Collingwood v GWS: Did AFL ARC miss Josh Thomas' goal being touched off the boot?

Tom Naghten

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Collingwood v GWS: Did AFL ARC miss Josh Thomas' goal being touched off the boot? image

The AFL told us the ARC would eliminate score review howlers but on its biggest test so far, it appears to have failed.

Collingwood's Josh Thomas was awarded a goal in the final quarter of their preliminary final against GWS at the MCG on Saturday, but it looked to have been touched off the boot.

A goal was given, but as is standard, it was reviewed and replays appeared to show Lachie Keeffe's right index finger bending back as the ball went past.

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Inexplicably, the decision was not overturned and the game was restarted with a centre bounce.




Fortunately for GWS, and the blushes of the ARC, the game wasn't decided by the error, with the Giants holding on for thrilling four-point win.

After leading by more than five goals early in the final term, Collingwood stormed back, aided in part by the score review mistake, but they couldn't overhaul GWS in a manic final few minutes.

After the match, the Fox Footy panel hammered the score review failure.

"Lachie Keeffe's nearly broken his finger," Brisbane champ Jonathan Brown said.

"That was a bad decision and that goes against the ARC so we don't want that to happen in the grand final next week.

"It's embarrassing for the AFL - the amount of money they've put into it."

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.