Pennings, the Warrnambool and District Football Umpires’ Association director of coaching, yesterday dismissed Panmure playing coach Simon O’Keefe’s post-game criticism as sour grapes.

O’Keefe labelled the decision to award Merrivale forward Jet Dowie a free kick 10 metres from goal an “absolute disgrace”. 

Dowie and his Bulldogs opponent Dan Meade were grappling in the goal square and both went to ground. 

Meade fell on Dowie’s back and a free kick was awarded for a push in the back.

“We missed three or four goals (in the last quarter) and they went down and got that cheap free kick, which was a disgrace, absolute disgrace ... That’s a goal, that’s the difference, we lose, they win,” O’Keefe said after the Bulldogs’ nine-point loss. But Pennings hit back yesterday.

He backed central umpire Mick Soulsby’s call and video footage seen by The Standard clearly shows Meade landing in Dowie’s back.

“I have the utmost respect for the Panmure Football Netball Club but when they gripe about an umpire umpiring in a grand final for paying a free kick that is obvious, it gets up my goat,” Pennings said. “Mick Soulsby would have to be one of the most fairest umpires going around; one, because he understands the game because he’s played it for so long, and two, because he cares.

“Why would we choose him? He ticks all the boxes. Panmure can’t tell me he didn’t pay a free kick to Panmure all game. 

“That free kick was there, it was spot-on, it was in the back. If a player is sitting on another player’s back, it’s clear.”

Pennings said he had received comments from Bulldogs supporters upset about the decision.

“They should question the number of times Panmure kicked it directly to Merrivale players and turned the ball over and how many times they kicked points from set shots.”

He said the Bulldogs were present at last Wednesday’s official announcement of the grand final umpires and had not lodged any concerns with him or the league in the lead-up to the game. 

Pennings also dismissed any suggestions Terang Mortlake was treated harshly with an incorrect disposal call in the final two minutes of Sunday’s first semi-final that resulted in the match-winning goal to North Warrnambool Eagles. He said central umpire Casey O’Keefe’s call was correct. 

He also pointed out that O’Keefe was the controlling umpire despite being further away from the play than one of his umpiring partners.