Fury over Hayes sliding free kick

Lenny Hayes, pictured here at training, was pinged for sliding despite not taking out the legs of his opponent. Picture: Chris Eastman Source: Herald Sun

WHEN St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes was pinged for sliding into an opponent's knees last night it was as if the AFL had shot Bambi.

Social media was abuzz with fans condemning the league's controversial new rule that penalises players who slide in and make contact with an opponent below the knees.

Hayes was nabbed after pouncing on the loose ball, his head and shoulders merely brushing, but not moving, the legs of Gold Coast defender Matthew Shaw, during the second quarter of the hotly contested clash at Metricon Stadium.

The decision against the 264-game veteran battering ram prompted calls of ''what more could he do'' from the Fox Footy commentary team which included Brian Taylor, Matthew Richardson and Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling.

Ling's premiership teammate David Wojcinski joined the chorus of fans disturbed by the umpire's ruling.

The AFL banned sliding - contact below the knees - in a bid to improve player safety following a sickening collision between North Melbourne goalsneak Lindsay Thomas and Sydney forward Gary Rohan last year.

Rohan had his leg snapped when Thomas slid over a sodden SCG turf.

Others to vent their frustrations on Twitter said:

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