Score reviews blasted by Alastair Clarkson, commentators after delays, wrong decisions across Round 2

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has questioned why the umpires didn’t leave a critical decision to the score review system against Fremantle, while usage of it on Friday night has also been put under the microscope.

Alastair Clarkson was unhappy with the score review system on Saturday. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has questioned why the umpires didn’t leave it to the score review system to decide whether a back pass had hit the point post on the full or not.

The Roos could have had a set-shot from the behind post when they were 19-points down with eight minutes to play in the final term in their 26-point loss to Fremantle.

But after the three umpires came together to work out their decision, Matthew Johnson’s back pass over James Aish’s head was deemed to have hit the grass before the post, hence why a throw in was called.

Replays however clearly show the ball hit the behind post first, raising questions as to why the review system wasn’t used.

“If there is a score review system in there, and if it obviously hit the post, then why doesn’t that get reviewed,” Clarkson said post-match.

“That’s up to the umpires and the game to adjudicate that sort of stuff, where there is confusing like that, where three umpires come together.

“Well if no one is sure, let’s have a look at the screen; I don’t know why they didn’t do it.

“We would have actually got a shot for goal if they deemed it to hit the behind post on the full.”

Alastair Clarkson was unhappy with the score review system on Saturday. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Commentators on Fox Footy said the umpires were not allowed to review the decision as there was no score involved in the play.

Clarkson remained firm that the play should have been reviewed despite the uncommon parameter which suggests umpires can only review if a score is involved.

“Score review, anytime there is uncertainty by a goal umpire or a field umpire, a boundary umpire whether it’s out, in or touched or whatever – I would have said anytime there is uncertainty on that, let’s just use the score review so I’m not sure why they didn’t,” Clarkson said.

It followed on from several delays in play at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night after a rushed behind.

Umpires sent the decision about if the ball had been rushed over for a behind upstairs.

Channel 7’s commentary team, including Brian Taylor said Matthew Richardson, were perplexed by how long it took the video umpires to make a call.

“It’s clearly over, get on with it,” Taylor said.

“This is going on too long,” Richardson replied.

After umpires made the call for a behind, overruling the on-field umpires, Taylor repeated his call that the game had been held up for too long.

“That was a minute and 12 seconds to get a result that was clearly obvious from a couple of angles,” Taylor declared.

Several other referred decisions on Friday night also took time out of the game, frustrating fans at the Adelaide Oval.