Cornes: Don’t blame the umpire — it’s the AFL’s systems that are at fault

Adelaide fans are calling foul on an umpiring decision that cost the team a finals berth – but it’s the AFL’s systems that are at fault, writes Graham Cornes.

Of course there is anger. There is always anger when an umpire makes a mistake and it costs your team.

However, in this case the anger is intensified because the cost was significant.

The Crows were on their way to the finals, which would have been an amazing achievement given the turmoil of the past five seasons.

They weren’t guaranteed a spot in the eight but they were still alive, having only to overcome West Coast in the last game of the season.

The anger was justified. Was it arrogance; was it hubris; or was it the pressure of the moment that prevented the goal umpire from referring the decision?

He seemed so confident and decisive, yet the replay showed conclusively that he was wrong.

The commentators said he was in the perfect position to adjudicate but he was clearly on the wrong side of the goalpost and in the end his view was obstructed by the two Sydney defenders desperately trying to touch the ball.

Ben Keays’ goal was incorrectly deemed a point in the Crows’ clash against Sydney at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Fox Sports

That’s another reason to refer it. One of the Swans, whether intentionally or not, actually slapped the post which may have helped to deceive the goal umpire.

It had another effect in that it made the “snicko” technology ineffective in determining if the ball touched the post or not.

However, it didn’t need sound technology. If you were close enough you could see.

The television audience could see it straight away.

Most of the Adelaide Oval crowd, other than those directly behind the goalpost, were ignorant of the blunder.

Distracted by Ben Keays’ premature celebration they were puzzled when the ball came immediately back into play.

Hearts sank with the realisation it hadn’t been called a goal because it was unlikely they would get the ball back in time to score again. Lesson to all: play to the umpire’s whistle – even when he’s wrong.

However, as the anger subsides, we should examine it rationally.

The goal umpire made a mistake. That makes him human. Players make them all the time on the ground.

His would be a torturous couple of days as the repercussions played out. He has been stood down for the rest of the season and his reputation impacted.

He will be the patsy, the scapegoat, because it’s the AFL’s systems that are at fault.

The technology exists for all scores to be reviewed. It’s not in the culture of the AFL competition to halt play and bring the ball back if a review reveals an error has been made, but it works in so many other ball sports.

Every score should be reviewed whether the goal umpire requests it or not. If a mistake has been made play should stop, the clock restarted and ball brought back.

Matthew Nicks talks to Ben Keays on the bench. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

There is another question that has to be answered in this sorry saga.

Why can’t the field umpires question a goal umpire’s decision? With four umpires on the field, at least one of them would be in a position to see whether the ball brushed the post or not.

Australian rules football is not played in the predominantly two dimensions of rectangles and triangles like soccer but the right cameras, in the right places combined with sensors and laser technology could easily track ball movement and enable review of every score.

In the FIFA Women’s World Cup we saw examples of technology that could track the ball to the finest millimetre. The AFL must invest in such technology.

The AFL has admitted a mistake was made but it can’t overturn the result. Anything could have happened in that last 80 seconds, so it must abide by its rules and protocols.

It might be different if the siren had sounded and it was the last kick of the day.

The hapless goal umpire will pay the price for his misjudgment and this incident will go into the “we were robbed” annals of the Adelaide Football Club, but there is another stark reality that Matthew Nicks, his players and the fans must confront.

The Crows scored four goals and eight behinds in a dominant last quarter.

It is that inaccuracy which again cost them, not the one incorrect goal umpiring decision.

It has been a trend all year, and one which Matthew Nicks must address over summer.

Throughout the first half of Saturday night’s game, the Crows players fumbled, slipped, dropped marks and missed targets with handball and field kicks.

They were outclassed by a quicker more skilful Swans outfit.

Somehow they got back into the game, but they left it too late.

Yet another game lost by less than a goal against a top eight contender. It could have been a great year.

As the post-match hysteria and recriminations were flying I received a five-word text message from an old friend – a Port supporter it must be said.

“You get what you deserve”, it read. He was right.