Sydney v Gold Coast: Score review takes goal off Lachie Weller

Tom Naghten

Sydney v Gold Coast: Score review takes goal off Lachie Weller image

While the result was already settled, Gold Coast's Lachie Weller might have felt unlucky to have a goal chalked off against the Swans on Saturday evening.

With his side down by 43 points in the final minute of the clash at the CG, the Suns midfielder launched one for home, the goal umpire barely moving as it bounced through for a major.

Though, much like the drama around Shaun McKernan's goal on Thursday night, Sydney's Lewis Melican protested that he had touched the kick off the boot.

MORE: Callum Sinclair injury: Sydney Swans ruckman dislocates shoulder

The umpires didn't call for a review, though it was still looked at as is standard procedure.

Replays looked inconclusive, with score reviewers requesting more time before coming up with the surprise decision of behind.

While the football appeared to travel close to Melican's right hand, the vision shown on the broadcast didn't seem to offer enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision, and certainly no more evidence than the McKernan example.

If the AFL was hoping the rest of the round would be free of contentious moments courtesy of the score review system, just minutes later there was another incident that had fans at Adelaide Oval scratching their heads.

Port Adelaide's Charlie Dixon was awarded a goal after a review, with Dogs defender Zaine Cordy ruled not to have touched the ball off the boot.

Viewers were left wondering why the vision showing the ball cross the line was left off the broadcast however.

Port-Dogs review



This comes on the same day that AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking backed the decision to award McKernan a goal.

"Their review was that it was inconclusive so that’s where it landed and I’m happy to support the review officer in that case," Hocking said on SEN on Saturday morning.

Hocking added that the competition was in the process of looking at ways to improve the system, with an NRL-style 'bunker' one possible solution.

"What I will say is we’re committed to improving that and making sure the best model is in operation," Hocking said.

"The important thing for fans to recognise is and know is this isn’t something that’s just happened in the last couple of weeks, I’ve been looking at this since the start of the season and understanding that this was going to be a problem for us.

"There’s got to be improvement."

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.