Former AFL players and fans have exploded with anger over a number of contentious dangerous tackle calls in the cut-throat semifinal between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.

As both sides put their season on the line at Adelaide Oval fans around the country took to social media to vent their fury over umpiring calls mareing an otherwise exciting contest.

After a gutless performance in the qualifying final against Geelong last week, the Power came out firing, using strong tackles to assert themselves on the game.

But deep into the second quarter, their tackles, which won five holding the ball free kicks in the first quarter, were pinged as dangerous.

With Hawthorn beginning to turn back the momentum after giving up the opening three majors, Lachie Jones caught Mabior Chol red-handed as the big forward turned towards the big sticks.

But as he dropped his weight, his and Chol’s momentum spun the pair around, with the Hawk’s forward hitting his head on the turf, but not enough to have any effect.

Just minutes later, a free kick was given when Jase Burgoyne tackled Dylan Moore, with the umpire blindsided.

His head did not hit the turf.

Dual Swans premiership player and AFL commentator Jude Bolton took to X, formerly Twitter, to express his dismay at the calls.

“Disgraceful decision. Holding the ball everyday. Hawks get their tails up on the back of it,” he wrote.

Fans were quick to agree with the former Sydney champion.

Fan Clint Bolton wrote: “Ridiculous umpiring with this dump tackle rubbish. Can’t bump, can’t tackle. Touch footy?”

Another fan labelled the calls “putrid”.

“That’s holding the ball every day of the week. That’s putrid. Umpires ruining the game again,” TK wrote.

Peter Ryan called them “as bad a decision as I’ve seen”.

It was an otherwise fierce contest as the Hawks overcame a slow start to be within a goal with just seconds remaining in the first half.

But the latest of goals from former West Coast forward Willie Rioli handed the home side a nine-point lead at the main change.