St Kilda were robbed against Richmond by an ‘embarrassing’ blunder

The AFL world erupted when St Kilda were “robbed” in a critical moment in Friday night’s semifinal against Richmond.

Did Tigers defender Nick Vlastuin touch the footy?

It wouldn’t be an AFL final without some score review drama.

St Kilda was cruelly denied a critical goal during the second quarter of its semi-final against the Richmond Tigers on the Gold Coast.

Trailing by 32 points just before halftime, the Saints were desperate to shift momentum when Jack Sinclair booted the footy towards the posts.

Nick Vlastuin attempted to punch the ball before it bounced over the goal line between the sticks, and the Richmond defender immediately claimed it was touched.

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Because the goal umpire was uncertain, the decision was sent for review, and several minutes were spent examining the footage.

Channel 7 commentator James Brayshaw said: “Daylight between fist and ball there.

“Remember he has to be definitive too because the umpire’s call is behind.”

Did Tigers defender Nick Vlastuin touch the footy?

LIVE SCORES: AFL Finals match centres

But although the commentary team were adamant the Sherrin had not been touched, only one point was awarded because the on-field umpire’s call was a behind.

The score review umpire said: “Looking at these angles, there is inconclusive evidence to confirm or overturn the umpire’s call.”

Saints fans erupted in the stands at Metricon Stadium when the decision was displayed on the big screen, and plenty of viewers voiced their disgust.

3AW sports broadcaster Shane McInnes tweeted: “INCONCLUSIVE??!?! There was daylight behind fist and ball. So much for, ‘What if it’s a final?’”

Sports journalist Jack Hudson posted: “The ARC is embarrassing.”

The Advocate reporter Alex Fair tweeted: “That was a goal. Saints robbed big time.”

Former St Kilda player Jason Gram posted: “Get me in the Arc now. How can u miss that?”

ABC Grandstand broadcaster Corbin Middlemas tweeted: “That’s about as conclusive as we’re going to get with a 2D image.”

Sports reporter Natalie Yoannidis tweeted: “Disgraceful decision! Why do we even have a review system if they can’t see an obvious goal?!”

Podcaster Dylan Buckley bluntly tweeted: “ARC is weak.”

I don’t care about the result of this @AFL final but how could the video guy not see that the ball wasn’t touched? This drives me mad how these guys get it wrong with so much footage. You would not want lose final this way. @stkildafc robbed of a goal.

— Brendan Joyce (@Brendan_Joyce12) October 9, 2020

Inconclusive evidence?

The ball was in Carrara. Tigger’s fist was in Coolangatta. #AFLFinals

— Matthew Lodge (@MatthewSLodge) October 9, 2020

Why even bother #ARC#AFLTigersSaints #AFLFinals

— Paddy Sweeney (@SweeneyPaddy9) October 9, 2020

Jeez the Saints are being hard done by tonight#aflTigersSaints

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) October 9, 2020

That’s a shocker

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) October 9, 2020

READ MORE: ‘Archaic nonsense’: Legend blasts decision

Five-time premiership player Dermott Brereton was stunned by the decision.

“When we saw the split-screen so they run concurrently … when you see distance between the fist from one angle and you see it from the other side, you know that that’s the only point of contact that could happen. That kind of looks conclusive to me,” Brereton said on Fox Footy.

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph elaborated: “That’s what the AFL ARC System is there for — for multiple angles, which you can cross-reference and correlate.

“I think we get silly if we start doing ‘snicko’ for these kind of incidents, but again, it is the best person in the ARC and they’ve been working through it all year. I think they probably should have made that decision, but I’m sure the AFL will say it was not conclusive.”

Despite the controversial incident, St Kilda suffered a heavy 31-point defeat to the Tigers, ending their finals campaign.