‘It was a complete fiasco, really. It was a stuff up.’

The debacle in Adelaide which saw Ben Keays’ goal signalled as a behind and denied the Crows from a win over Sydney, and ultimately a chance at playing finals, came on the back of human error and a system error.

That’s according to The Age’s chief football writer Jake Niall, who – along with Caroline Wilson and Peter Ryan – discussed what went wrong in the climatic moments of the Crows’ must-win clash at the SCG in this week’s episode of the Real Footy podcast.

Adelaide’s Ben Keays is puzzled with coach Matthew Nicks.Credit: Getty Images

“It was a complete fiasco, really. It was a stuff up,” said Niall, while Wilson lambasted the Crows for their weak statement in the aftermath of the AFL’s concession they got the decision wrong.

The trio also discussed West Coast’s upset win over the Western Bulldogs, and whether that result has any ramifications for either Adam Simpson or Luke Beveridge.

Brisbane’s win over Collingwood led Niall to concede the Lions warrant premiership favouritism, however Wilson’s opinion differed on which team is best placed to win this year’s flag.

St Kilda’s decision to axe Brett Ratten in favour of Ross Lyon was dissected with the benefit of hindsight after the Saints secured a finals berth with a win over Geelong, while the panel also discussed Damien Hardwick’s appointment as the new coach of the Gold Coast Suns for the next six years and how quickly the triple premiership coach could have success up north.

All that and plenty more on this week’s episode of the Real Footy podcast.

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