AFL 2022: League considering tweak of ARC system as Damien Hardwick looks at technology

The league is considered a radical tweak to its goal review protocols next year, which looms as a major shift in the current scoring procedure involving the goal umpire.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick had a personal tour of the AFL’s ARC system on Monday as the league considers a major tweak to its goal review protocols next year.

The Herald Sun understands Hardwick and his football boss Tim Livingstone met AFL officials Andrew Dillon and Brad Scott two weeks after the goal review that cost Richmond its finals spot.

Hardwick has been a persistent critic of the goal review system, believing there is not enough common sense incorporated into its protocols.

The high-powered meeting was said to be conducted in good spirits as the AFL explained the exact system in detail and Hardwick made clear what he believes to be the weakness of the ARC goal review.

Tom J. Lynch looks on as the decision is reviewed. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Umpire Jacob Mollison calls for a review. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The decision from the goal umpire in the elimination final to initially rule Tom Lynch’s kick a goal meant Richmond fans were shattered when the decision was ultimately overturned.

The AFL is expected to explore whether next year a goal umpire who is unsure about whether a decision is a goal or a behind still has to give a “soft” call.

Under the ARC system the bunker needs definitive proof to overturn the initial call, but there could be an option that sees the umpires immediately referring a lineball decision without initially calling it a goal or behind.

It would allow the ARC officials to make their own ruling without it being influenced by the initial “soft” call from the goal umpire.

They would also have more flexibility in deciding on all available video evidence whether it was more likely a goal or behind without having to find definitive proof that would flip an existing call.

Instead they would simply rule on whether they believed it was a goal or behind after assessing every angle.

Subsequent angles from social media showed that Lynch’s kick that would have sealed the game most likely sailed directly over the goalpost.

The Herald Sun revealed last month the AFL is likely to trial advanced technology involving microchips in balls next year to assess whether it is possible to introduce a Hawkeye-style system in the AFL.

That ball-tracking technology has already been brought into Super Rugby by the Sportable sports technology firm.

Hardwick has been criticised for “whingeing” about the goal umpire system but he has long been a persistent and consistent critic of its weaknesses.

He said after the loss the goal review system was not up to scratch.

“I just feel the technology is not good enough and hasn’t been for a long time,” he said. “Clearly it’s indecisive still. The whole thing is the technology is not to the level where it needs to be. So either get it better or get rid of it.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said last week there is subjectivity in every call including those made by the goal umpires and bunker.

“I reckon technology is always going to have its limits. I think the goal review generally has been fantastic, but there is not a sport in the world where there are not specific instances where people have to make subjective calls and that is the nature of our game and the nature of sport,” he said.

“There are calls being made every moment of the game. That call was made, frankly, from where I was sitting behind, it was a point.”

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Originally published as AFL 2022: League considering tweak of ARC system as Damien Hardwick looks at technology