Carlton denied crucial goal against Richmond after ‘extraordinary’ score review

Richmond held their nerve to claim a thrilling victory at the MCG, but it didn’t come without its fair share of controversy.

The Richmond Tigers held their nerve to claim a 11.15 (81) to 9.12 (66) victory over Carlton at the MCG on Thursday evening, but the victory didn’t come without its fair share of controversy.

The Richmond Tigers held their nerve to claim a 11.15 (81) to 9.12 (66) win over Carlton at the MCG on Thursday evening, but the victory didn’t come without its fair share of controversy.

The Blues were trailing by 28 points in the fourth quarter before forward Harry McKay slotted three consecutive goals to close the margin to just nine points.

And Carlton were seemingly on the verge of mounting a huge comeback when Jack Newnes’ snap from a tight angle in the pocket flew between the posts, sending the Melbourne crowd into a frenzy.

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However, the goal umpire’s decision was overturned after a score review adjudicated that Tigers defender Nathan Broad had made contact with the Sherrin.

To rub salt into the wounds, Richmond veteran Shane Edwards booted his first goal of the evening less than a minute later to put the Tigers three kicks ahead.

Carlton coach Michael Voss replied questioned the decision in the post-match press conference, while Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall was left “mystified” by the outcome.

“We’ve got to say, it’s not without controversy, this game. And there are moments, we’re talking critical moments within matches, that can have such a huge impact,” Dunstall told Fox Footy.

“And there’s a score review there that I think will be debated long and hard, because I had difficulty working out how they came up with the decision they made.

“Not saying it’s wrong, but if this is the shot they’re making it from – and we believe it is – I struggle to come to grips with how this is definitive evidence. Because all his fingers are wobbling, they’re wobbling before they go up!

“I don’t actually see the ball touch it or bend a finger, which I found quite extraordinary. And then they go straight down the other end and they kick a goal.

“Richmond deserved the win, no problems there, but I was a little mystified by that decision.”

Speaking to Fox Footy after the 15-point victory, Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin explained that Broad was confident he had touched the footy, despite the lack of conclusive evidence.

“Broady ran out saying, ‘I told you, I told you pricks’,” Vlastuin said.

“He was definitely adamant.”

Zac Fisher of the Blues. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

When asked if there was sufficient evidence to overturn Newnes’ goal, Voss replied: “It didn’t look it from where I was but I don’t watch the 10 different angles of it so I’ve got one (angle), and looked at it, and if it was touched, then we move on.

“It’s got to be definitive, doesn’t it? If we’re going to make decisions like that in games, you’d hope it’s definitive.

“I guess I’ve now got the luxury of sitting back and making my own judgment with it slowed down a little bit.

“Certainly we’d want to make sure we’re absolutely 100 per cent sure before overturning something like that, myself, but clearly the call was made and we’ve got to end up living with the result.

“Didn’t look it (touched) from where I was but I don’t watch the different angles. I’ve got one and looked at it. If it was touched, then we move on.”

That wasn’t the only talking point to emerge from an eventful last quarter. Earlier on, Richmond livewire Shai Bolton taunted Carlton backman Sam Docherty by showing him the ball before running into an open goal.

But Voss said he wouldn’t be “losing any sleep over it”.

“I wouldn’t even dare dream to coach another player from another team – that’s for ‘Dimma’ (Richmond coach Damien Hardwick) to deal with, and I’ll deal with my own players, so I’m pretty firm on that,” he said.

“If he feels that’s adequate, well that’s fine.”

Shane Edwards of the Tigers. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Thursday’s triumph saw the Tigers re-enter the top eight, blowing the race for the top four wide open with one game now separating the fourth-placed Blues and the ninth-placed Magpies.

The brave Blues headed into the clash with a decimated backline that was missing the injured Jacob Weitering, Zac Williams, Mitch McGovern, Oscar McDonald, Caleb Marchbank and Luke Parks, and their midfield was without ruckman Marc Pittonet and star recruit Adam Cerra.

Things were so dire in defence for Carlton that they selected Sam Durdin for his club debut just a couple of weeks after being picked up in the mid-season draft. And he further stretched their backline when he was subbed out in the final term with a knee injury.

But the Tigers ultimately proved too strong in front of 50,741 fans – the lowest home-and-away crowd between these two clubs in 10 years (excluding Covid-19 years).

– with Ronny Lerner, NCA NewsWire

Originally published as Carlton denied crucial goal against Richmond after ‘extraordinary’ score review