Hocking’s fix for review howlers

AFL football boss Steve Hocking has issued an edict to officials judging goal reviews to back goal umpires.

AFL football boss Steve Hocking.

AFL football boss Steve Hocking has issued an edict to officials judging goal reviews to back the judgment of the league’s goal ­umpires.

The goal review system ­received significant criticism again at the weekend, with Richmond coach Damien Hardwick leading the charge after a contentious decision involving a Jack Higgins kick for goal.

After intimating on Sunday the league would act to tighten procedures, Hocking yesterday sent a message to judges in the hope of simplifying the decision-making process.

Unless there is definitive proof that a mistake has been made, the judges have been told to accept the original decision made on the ground.

And mindful of Hardwick’s criticism surrounding the length of time taken to make decisions, and the impact that can have in ­regards to momentum during a match, Hocking has again stressed the importance of speeding up the process.

Hocking defended the judges, saying “the overall mechanics of the score review system are good for the game in correcting errors”, stating 29 mistakes had been fixed as a result this year.

But a day after he said the video judge was correct in regards to the Higgins goal, he amended his view yesterday.

“That said, when the overrule decision is made that is incorrect or confusing for fans, such as the decision in Saturday’s game, all of that good work is quickly undone and clubs, players and fans will lose faith in the process of going to a score review,” he said.

It isn’t surprising Hardwick labelled the system an ­“embarrassment”.

Hocking yesterday stated the reigning premiers had been ­dudded on other occasions as well. “The Richmond Football Club has had score reviews in its games in the first part of the season that the AFL acknowledges were not performed to the expected standard,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Saints have ­endured another significant blow in a shocking season with Jake Carlisle yesterday handed a two-match suspension from Saturday’s clash against Richmond. The star defender was penalised for striking Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt in the head early in the Saints 28-point loss at the MCG.

The blow concussed Riewoldt, who was unable to take any further action, and match review officer Michael Christian took a dim view of the incident, though he deemed it careless instead of ­intentional.

“After watching the vision from every angle, it would … seem his intention was to chop the arms of Jack Riewoldt to prevent him taking the mark,” he told the AFL website. “He actually gets quite close to the ball in terms of where his arm is, his open hand … and it is not overly late.

“But it was still highly careless … particularly when you see a swinging arm. He took his eyes of the ball late and I don’t believe it was a genuine spoiling attempt.”

Exciting Eagle Willie Rioli will be available to further exacerbate the Saints’ woes after receiving a $1000 fine for patting umpire Ray Chamberlain on the hip. Rioli was also fined $1500 for dropping his knees into Blake Hardwick.