The AFL’s new interpretation of holding the ball and prior opportunity has once again sent social media into a spin after a number of controversial calls in today’s game between West Coast and Carlton.

Blues midfielder Sam Petrevski-Seton was caught twice in the match which resulted in two goals to the Eagles, with the first the most controversial.

West Coast forward Jack Darling was awarded a controversial free kick despite the Carlton player having no prior opportunity after grabbing the ball out of the air.

Petrevski-Seton was then caught by Eagle Jamie Cripps in the third term after picking up the ball and having all but a second to decide what to do with it deep in defence.

Teammate Michael Gibbons and Eagle Elliot Yeo were also paid free kicks against after seemingly having no prior opportunity.

Then there was a number of cases where players appeared to have prior opportunity or dropped the ball, only for the whistle to be put away.

Twitter was rife with upset fans, players and experts who were all confused about the rule.

Even Channel 7 commentator and triple Geelong premiership player Cameron Ling was left bewildered.

“I’m confused, I feel like we all are in the same boat,” Ling said at half-time.

“There’s a lot of people out there just not sure whether they’re going to be paid or not paid.”

Fellow commentator Luke Darcy said there needed to be clarification around the rule.