Score review system controversy erupts in Giants three-point thriller

The AFL’s score review system has found itself in the spotlight after it appeared to overlook a crucial goal in a nailbiter on Sunday.

The GWS Giants have continued their perfect start to season after taking down Melbourne on a wet and wild day at the MCG on Sunday.

In an enthralling encounter, the Giants hit the front with less than a minute to play as they secured the 11.11 (77) to 11.8 (74) win.

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Lachie O’Keefe was the man to nail the game-winner with the Giants kicking the final two goals of the contest to run over the top of the Demons.

The win came in the wake of a controversial goal to Melbourne defender Jake Bowey in the third quarter.

Watch the controversial goal in the video player above

Bowey stood loose in the forward 50 as the ball found its way to him following a defensive punch.

After collecting the ball, Bowey snapped for goal as GWS’ Darcy Jones closed down the space and attempted to smother the kick.

The ball sailed through the big sticks as Demons players celebrated by Bowey wasn’t sold with replays appearing to show Jones had got a hand on the ball.

Darcy Jones appeared to get a hand on the ball.

“Bowey thinks it’s touched,” Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown said.

“The man who kicked it thinks it’s touched!”

Fellow Demons star Jake Lever was then seen signalling to his teammates that the kick had been touched and to get set up for a GWS kick in.

But moments later the ball was bounced and play got back underway with the goal standing.

“It’s been called a goal – it has to be definitive to be overturned,” Dwayne Russell said.

“It’s not like we can use Snicko off the post.”

“Can you go on guilty reaction?” Brown asked. “Yes,” was the response from fellow commentator Nick Dal Santo.

“That one’s been locked in – too late now,” he said.

Bowey and Lever thought for sure it would be overturned.

Front of replays rolled later on during the quarter which appeared to show the Giants player had in fact got his hand on the ball with Bowey signalling it had been touched.

“We didn’t see that angle when they were reviewing it,” Dal Santo said.

“Why didn’t we stop play for a little longer and look at that angle?” Russell asked.

“When the player knows it is touched, it should be almost the end of the conversation,” Dal Santo replied.

“If the payer knows it’s touched and is conceding it’s touched, then maybe you take an extra minute,” Russell said.

“Play continues and it’s on the scoreboard now – you can’t erase it.”

Thankfully the controversial goal didn’t cost the Giants the win with the club recording their second straight win to start the season.