Goal umpires will be encouraged to back their judgement on calls over needless ARC referrals

The seemingly needless ARC reviews that have killed momentum in numerous games this season are out as the AFL tells umpires to back their decision making on goal calls.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: AFL Field Umpire, Brendan Hosking and AFL Goal Umpire, Steven Piperno request a score review during the 2024 AFL Round 03 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Geelong Cats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 01, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The AFL has told umpires to back in their decision-making after a spate of needless reviews because the ARC has a safeguard that allows it to double-check goals before the next bounce.

The league had told umpires they should review any borderline decision as AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said last week he believed the system was working despite the repeated reviews.

But goal umpires believed they were losing their ability to back their own call as the league introduced extra safeguards in the wake of the Ben Keays non-goal in round 22 last year.

This round there have been less reviews already for borderline decisions after a compromise position worked through with new AFL football general operations manager Josh Mahoney.

The goal umpires have been backed to trust their judgement on calls over needless referrals to the ARC. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The league confirmed on Friday it was attempting to find a better balance between reviewing contentious calls and backing its umpires to make their own call.

The AFL has told the umpires to back in their calls for goals because the league reviews all goals in the 30-45 seconds as the ball goes back to the centre square.

The AFL’s new umpires boss Stephen McBurney starts next Monday after his recent appointment but the decision has already been made to back in the goal umpires.

Under rules brought in last year there are now two ARC officials to work through reviews in the league’s bunker in AFL House and a field umpire can hold up play to call for a review if contacted through their headset by the ARC officials.

Goal umpires should still call for a review if they believe the decision is a behind because the lack of a review allows the defending team to quickly rush the ball back into play.

But if they believe the decision is a goal there is a safeguard in place that allows the video referral team to overturn the decision on the way to the centre bounce, call a behind, and allow the defensive team to take the kick out from the resulting point.

AFL Goal Umpire, Daniel Hoskin is seen speaking with his colleagues during the 2024 AFL Round 2 match between North Melbourne and Fremantle. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The goal umpires met with Mahoney earlier this month to discuss the score reviews, believing they had been hung out to dry over the repeated reviews when it was AFL policy to review more decisions.

The league believes its goal umpires have done an excellent job this year to prevent any howlers so far, but now believes it can find a better balance.

In the Hawthorn-North Melbourne game last Sunday three shots on goal in a row went to the score review system, draining the game of any momentum.

But that weekend Dillon made clear he did not want any mistakes with the system after the Crows at one stage considered taking the AFL to court over the Ben Keays debacle, which cost them a finals berth.

“I am a big fan of footy but I also like getting the scores right. The umpires are there to make the calls. I would prefer one extra score review, than one too few,” Dillon said.