AFL concedes Michael Walters’ snap goal against Collingwood was touched

The AFL issued a statement yesterday admitting a mistake was made in awarding Fremantle a goal in its nailbiting win against Colingwood. Then on Sunday night, it happened again. WATCH

Michael Walters handballs as Pie Chris Mayne moves in to tackle. Pic: Getty Images

The AFL has conceded another video replay mistake, admitting it should have reviewed clear footage of Chris Mayne touching Michael Walters’ third-term goal on Saturday.

Walters’ snapped goal was reviewed to assess whether it cleared the goal line, but Collingwood players complained to the field umpire than Mayne had touched the ball off Walters’ boot.

The AFL said the video umpires should have had access to the footage that proved Mayne touched the ball.

Instead because of technical reasons that video was never shown to the reviewer.

An identical mistake was made in Sunday night’s West Coast-Bulldogs game when Marcus Bontempelli touched Oscar Allen’s snapped shot, called a goal after an official review.

The replay showed the ball clearly touched Bontempelli’s little finger, with the review instead focusing on whether the ball cleared the players on the goal line.

After a review, Oscar Allen's kick was judged a goal.

But footage of Marcus Bontempelli potentially touching the ball was not shown during the review. #AFLEaglesDogs pic.twitter.com/5veydzlDtF

— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) June 2, 2019

After the Pies loss, midfielder Mayne told the Sunday Herald Sun he touched the ball with all five fingers.

Collingwood lost by just four points, although the incident occurred long before they conceded a series of telling last-quarter goals to the Dockers.

Too often the video umpire has proved a point of contention, either making clear mistakes in assessing decisions or failing to step in when there is clear evidence of a wrong decision.

“The score review officer reviewed the vision available at the time and based on this vision, supported the umpire’s decision that a goal had been scored,” the league said in a statement.

Michael Walters celebrates his third-term goal. Pic: AAP

“Due to technical reasons, the subsequent vision shown by the broadcaster was unavailable to the score review officer at the time of the review.

“The AFL acknowledges that based on the additional broadcast vision, the ball was touched by Collingwood player Chris Mayne.”

The AFL said it would “continue to improve the score review process” to make sure that all vision captured by the respective match’s broadcaster is available to the officers for every review.