black that was not recognised by the umpires late in the fourth quarter. The incident led to a Todd Banfield goal that put the Lions in front by eight points - a margin that would prove difficult to overcome considering the torrential rain and horrid conditions.

The decision, or lack of, shut the door on any chance North Melbourne had of winning. Although it was clearly a throw from the Brownlow medalist, it seemed only just that the penalty was not paid, and the wrongs of last season were seen to be corrected. Past wrongs are righted and the balance of the football world is restored yet again.

In the corresponding fixture last year, when the same teams met at Etihad Stadium in round 11, Black was again in the middle of another controversial decision. Following a Levi Greenwood goal that put the Roos up by a point, Black gathered the ball from the centre clearance before scooping and handballing the football forward in one diving motion. The umpire, who was blindsided by the congestion of players surrounding Black, incorrectly called a throw, effectively shutting the door on any chance the Lions had of winning the game.

It's remarkable that an incorrect decision involving the same teams and the same player can be corrected a year later. Karma, anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEwLq_MJFkY - Round 11, 2010 - North Melbourne V Brisbane Lions