It’s time to roll out video technology in the AFL
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By Justin Rodski, 16 Feb 2010 Justin Rodski is a Roar Pro
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- AFL, NAB Cup, video replays AFL
It’s hard to believe, but finally common sense has prevailed. An umpire reversed the decision of a goal umpire after watching the replay on the big screen. The move has now inadvertently highlighted the benefits of a video review system in one of the greatest pieces of umpiring I’ve ever seen.
Leaving no doubt in my mind the time has come for the AFL to introduce video technology in goal umpiring decisions.
The pre-season competition has always been a traditional breeding ground for experimenting with new rules, in fact the AFL is currently testing the waters on four different changes in the NAB Cup.
All have gone virtually unnoticed or at least without incident. However the reverse decision in the West Coast versus Essendon game has made a massive splash and it wasn’t even on the AFL’s agenda.
For those who missed the match, let me bring you up to speed on exactly what happened.
The ball was kicked long into West Coast’s forward line, bounced in the square, rolled through the legs of the goal umpire into the post. The ball then bounced back into play allowing Eagle Andrew Embley to swoop and kick a goal.
Now, the goal umpire awarded the six points because he thought the ball bounced on the goal line and then back into play, if this was the case it would have been the right decision.
However, the goal umpire clearly made a mistake and the ball clearly hit the post. The telecast used multiple camera angles to confirm the error had been made. Then in an amazing football first, the field umpire reversed the decision after he had watched the replay on the big screen.
How much more proof does the AFL need to at least trial the technology?
In fairness to the league, they have been considering the idea, but a major factor in retaining the current system was that only three confirmed goal umpiring errors were recorded last year.
The third mistake was the most highlighted as it was in the grand final when Geelong’s Tom Hawkins was awarded a goal when his kick shaved the goalpost. Luckily for the AFL, they were spared any controversy with the Cats winning by 12 points.
We know mistakes will occasionally happen through human error, but it’s only a matter of time until an incorrect decision directly influences the result in a final or a grand final.
The AFL has trialled four goal umpires with two at either end in the pre-season but that didn’t work, while the introduction of four boundary umpires and increased consultation between the field, boundary and goal adjudicators has helped.
But this incident in the opening pre-season game of 2010 suggests the time has come for another set of eyes.
Hardly revolutionary I know, but the technology will enhance the game similar to cricket’s third umpire, hawk eye in tennis and the video referee in rugby league.
With so few line-ball decisions around the goal posts, why not use the technology available to make sure we get it right?
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The Crowd Says (8) | Page 1 of Comments
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James said | February 16th 2010 @ 10:17am | Report comment
No way. There are numerous dodgy calls per game/match in cricket and tennis, and at least one or 2 are wrong. Ditto Rugby League.
In our game, there were just 3 goal umpiring errors in 176 matches last year (confirmed by the AFL). If there are say 20 scoring shots in a game (by both teams), then that is 3 errors in some 3520 adjudications!!
Kick2Kick said | February 16th 2010 @ 10:29am | Report comment
If you read the umpires bosses comments he will say the umpire didnt watch the tv replay but that makes the channel 7 commentators who asked the umpires liers.
The only problem I have with video replay is that it will slow down the game with every 50/50 decision refereed to the 3rd umpire. It can work in cricket because you stop between balls but in AFL you do not stop between points.
Diesel said | February 16th 2010 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Nah. Not needed. Not foolproof either.
Redb said | February 16th 2010 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
The instance of bad calls in umpiring could be better resolved with some form of laser set up between the posts or sensors to detect the ball hitting the posts above a certain height.
Stopping for video – no thanks.
Cugel said | February 16th 2010 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
All very well, but the next one will be just as clear, and the video umpire will rule the other way. Leading to much scratching of heads and gnashing of teeth. Step after that is to allow the ball to bounce in off the post and play on, so the VU doesn’t have to get it right. re: One can now bounce the ball to score a try in RL, seemingly as a result of so many dodgy VR calls.
Justin Rodski said | February 16th 2010 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
The time factor is a consideration, but wouldnt it only add to the suspense? Similar to the third umpire in cricket revealing the result on the big screen after a run-out?
Everyone seems so reluctant to give the technology a go…. but the questions remains. What happens when an incorrect decision costs a side a premiership?
Those laser beams wont be between the goal posts, they’ll be shining directly in the face of the AFL.
JJW said | February 17th 2010 @ 12:59am | Report comment
The review system works well in tennis, where players have all the choice about when to dispute a call, but in the rugby codes it’s basically been a failure – witness the inevitable multiple replays after almost every try – and mostly they’re not conclusive anyway. The AFL system as it is works fine, and there are very few mistakes. If anything, they could trial having two goal umpires watching the posts, as with rugby. Replays would be a novelty for the crowd at first, but they’d lead to umpires being afraid to make a call, and that’d be bad for the game.
NOTV said | February 17th 2010 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Television review has absolutely destroyed cricket, 99 times out of 100 the umpires got it right now you have television reviews and the outcomes are still ambiguous. The umpiring in cricket was a once spectacle of the game and now they have no confidence to make any slightly marginal calls at all. Tennis is pretty much the only sport where it works.
It would be the beginning of the end if the AFL started allowing television review. I’ve got no problem with the development and introduction of technologies like motion and position sensors, which will probably happen at some point, but TV would impose itself more and more until there is nothing of the game left. As far as I’m concerned it’s a slippery slope at which gridiron is on the other end.