A controversial rule that gifted Hawthorn a goal on Friday night has been dubbed as one of the game’s biggest “grey areas”.

The decision came in the second quarter when Essendon’s Andy McGrath was under pressure from Hawthorn’s Nick Watson and handballed the ball through the goals.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Hawthorn gifted goal after controversial free kick.

McGrath thought he was simply rushing the ball through the points, but the umpires ruled that it was a free kick, basing their decision on the fact that McGrath was not under pressure.

In short, the rule states that if a player intentionally kicks, handballs, or forces the ball over the attacking team’s goal or behind line (resulting in a rushed behind) it is a free kick unless the player is under immediate pressure and within nine metres of the goal-line.

The sticking point is about the pressure from the opponent.

Richmond legend Matthew Richardson questioned the call in the Seven commentary on Friday, believing McGrath was under pressure.

“I’m not sure that’s right,” Richardson said.

While star commentator Alister Nicholson thought that maybe McGrath was not under pressure until he slipped.

“Maybe he wasn’t (under pressure) initially, but then he got himself in a bind.

“We’ve seen a few of those over the years ... there’s been a bit of a grey area around whether the player was under pressure or not.”

Dale Thomas explained that the rule was indeed complex.

“The grey area in there is the interpretation that’s written in the rule book,” Thomas said on Seven.

“It says there is a bunch of criteria and you only have to not meet one (for a free kick to be given). So that’s pretty grey.”

Essendon coach Brad Scott — himself a former footy boss ball at the AFL — was also confused.

“Who cares what I think?” Scott said after the match (with tongue in cheek).

“There’s some stuff I could say, I reckon, but ask the umpires — they’ll tell you, I would have thought.

“All we’re told — and I think I’m in a pretty good position to explain this — is if you’re under any semblance of pressure and you’re inside nine (metres), you can rush the behind. That’s what we’re told, so that’s what we do.

“Unless they just say it was a mistake, which it could’ve been, umpires make mistakes.

“I think (the AFL) are pretty good (at admitting mistakes) these days.

“If you make a howler, you just say: ‘We made a howler’, and move on. But they have to explain it, not me.

“I’m just giving you the information we’re given.”

Fans also blew up on social media but popular AFL umpire account (Has the umpire made a Bad decision) clarified the call.

“This is re the deliberate behind free kick: It’s a good decision, IMO,” the account said.

“(McGrath) had ‘time and space’ before he was under immediate pressure, and is consequently not entitled to deliberately rush it. Correct call!”

The Hawks kicked seven of the first eight goals and while the Bombers twice got back within 18 points during the final term, they ultimately fell short, going down 17.9 (111) to 12.13 (85).

While the decision may have annoyed Scott, he has bigger things on his mind.

Spearhead Kyle Langford has a hamstring issue and defender Jordan Ridley suffered concussion in the game.

The key pair will be unavailable for at least the Round 2 clash with Adelaide, with Langford is likely facing multiple weeks on the sidelines.

Fellow tall Peter Wright (ankle) is also out of action and Scott will consider a range of options to replace Langford, the Bombers’ leading goalkicker of the last two seasons.

“We’ve got some players that we think are playing pretty well at VFL level, but the options open to us are either personnel based or they’re structure based,” Scott said.

“We might have to change things, but that’s what you have to do in this competition. We’ll just adjust.”

- With AAP