Northern Football League declares North Heidelberg-Macleod clash a draw after scoreboard error

North Heidelberg says it will not challenge the Northern Football League’s decision to overturn it’s win over Macleod and instead declare a draw. The Roos and league have also had their say.

North Heidelberg and Brent Harvey will have to settle for two points. Picture: Nathan William Media

Saturday’s North Heidelberg-Macleod thriller got a dramatic postscript on Monday.

The Bulldogs claimed a one-point win at Shelley Reserve but a video review over the weekend determined the match had in fact finished in a draw.

The Northern Football League confirmed on Monday a behind had incorrectly been awarded to North Heidelberg in the second quarter.

The result was officially updated to North Heidelberg 11.5 (71) to Macleod’s 10.11 (71) and both teams awarded two competition points.

Despite losing two points, the Bulldogs believed the correct decision had been made.

Brent Harvey in action for North Heidelberg. Picture: Nathan William Media

“We accept the umpire’s decision, it’s a draw,” club president Warren Haysom told Leader.

“We’ve gone back and had a look at the footage, it’s clear a point was ticked over when it shouldn’t have been.

“It certainly won’t be pursued any further ... it wouldn’t be in the best interests of our club and certainly the spirit of the game.”

The league review determined North Heidelberg was incorrectly awarded a behind despite umpires signalling the ball had gone out of bounds on the full.

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NFL football operations manager Simon Devine said the league was working with the umpires to find out how the scoreboard error was missed.

“Quite often there’s a scoreboard discrepancy, which is where the umpires have a responsibility to correct it,” he said.

“The confusion can be we’re (the league is) adjudicating a score - we’re saying an out of bounds was a point - but it’s not that at all.

“At the end of the day, based on the information we have, it is a draw because of the score, not because of the league overruling an umpire’s decision.

Liam Brandt in action for Macleod. Picture: Nathan William Media

“We’ve released it publicly and everyone is jumping on but we’re not changing the score, we’re amending it to the correct score.”

The result leaves the Bulldogs on 22 points in outright third while Macleod moves up to 10 points in outright seventh.

Macleod president Steve Doherty said his club weren’t aware of an issue before being told of the decision.

“It came as a bit of a surprise,” he said.

“It wasn’t our decision, we didn’t put anything forward, and it’s a decision the league has made.”

In a thrilling finish, Macleod stormed home in the final quarter and took a six-point lead before a late North Heidelberg goal evened the scores.

A rushed behind with just minutes remaining seemed to have won the game for the Bulldogs but proved to be just as crucial in the end.