AFL rules Sydney weren’t robbed in goal review in loss to North Melbourne
THE AFL has defended its video review system following a controversial goal from North Melbourne’s Billy Hartung which appeared to be touched by Sydney defender Jarrad McVeigh.
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THE AFL has defended its video review system after a controversial call on a first-quarter goal from North Melbourne’s Billy Hartung which appeared to be touched off the boot by Sydney defender Jarrad McVeigh.
The “no call” was critical in the match with the Kangaroos hanging on to beat the Swans by two points.
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TV replays showed clear evidence the play was worth another look before the centre bounce was taken.
“The reviewer didn’t see enough definitive evidence to change the decision in the time before the restart of play. So the original decision stood when the game was ready to restart,” AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.
Surprisingly, Swans coach John Longmire wasn’t upset by what appeared to be a lack of scrutiny on the review.
“Someone told me he touched it, is that right or not?” Longmire said.
“What do you want me to say? I guess that’s what the review is for. If he touched it he touched it and that is what the review is for.”
Not surprisingly, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott was convinced the review was made and right decision achieved.
“They review every goal,” Scott said.
“They review every goal before the next centre bounce. I’d be staggered if they didn’t look at it. I was 250 metres away (from the incident) and I didn’t look at the review. I can’t control it so we just move on to the next thing. We don’t get caught up looking at replays and becoming third and fourth umpires.”
New football boss Steve Hocking has urged score review officials to make decisions quickly.
Richmond had two second-quarter goals overturned at the MCG on Sunday after they were overturned before the ball was bounced — kicked by Dustin Martin and Josh Caddy.
Tigers legend Matthew Richardson called for the AFL to remove the goal review system and start it up again once all the kinks have been ironed out.
Kangaroos superstar Shaun Higgins backed the current model.
“I’m sure they would’ve looked at (Hartung’s goal) and if it was an obvious one they would’ve called it,” he said.
“If it was so close they couldn’t decide then I don’t think there’s any need to hold the game up for five minutes to try and decide. Let’s bounce the ball and get on with it.”
It was a bad weekend for video review systems across the codes with the fiasco surrounding the A-League grand final between Newcastle and Melbourne Victory.
The FFA took the extraordinary step to apologise for the wrong call in the biggest game of the season-blaming a catastrophic software failure was to blame.
While not on a stage as big as a grand final, the North Melbourne goal could have repercussions later in the season when finals places are being sorted in a close competition.
Former Port Adelaide 300-game player Kane Cornes said he didn’t have a problem with the outcome of the Hartung goal.
“I’m OK with this one being called a goal,” Cornes said.
“The goal review system was brought in for the absolute howler, that’s not an absolute howler. If the field umpire didn’t hear anything you can’t definitively say that I’m going up to the big screen.
“The video review was brought in for the one where it hits the post in a grand final and it’s clear for everyone to see, that’s not clear to see. I’m OK if the field umpire doesn’t hear it and the goal umpire doesn’t want to review it.”