In an extraordinary scene just as the final siren went on Friday night between AFL clubs Essendon and Sydney at the SCG, Swans’ co-captain Dane Rampe climbed a goal post in an apparent bid to put off a last-minute goal by Essendon.

With the Swans only five points in front, Rampe, in a moment of after-the-siren madness jumped onto the post akin to a Spiderman stunt and started climbing it, potentially gifting Essendon an AFL victory.

The decision by controlling umpire Andre Gianfagna not to penalise Rampe – the AFL laws stipulate that players must not intentionally shake a goal or behind post – created outrage on social media.

“What was he thinking?”, “Bizarre Dane Rampe brain snap” and “climbing the post is a straight-up attempt to cheat” were just some of the comments flooding Twitter overnight.

Channel Seven commentator and 2007 Browlow medalist Jimmy Bartel spotted the climb and saw the post “shake”.

“I noticed it live. Who is that flying off the back fence like Spider-Man? He got a long way up. That’s a high climb.
 I guess we’re lucky it didn’t get close.”

“It would’ve been disappointing to have the game decided by that, but climbing it does shake it though,” he said.

Did this climb deserve a free kick?

The umpires may have missed this Dane Rampe infringement after the game. #AFLSwansDons pic.twitter.com/zRwEAT6QQp

— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 10, 2019

Rampe’s so-called brain fade came as Bombers midfielder David Myers attempted to slot a match-winning goal from beyond the 50-metre line. His shot fell into the goal square and the Swans won by five points.

Essendon’s Jake Stringer and Cale Hooker were among players who witnessed the climb to rush over to Gianfagna following the failed shot.

Gianfagna, who saw the chaos unfold and had ordered Rampe “down, down!”, dismissed their complaints. Some suggested Rampe’s bizarre acrobatics should have been enough for a free kick to be awarded in front of goal.

Stand-up comedian, Fox FM radio drive host and passionate Carlton supporter Dave Hughes called on Essendon to appeal the match result 11.11 (77) to 10.12 (72).

“No way goal umpire, four boundary umpires and three central umpires could miss this. Obviously decided to not pay it. It’s against the rules. Essendon should appeal the game result. Ridiculous,” he posted on Twitter on Saturday.

"You talk like a little girl."

Dane Rampe had some words for the umpire. #AFLSwansDons pic.twitter.com/MEEKhWVbsD

— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) May 10, 2019

It wasn’t the first time on Friday night Rampe was front and centre of umpires’ attentions.

Told to play on in the second quarter after the umpire deemed he stepped off the mark, Rampe was caught holding the ball by Stringer.

“I can’t hear that … you talk like a little girl,” Rampe fired back at the official.
 Stringer converted the resultant set shot.

Rampe, 28, is one of three co-captains for the Swans and his leadership qualities last year earned him a three-year extension on his contract after being recruited to the club in 2013. Wearing the No.24 guernsey, he’s set to clock up 150 games this season.

Essendon coach John Worsfold, speaking before Channel Seven showed closer footage of Rampe’s vertical climb, suggested Myers was a “one per cent” chance of kicking the goal.

“He was a long way out and it was pretty blustery out there, so it was going to be a miracle kick,” Worsfold said in the post-match press conference.

According to Fox Sports on Saturday, the AFL umpires department had a chat to the umpire after the match but confirmed the “non-decision” to award a free kick was the “correct one”.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan told sports radio station SEN on Saturday morning: “For me, it seemed pretty practical umpiring because he gave him a warning and it didn’t impact the play”.

-with AAP