Rare access into the AFL Review Centre and the system that decides all umpire reviewed decisions

The hawk-eyes of the AFL Review Centre have about 60 seconds to decide - with an imperfect array of angles at their disposal - reviewed decisions. Step inside the ARC with JAY CLARK.

The AFL launches the AFL Review Centre (ARC) and it will be in operation for Week One of the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals Series following a successful trial in Round 23 of the Premiership Season. Picture: Mark Stewart

They might be the three hottest seats in the game during live play.

In the score review bunker in the AFL Review Centre, time moves fast when it comes to footy’s most contentious calls.

And when the umpires give the bat signal for a score review, three human hawk-eyes whip into action deep in the bowels of Marvel Stadium.

There’s hi-tech headsets, gaming chairs, a wall of screens and most certainly no natural sunlight.

And when the clock starts, the three operators have about 60 seconds to come up with the right call before they know the jeers at the ground will begin.

The AFL Review Centre, deep in the bowels of Marvel Stadium. Picture: Mark Stewart

This is where the zoom and super slow-motion buttons gets a workout to either find the best angle from the goalpost or zero in on fuzzy fingers bending backwards.

While this process seems to take an eternity when you are watching from the couch or up in the stands, time flies in the bunker.

This week the footy media took their turn when the AFL opened up its ARC to show the technology and effort that goes into their umpiring systems. And, clearly, it isn’t perfect.

Not according to the Kangaroos fans who said the Jack Crisp goal was clearly touched late in the second quarter last Sunday. Even Bailey Scott told the Herald Sun he touched it.

The AFL said the vision was inconclusive, and a goal was paid, but we’ll agree to disagree.

In the ARC, the AFL’s super computer for umpiring is good in the same way the Nintendo 64 was once the top-of-the-line system for computer gamers.

Clearly, it is time for an upgrade, and the AFL is already trailing ball chip technology for more accurate information to help catch-up with cricket and tennis.

Every pixel is crucial when four points are on the line.

And the umpiring in footy has never been in sharper focus.

This week, Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson said footy’s umpiring was in disarray, a cutting call from one of the most authoritative voices in the game.

The AFL disagrees after the move to a four-person system designed to put more eyeballs in better positions to make the calls.

Once an umpire has reviewed a decision, the hawk-eyes in the ARC have about 60 seconds to make a call. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

When bodies are flying at warp speed, the demands on the whistleblowers have never been more extreme.

Holding the ball decisions have increased by only 1.5 a game as players begin to adapt to quicker whistles.

The umpires are mic’d up so they can talk to each other throughout play to help with decisions like determining a player had prior opportunity.

And in another room, where this is another giant wall of screens, there are more operators cataloguing and recording all of the decisions made.

So after the game, and throughout the week, the umpires are reviewed and coached just like players are.

And in the off-season, they strap on virtual reality headsets to sharpen up.

That is where you are put in the middle of the MCG and passages of play unfold around you.

When play stops it is time to make a call.

But things get even more serious in another room where match review incidents are logged and spotters lookout for potential concussions.

They hunt for staggered steps and players touching their head, or any squint of the eyes to suggest something is not right after a head knock.

If the club doctors miss it, the message or call comes through from the spotter to the bench that a particular player needs to be assessed.

The scrutiny surrounding the Christian Petracca ruptured spleen incident has underlined the toughness of the job club medicos have in front of them. Picture: Michael Klein

The AFL decision-makers have high level of confidence players are open about their symptoms and can be assessed properly on the ground in play.

But what can you tell from a Jeremy Cameron thumbs up?

Doctors ask questions to players after head knocks about the score and the game to assess their memory and cognitive function.

These medicos are under extreme pressure to get it right, and the scrutiny surrounding the Christian Petracca ruptured spleen incident has underlined the toughness of the job. They would love expensive scanning equipment at the ground to help better assess serious injuries.

Perhaps it won’t be long before players have to come from the ground for a head check-up after a heavy fall or knock.

In the bunker, any worries are recorded, and the accountability is high.

If anything is missed on the field in play, it is up to the AFL’s super computer and its operators to catch it.

Originally published as Rare access into the AFL Review Centre and the system that decides all umpire reviewed decisions