Gold Coast v Essendon: Goal umpire howler costs David Zaharakis a certain goal

Tom Naghten

Gold Coast v Essendon: Goal umpire howler costs David Zaharakis a certain goal image

Not long after Sydney's Jordan Dawson was given a goal despite the ball hitting the post at the SCG, David Zaharakis was robbed of one on the Gold Coast.

The Essendon midfielder had a shot from just inside the 50 and looked to have done enough for a major, though Suns defender Chris Burgess jumped up to touch the ball and keep it in the field.

Play-on was called as Sun Jack Lukosius cleared the ball.

Replays however showed the ball was clearly over the line and Zaharakis and the Bombers were robbed a goal.

Check out the video below.


AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan was in attendance at Metricon Stadium and would have been mightily relieved to see the Bombers kick two goals in the final two minutes to seal a 10-point win, meaning the error didn't prove costly.

Social media lit up in reaction to the call following a season marred by a host of score review shockers.


The AFL has already committed to fast-tracking a 'review centre' with the hope of eliminating the howlers and it can't come quickly enough for most fans.

McLachlan was shown on the broadcast as the Suns surged back late in the match to take the lead, funnily enough through a Burgess goal, with a couple of minutes remaining and he must have felt awfully uncomfortable with the impending storm coming the league's way.

Anthony McDonald-Tipingwuti then found Cale Hooker who finished truly from a set shot, before a long bomb from a Jake Stringer centre clearance bounced through for a goal.

The win sees Essendon remain intrenched in the top eight, two games clear of eighth-placed Adelaide.

It's a different story for the hapless Suns, with coach Stuart Dew looking absolutely shattered after the final siren, the result seeing his team remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder, two games shy of the Demons.

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.