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Frustrated St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt says it’s “not fair” on the footy community that crucial video review calls are shrouded in controversy and uncertainty due to insufficient technology.
It comes as the AFL confirmed a trial with ball-tracking technology was “in the works” to help the ARC make definitive calls on scores.
Richmond on Thursday night fell agonisingly short of victory against Brisbane, going down by two points at the Gabba in a thrilling elimination final that ended in controversy.
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Tigers star Tom Lynch had a set-shot attempt in the dying minutes that appeared to sail over the goalpost. The goal umpire sent the decision to the ARC, but made the soft call it was a goal.
After video replays, the goal umpire was overruled by ARC and the score deemed a behind as it would have hit the post.
The overrule suggested the reviewer had sufficient evidence to overturn the call. However that has been heavily questioned in the aftermath of the match.
The AFL ticked off on the decision on Friday night after the Tigers’ two-point loss, but Richmond coach Damien Hardwick took issue with the “indecisive” system.
But speaking on Fox Footy on Friday night, Riewoldt said the shortcomings in goalline technology weren’t good enough.
“We were in 2009 in a Grand Final when Tom Hawkins (hit the post) – and I know I played in that game – but the point is we’re still here 13 years later,” Riewoldt said.
“It’s not fair on the players, the coaches and the fans who invest so much to put up with that sort of decision and then get told it was the right decision. Don’t treat the fans like mugs.”
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown said the right call was ultimately made, but the tech inadequacies led to a flawed decision-making process.
“We probably got to the right decision at the end of the day, but I’m not sure the rules allow for that,” Brown told Fox Footy.
“Are you going on a hunch? It feels as if they went on a hunch last night and overturned it from the ARC.”
Seven-time All-Australian Nathan Buckley added: “On the balance of it, that looks like it was the right decision. But the way the law is written, it needs to be definitive to overturn the goal umpire’s call.”
Meanwhile, Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph reported the AFL was in discussions trailing technology that involved microchips in balls, similar to the operation in Australia’s Super Rugby competition.
“It effectively took a punter with an iPhone in the stands to basically conclusively deliver the proof that this was a behind rather than a goal,” Ralph told Fox Footy.
“The question is now how do you bulletproof a system that clearly has significant weaknesses? Richmond and Brisbane very keen for an overhaul.
“I revealed today the AFL met with sports tech form Sportable last week. A trial of microchips in the bladder of balls is expected to take place next year with a microchip weighing a few grams. Effectively it sends back 20 signals a second to eight beacons around the ground. It would provide Hawkeye-style accuracy definitively.
“The AFL has confirmed to Fox Footy today that a trial is in the works.
“Despite some speculation today, the AFL doesn’t take in the emotional response of a player whether he pumps his fist or not. Only if both people in that ARC believe there’s definitive evidence that it’s overturned – and it was to a behind from a goal last night – so Damien Hardwick as you can understand was absolutely bemused.”
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