Collingwood v Fremantle: AFL provides excuse behind costly goal review system blunder

James Pavey

Collingwood v Fremantle: AFL provides excuse behind costly goal review system blunder image

The AFL has conceded error in the goal review system blunder that marred Fremantle's thrilling win over Collingwood on Saturday.

The Dockers sealed a four-point win at the MCG thanks to Michael Walters' last-ditch winner, but it was an earlier Walters goal that raised eyebrows.

During the third quarter, with Fremantle trailing by a goal, a Walters snap went through the sticks.

However, a review was called after Pies veteran Steele Sidebottom looked to have touched the ball on the line.

MORE: Two Saints ruled out following sickness disaster in Shanghai

The initial review correctly deemed on the Sidebottom touch, which was touched over the line.

However, further replays revealed that Collingwood defender Chris Mayne got a clear touch off the boot. This vision was not shown during the review - rather, by the Fox Footy broadcast shortly afterwards.

After the match, Pies coach Nathan Buckley refused to lay blame on the incident for his side's defeat, but suggested the review process could have been more "thorough".

 

"There didn't seem to be a really thorough review on it. So the umpires were either really clear on it that it wasn't touched or it wasn't looked at externally. I'm not sure why it wasn't looked at closer," Buckley said.

"It's probably a bit topical right now, isn't it? We didn't deserve to win today, so you guys can look at the minutiae for me."

On Sunday, the league released a statement, saying the "subsequent vision" of the Mayne touch was not shown by the broadcaster because it was "unavailable to the score review officer at the time of review".

The AFL acknowledged that Mayne had indeed touched the ball, and expects all vision captured by the broadcaster be "available to score review officers at the time of the review".


Full statement: The AFL wishes to advise the goal awarded to Fremantle player Michael Walters in the third quarter of the Round 11 match between Collingwood and Fremantle at the MCG has been reviewed.

The score review officer reviewed the vision available at the time and based on this vision supported the umpire’s decision that a goal had been scored.

Due to technical reasons, the subsequent vision shown by the broadcaster was unavailable to the score review officer at the time of review.

The AFL acknowledges that based on the additional broadcast vision the ball was touched by Collingwood player Chris Mayne.

The AFL will continue to improve the score review process to ensure that all vision captured by the broadcaster is available to score review officers at the time of the review.

James Pavey

James Pavey Photo