Port Adelaide demolish Brisbane as score review controversy erupts

The AFL’s score review system is once again under fire after producing a howler on Saturday that left fans seeing red.

The angle after the decision was made.

The AFL’s score review system couldn’t even make through the opening weekend without courting controversy.

In the fourth game of round one, the new system found itself in the spotlight after awarding a goal that commentators and fans believed had come off a defender.

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Port Adelaide put the Brisbane Lions to the sword in a 18.18 (126) to 11.6 (72) demolition, but the Power had some luck go their way.

After a long bomb inside 50 from Dan Houston during the third quarter, the ball got over the back of the pack where Lachie Jones pounced.

Jones leapt into the air as he attempted to throw the ball onto his boot, he failed to make contact before throwing his right boot at the ball as Lions defender Harris Andrews attempted to stop the kick.

The ball trickled over the goal line with the umpires converging and sending it upstairs with the goal umpire’s call a goal.

Replays from behind the goal rolled and ultimately the score review system operator indicated the footage had “insufficient evidence” to overturn the call.

“That comes down to the umpires call, pure and simple,” Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy.

Jonathon Brown added: “Yeah it does, you can’t disagree with it. They’re the rules.”

What the controversial moment in the video player above

The first angle shown during the replays.

But then immediately after a replay from a new angle began to roll which seemed to show the ball had in fact last come off of Harris Andrews before crossing the line.

“That’s a better angle...” Brown said.

Anthony Hudson added: “That’s a much better angle, that’s hit Harris Andrews’ thigh.”

The angle after the decision was made.

Fans watching on couldn’t believe the score review system hadn’t overturned the umpires call, with fans also fuming the last angle shown was only displayed after the decision had been made.

Commentator Darren Parkin wrote: “TV shows an inconclusive replay. As soon as they say umpires call they show us a replay where it clearly hit the Brisbane blokes leg.”

That simply can not be a goal?

— Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) March 18, 2023

What’s the point of the review system in the AFL? That ball was behind the Port player’s leg but apparently there was insufficient evidence? #AFLPortLions

— Eden Richards (@Eden_Richards) March 18, 2023

We cross to the ARC. #AFLPowerLionspic.twitter.com/4q6D4aWqvo

— Guy Incognito 💉x4 (He/him) (@TeamBloomart) March 18, 2023

Um…didn’t that so incredibly obviously hit the Brisbane player?? It’s just so obvious to see.

— John Carr (@TheHolyBoot) March 18, 2023

The horror decision didn’t affect the outcome of the contest however as the Power blitzed the Lions to record a dominant opening round win.

After a blistering opening term that saw them hold a 10-point lead, the Lions flicked the switched and put their rivals to the sword as they went into the halftime break with a 12-point advantage.

The second half was one-way traffic for the home side as they kicked eight goals in a row to put the game beyond doubt.

Number one pick and former North Melbourne player Jason Horne-Francis showed off his prowess to the football world in a stunning display for his new team.

After effectively forcing his way out of Melbourne, the talented youngster was in everything during a dominant third quarter before finishing with 25 disposals and a goal.

The demoralising loss will leave a lot of questions marks over the heads of the Lions after entering the season as one of the premiership favourites.

“Terrific from Port Adelaide … rampant through the midfield & dominant in the air. Brisbane – such a poor outing for Rd1 with an unwillingness to spread and go with them,” AFL great Jude Bolton wrote.

Originally published as Port Adelaide demolish Brisbane as score review controversy erupts