By Daniel Brettig
August 31st 2008 @ 12:17am
Eade calls for goal-line technology
Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade called for the introduction of technology to rule on AFL goal-line decisions after his team were on the wrong end of a howler at AAMI Stadium today.
Eade said his side may have been cost the game by the decision, which fortunately did not influence the third-placed Bulldogs’ finals fate.
Jason Porplyzia was credited with the pivotal first goal of the final term - which went a long way towards securing Adelaide’s eight-point win in sodden conditions - despite replays clearly showing the ball had crossed the line via the fist of Jason Akermanis.
Porplyzia’s leg swung through an instant later, striking Akermanis but not the ball.
“Oh no doubt, no doubt, no doubt (technology should be introduced), I’d like to have a look at that one again,” Eade said.
“Talking to Jason he believed he got kicked in the arm, so I certainly would hate to be playing for a top four or top eight spot and have that cost us today, it hasn’t, it might’ve cost us the game, and that’s questionable.
“It’s something the AFL’s got to look at, whether it’s time keepers or whether it’s goal umpires, things you can know that you can get right, things you can control you’ve got to get right.”
Adelaide coach Neil Craig concurred that technology, perhaps in the form of television replay referrals, would be appropriate in what is now a high stakes competition.
The Bulldogs other concern from today was the absence from Adelaide of former Crows ruckman Ben Hudson, who flew out of Adelaide this morning having been ruled out with an apparent hamstring complaint.
There is a shade of grey to the situation given that the Bulldogs flew over yesterday with only 22 players, not the usual tactic for a team that travels with one player under an injury cloud.
“Bit of a hamstring problem, it was a bit tight coming over and after a bit of a jog yesterday we thought it wasn’t worth the risk,” Eade said.
“We thought sitting all day here in the cold and then getting home late, we thought getting home then he could rest up and get some physio because we’re not too sure about next week - he’s not a fait accompli to be right.”
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