AFL to install goal-line cameras at all venues for rest of season after Christian Petracca goal controversy

The AFL has acted swiftly after calls for the score review system to be fixed after insufficient vision meant Christian Petracca’s match-winning goal was unable to be properly judged in Melbourne’s narrow win over St Kilda.

Christian Petracca stood up for the Dees in a stunning performance. Picture: Getty Images/AFL Photos

The AFL will install goal-line cameras at all venues for the remainder of the season after Melbourne’s Christian Petracca was controversially awarded a match-winning goal in Saturday night’s three-point win over St Kilda.

With no goal-line camera at TIO Traeger Park, the AFL’s ARC operators were unable to determine if the desperate lunge of St Kilda defender Dougal Howard allowed him to touch the ball before, on or after it crossed the line.

It prompted calls from Demons coach Simon Goodwin and Richmond great Matthew Richardson for the AFL to ensure every venue hosting matches has appropriate score review technology, while Saints coach Brett Ratten put it back on the league to decide whether the league wanted to invest money in the system.

While the AFL backed the decision of the ARC to defer to the umpire’s call — which was a goal — the league will install cameras at all venues hosting matches for the remainder of the season.

“The AFL advises all venues hosting AFL matches for the rest of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season (including finals) will have goal-line cameras installed, ensuring the best available vision and consistent technology is in place for each of the remaining games,” the league said in a statement.

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Was it touched? The technology wasn't up to scratch to tell conclusively.

Despite the crucial decision going Melbourne’s way, Goodwin was vocal post-game, declaring goal-line cameras should be installed at every venue that hosts AFL games.

Petracca was initially stiff not to have been paid the mark, using his brutal strength to snare the ball with Callum Wilkie hanging off him and two other Saints in the vicinity.

Petracca slammed the ball onto his boot while being tackled and, after the Sherrin took a lucky turn and dribbled towards the goal, St Kilda’s Dougal Howard, after a desperate lunge, was adamant he touched it before it crossed the line.

The ARC operator in charge on the night said: “We can see the ball’s clearly touched, but there is insufficient evidence to confirm if this touch is before crossing the back of the goal line. Reverting to the umpire’s call.”

There are varying levels of goal line technology available at AFL grounds, with the Alice Springs oval’s tech not in the league of somewhere like the MCG.

“If you are going to have goal-line cameras you probably need them at every game,” Channel Seven commentator Matthew Richardson said.

We’ll sooner know if Wayne Harmes kept it in before knowing if that Petracca kick was a goal. Remarkable camera angles 😂🤦🏻‍♂️ #AFLDeesSaints

— Jack Fitzpatrick (@JFitzpatrickT1) August 29, 2020

Goodwin said it was “nice to get one your way” but the game had to remove doubt from such vital moments.

“I think I spoke about it a while ago around the importance of getting it right,” Goodwin said.

“If we can’t get the technology to a point where you can’t make accurate calls you are better off not having it.

“When you are trying to pick up touched ones from a fair way out or on the goal line you need the technology at every venue.”

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten did not want to pin his side’s three-point loss on that moment.

“It is the AFL’s call if they want to put the money and the resources into it or whether they want to back in the umpire,” Ratten said.

We’ve got bigger things to worry about from our end about trying to kick straight and trying to defend players and stoppage set ups.

“It might happen once a year or twice a year to your team, it’s up to the AFL to make that call.”

The agony and the ecstasy as the final siren goes. Picture: Getty Images

NERVOUS SAINTS

Petracca’s goal — which came with still more than six minutes left on the clock — will leave St Kilda fans nervous over their now more precarious season.

It has been nearly a decade since the Saints have played finals, and Melbourne on Saturday night ensured things would get just a little bit more uncomfortable for St Kilda fans in the run home as they await the end of the post-season drought.

In a game extremely close to must win for Melbourne in Alice Springs the Demons were led outstandingly by Steven May in defence and X-factor Christian Petracca with four goals as they survived a late Saints onslaught to run out three-point winners and jump back into the top eight.

The Saints are in there with them, but have lost three out of their last four and just a game ahead of their rivals.

Petracca gets his kick away, which dribbled through the goals and proved the winner. Picture: Getty Images

The Dees Swamp Petracca after his goal. Picture: Getty Images

PROVING A POINT

St Kilda would have hated watching Petracca turn into a star of the competition this season, and the Demons gun further twisted the knife in the early stages of the match.

Petracca led the Saints draft board for much of 2014, yet when push came to shove St Kilda ended up going with the concussion-cursed Paddy McCartin with its No.1 pick.

It is going to be a decision the Saints regret, and Petracca contributed to this early on in Alice Springs.

He kicked the first of the match with a sensational effort from some distance as he continued his outstanding 2020 while his fourth goal with just six minutes to go was simply outstanding in the face of three opponents – and aided by a lack of goal line camera at Alice Springs – and won the game for the Demons.

Michael Hibberd injured his ankle during the clash. Picture: Getty Images/AFL Photos

YOU MAY NOT PASS

May copped a fair bit of criticism in his first year at Melbourne in 2019.

This season the former Gold Coast Suns co-captain has been outstanding for the Demons.

Coming into the game the Darwin-born May had only given up the three goals to a direct opponent, Richmond’s Tom Lynch.

And while Max King still has plenty to learn as a key forward, May was still very impressive against the Saints.

He finished with 22 disposals and nine marks, and was a rock in defence for the Demons, especially in the final quarter when he seemed to gobble up the ball every time the Saints went forward.

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Jack Steele found a ton of it and few Demons, including Jake Melksham, escaped his clutches. Picture: Getty Images

TOUGH AS STEELE

Jack Steele’s evolution from tagger to one of the game’s premier midfielders continues to gather pace as he again put in a superman-like shift for the Saints this season.

His mark when May was set to hit him hard was heroic for the Saints and as the Demons’ midfield cooled after their fast start Steele just got cooking.

His goal from a Nathan Jones mistake helped get the Saints back into the game after the Demons looked to be well in control of proceedings and he backed this up all over the ground to finish with 26 disposals.

Ranked fourth in the coaches votes ahead of the game, some more are surely Steele’s way after his performance.

SCOREBOARD

MELBOURNE: 4.0, 5.1, 7.3, 8.4 (52)

def

ST KILDA: 1.3, 4.5, 6.6, 7.7 (49)

GOALS

Demons: Petracca 4, Weideman 2, Gawn, Brown

Saints: Marshall, Membrey, Steele, King, Ryder, Battle, Phillips

SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON’S BEST

Demons: May, Petracca, Gawn, Langdon, Salem, Oliver

Saints: Steele, Marshall, Geary, Hill, Coffield, Jones

SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON’S VOTES

3 — Steven May (Melbourne)

2 — Christian Petracca (Melbourne)

1 — Jack Steele (St Kilda)

INJURIES

Demons: Michael Hibberd (ankle)

Saints: Nil

Originally published as AFL to install goal-line cameras at all venues for rest of season after Christian Petracca goal controversy