Essendon v GWS: Score review appears to get another crucial decision wrong

Tom Naghten

Essendon v GWS: Score review appears to get another crucial decision wrong image

The score review system will again be a major talking point this week after what looked to be a crucial error late in Essendon's win over GWS.

After being down by 19 points midway through the final quarter, the Bombers stormed back to claim a one-goal, pressure-relieving win.

Though with two minutes to on the clock and still down by a straight kick, Shaun McKernan set sail for home from the arc and the ball going through the big sticks to level it up.

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GWS defender Adam Kennedy was pleading with the umpires to check for a touch off the boot however.

And he might have had a case, with replays appearing to show Kennedy's finger bending back as the ball travelled past his hand.

Check out the video below.


It wasn't set upstairs and the ball was bounced shortly after.

With scores locked up, Cale Hooker, who had been swung forward with Tom Bellchambers down thanks to a calf injury, bobbed up to be the hero, getting on the end of a Conor McKenna tumble punt to kick the match-winner.

But it was to be the missed touched call that would dominate the conversation post match.

Fox Footy pundit Jonathan Brown summed up the mood following a season marred by score review controversy.

"This is the biggest embarrassment in our game since Meat Loaf sang the pre-game at the grand final," Brown said.

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.