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The AFL has admitted an error was made in the overturning of a Richmond goal on Saturday

AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking has admitted an error was made in the overturning of a Richmond goal on Saturday. But what does the league plan on doing about it? RECAP ALL THE DAY’S FOOTBALL NEWS

THE AFL has admitted the contentious score review which disallowed a Richmond goal on Saturday was a mistake.

One day after claiming it was a correct call, the AFL on Monday night performed an embarrassing backflip and conceded the 55m set shot from Tiger Jack Higgins should have been paid a goal. AFL operations manager Steve Hocking said there was not enough evidence for the score reviewer to overturn the original decision – which was a goal - and admitted it should have been an umpire’s call in-game. INJURY LIST: WHO IS HURT AND FIRING AT YOUR CLUB? BIG WIN: LEVER HAS THE LAST LAUGH AGAINST CROWS Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was furious with the bungled decision on Saturday, labelling it “an embarrassment to the game”. In future, the league wants the score review operators to only overrule errors which are clearly wrong and leave close calls to the goal umpires. It means the score review system operators should be more conservative with their decision-making in the 25 seconds they have to make a call. An AFL statement released on Monday night said the Higgins decision was an unfortunate human error. “It was the AFL’s view that the visual evidence used by the score reviewer to alter the decision from a goal to a point was not beyond reasonable doubt to overturn the decision,” it said. “The review should have reverted to ‘umpire’s call’, and the original decision made by the goal umpire at the time.” One camera angle from the nearest goal post showed Higgins’ flying shot had cleared the goal line before it was touched by St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey. However, a second angle from the furthest goal post – which was used in the score review – showed it was a much closer call, prompting the incorrect overrule. The Herald Sun can reveal the score review system is operated by a group of former AFL umpires and some experienced AFL staff. There are approximately two score review operators in each state and up to six officials in Melbourne who operate the score review system from a room underneath the stadiums. Perfect 9 promo 650x90 They have access to all camera angles in the score review room. It is understood the league has already spoken with some score review operators to make clear the league only wants the howling mistakes overturned. Hocking said the system worked, but admitted it had failed Richmond several times this season. “The overall mechanics of the score review system are good for the game in correcting errors and ensuring against wrong decisions, with some 29 reviews this season reaching a decision that corrected an original error,” Hocking said. “That said, when an over-rule decision is made that is incorrect or confusing for fans, such as the decision in Saturday’s game, all of that good work is quickly undone and clubs, players and fans will lose faith in the process of going to a score review. “It will continue to be educated to the review staff as the highest priority that when it comes to an over-rule the vision must be beyond reasonable doubt, or to revert to the original decision made by the umpire on-field. “The Richmond Football Club has had score reviews in its games in the first part of the season that the AFL acknowledges were not performed to the expected standard.” The league last year trialled a bunker system where all score reviews are made by the same staff in Melbourne, but it is deemed too expensive to setup permanently. LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >

Originally published as The AFL has admitted an error was made in the overturning of a Richmond goal on Saturday

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-daily-get-all-the-latest-and-breaking-footy-news-on-monday-may-28-2018/live-coverage/d2469aa055fc031366fc2e884e4d3984