Southern Football League coach Ben Lockwood left fuming after scoreboard error in extra-time loss to Riddell league

The Southern Football League’s interleague coach has labelled the controversial finish to the club’s extra-time loss to the Riddell league ‘a farce’ after a scoreboard error which had his side in front at the final siren.

Southern Football Netball League coach Ben Lockwood was left seething after a scoreboard blunder at the end of the AFL Victoria community championships match with Riddell District at Romsey on Saturday.

The SFNL was in front by a point when the final siren sounded.

But amid “mass confusion’’ the scoreboard was amended to show a draw, 10.12 (72) to each team.

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After a 10-minute delay the match went to extra time and the host league had the better of it, finally winning 12.12 (84) to 11.15 (81).

“Mate, embarrassing. Absolutely embarrassing. A joke,’’ Lockwood fumed this morning.

“We thought we’d won by a point and all of a sudden people were coming on to the ground saying it was a draw. Nobody knew what was going on. It was mass confusion.

“Our last two or three minutes of the game were based on the fact that we were a point up. We played for that. If we knew the scores were level we would have played differently.

“Honestly, it was a farce. You’re supposedly playing a high level of footy — interleague footy, representative footy, for some of the players the highest level of footy they can play — and something like this happens. Not good enough.’’

He said he believed the scoring error was made in the final quarter when Riddell District was credited with a Southern goal.

The Southerners had kicked the first four goals of the last quarter to skip 19 points clear, full forward Jake Mullen of Oakleigh District slotting two of them.

Southern coach Ben Lockwood was left fuming after his side’s apparent win went into extra-time. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

But the visitors couldn’t close it out — Riddell booted three goals in five minutes to level the scores.

After a draw was declared, two five-minute periods were added to the match.

With his fifth goal Mullen put Southern ahead, but Jack O’Sullivan and then Footscray VFL premiership player Mitch Jensen goaled to put Riddell District in front. It stayed there in a tense final few minutes, Southern squandering two good chances.

Jensen kicked four goals and was named second-best for the hosts, behind another former VFL player, Daniel Toman.

“From where we were in the last quarter, we shouldn’t have lost from there,’’ Lockwood said.

“But our players gave it everything they had and they were upset after the match. I’m shattered for them. They put their heart and soul into it.

“But it’s a blip in the radar to where we want to go with interleague. We just have to reboot and improve next year.’’

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For the second successive season champion East Malvern ruckman Chris Carey won the SFNL medal as best interleague player, nosing out Mullen and his East teammate Paul Fry.

Dingley trio Lucas Walmsley, Kris Feehan and Danny Ades were also strong contributors.

Ades was captain of the team.

“Gee he is a warrior,’’ Lockwood said. “I love him. Gives everything he has.’’

SFNL CEO Lee Hartman said the scoreboard error was “unfortunate’’.

“It wasn’t ideal. The players on the ground thought they’d won because that’s all they can go on,’’ he said.

“But the fact is we were 19 points up with four minutes of playing time left. We should have been able to win from that position.’’

The RDNFL also won the Under 19 match, 8.7 (55) to 7.7 (49).

Ubil Chol (St Kilda City) took the medal as best player for the SFNL.

FINAL SCORES

Southern FNL 3.3, 4.5, 6.10, 11.15 (81)

Riddell District FNL 1.2, 4.4, 7.6, 12.12 (84)

SFNL goals: J. Mullen 5, D. Ades, J. Carosella, A. Spencer, C. Horton-Milne, T. La Rocca, K. Hendy.

Best: C. Carey, J. Mullen, P. Fry, L. Walmsley, K. Feehan, D. Ades

Riddell District FNL goals: M. Jensen 4, D. Weir 3, J. Caruana, J. O’’Sullivan, D. Putt, D. Tarczon, D. Toman.

Best: D. Toman, M. Jensen, D. Tarczon, A. Tyquin, B. Swallow, M. Burkett