Former AFL umpire Matthew Head has scathed the AFL’s current score review standards after Adelaide was denied a crucial goal in their clash against Sydney in Round 23.
With just over a minute remaining, a classy Ben Keays snap seemingly soared through the goals which would have put Adelaide in front, however the goal umpire deemed it a behind and did not review the decision.
Sydney went on to win the match and denied the Crows a chance to finish inside the eight, with the call ultimately deciding it.
“I think going forward, the ARC need to be better than that,” Head told SEN’s Sportsday.
“The investment in technology needs to be better to improve that type of situation.”
Head believed that a possible solution would be for the ARC to review all scores, not just goals, and for the AFL to implement more efficient technology.
“You’ve got to invest in technology and you’ve got to go with the best available; whether it’s something like a Hawkeye or the line in tennis. Everybody accepts that, so I think the AFL need to make a call and actually invest,” he said.
“If they’re not going to do that, then I think they need to change the rules.
“Now that we’ve seen how dramatic and how much of an impact these decisions can make, …it’s got to be a catalyst to change.”
Head claimed that ensuring scores are recorded correctly is one of the most important aspects to the game, and should therefore be a focus for the AFL.
“There’s two things you’ve got to get right – the health and safety of the players and the scoring integrity,” he said.
“There should be nothing that stops that.”
On Sunday the AFL admitted that they got the decision wrong, surely prompting change in an attempt to eliminate such a problem occurring in the future.