How do we fix the AFL video review system?
Roar Guru By TheSportsFreak, 18 Sep 2012 TheSportsFreak is a Roar Guru & Live Blogger
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- AFL, AFL video review
The Cats look dejected after a loss in the AFL 2nd Elimination Final match to the Fremantle Dockers at the MCG, Melbourne. (Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/AFL Media)
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Just one day before the first game of the AFL season, the league decided to adopt the video review system for questionable scoring decisions.
We are now almost a full season into it being in use.
There’s been some success over the six months. But on the main, there have been incidents that have made us wonder why it was brought in to start with.
There were teething problems in the first couple of weeks, but the big issue has seemed to be inconclusive evidence.
Take round 16 between Geelong and Collingwood. Joel Selwood soccers it off the ground in the early stages of the third quarter, only for the process to then take two minutes before coming up with inconclusive evidence.
Then you have what happened over the weekend in the semi final at the MCG – lack of communication.
West Coast’s Andrew Embley believing he’d rushed a behind, then to have Andrew Krakouer pick up the ball and kick the goal. Once the ball’s gone back to the middle of the ground, then the video umpire intervened to have a closer look.
Despite trumpeting the system would help contentious decisions, let’s look back because the system that is in place would not have changed the scores in certain circumstances
Think back to last year’s grand final when Sharrod Wellingham’s goal looked to have hit the post early in the third quarter, but was given a goal. That decision would not be reversed in the current system, because it wasn’t brought up by any of the other umpires on the field.
Go back to the 2009 grand final. Tom Hawkins’ goal late in the second quarter against St Kilda that was given a goal and clearly hit the post.
Again, no challenge from any of the umpires that day, so it would never have been reviewed in the first place.
Now that we have had time to reflect and ponder the use of the video review system, we can now make a better argument that the system needs an overhaul or needs to go.
There are three options for the AFL.
The first is the likely option in sticking with the review system and making little to no changes to the technological side of things, but tweaking the way the communication is done on-field.
The second option is the option I think the bulk of fans would like to see, but would need some investment from the AFL.
That would be to keep the video review system, but make a couple of changes.
Firstly, the AFL would need some of the money coming through from the broadcast deal to make sure there are cameras on the goal posts (probably needing one on each goal post), then a fixed camera on the goal-line from the sidelines. This would give us a better view of touched ball decisions on the goal-line or any defensive spoils that may actually stop a scoring shot.
Secondly, the AFL would need a dedicated umpire that reviews every scoring shot instantaneously. The way technology is these days, surely there is a possibility of a slow-mo replay to be shown to this umpire on his own TV feed.
That should only take 10-15 seconds maximum. On most occasions, the ball is still yet to be brought into play, or it’s on the wing. The TV umpire would have alerted the umpires to a closer review, play stops and it may only take an extra 30 seconds from there.
The third option is one the AFL would be at pains to do and is also highly unlikely – to get rid of the review system.
If they were to do away with it, would they go back to just having one goal umpire at either end, or would they bring in four goal umpires in total?
It would also require the AFL to admit they got it wrong. The AFL, as good an organisation as it is, is at times very bad at admitting its faults.
No matter the result, what the fans want to hear from the AFL in 2013 is “we rushed it through and got a few things wrong”.
The Crowd Says (10) | Page 1 of Comments
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September 18th 2012 @ 9:18am
Gr8rWeStr said | September 18th 2012 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Spot on TheSportsFreak!
Unless automatic reviews on all scores are introduced the clear mistakes it was introduced to eradicate could still be missed, if no officials have a concern.
The overturning of the Collingwood goal in Saturday night’s game suggests that this is actually already happening. This overturning also highlights the need for more goal line technology because, despite Gieschen’s claims, there is no evidence clearly showing the ball crossed the line. The shot Gieschen claimed does not show a line of grass between the yellow ball and the white line, and given the camera shot wasn’t directly over the line parallax error needs to be considered, making it even less likely the whole ball crossed the line. The only solution is, as you suggest, a goal post camera focused straight down the line.
I’m all for using technology to aid officials make better decisions so I hope they implement the required technology for the start of next season. The goal line technology now endorsed by FIFA should also be closely considered and might actually provide quicker feedback to the on-field umpires than camera reviews.
September 18th 2012 @ 10:29am
andyincanberra said | September 18th 2012 @ 10:29am | Report comment
Absolutely right. It’s been a point that really hasn’t been touched on by the media, but the camera angle on which the overturn was made was in front of the goal. Had there been a goal line camera, the result would probably show conclusively that the ball didn’t fully cross the line. If the AFL want to continue with these reviews, they need to introduce bespoke video technologies, and not rely on broadcast vision.
September 18th 2012 @ 9:27am
Strummer Jones said | September 18th 2012 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Hi Sportsfreak
I think the system is working just fine and, as you imply, simply needs some tweaking. It is in its first year and in some respects was rushed in (pardon pun), so I reckon the speeding up of decisions will come in by next year.
I also somewhat disagree with your statement regarding the Geelong grand final goal. If the system were indeed in place, then what unfolded Saturday would have unfolded in this grand final, no?
As for the point last Saturday, I couldnt help but think this was a storm in a teacup. Lets say the goal umpire had a good view, like you and me on the telly, and saw the micro-second instance when the ball went across the line. I recall myself yelling at the box that it was over. Did you (just curious) or anyone else? If the ump saw what I saw (he was out of position) it would most likely have been ruled a point. The second point (pardon pun) is that no one seemed to take into account the angle from where they say the ball seemingly cross the line. Looking at it from an aerial or elevated view they forgot the ball is essentially a round ball (sphere) and therefore they should have been focusing on the centre of the ball, obtaining its radius, and the calculating whether the ball had indeed crossed the line. To think of this more intuitively, if the ball where square then one could understand their questioning, but of course the ball is not square (hey, if people want to talk in millimetres as they were Saturday, then lets bring a little more maths/science into it
)
September 18th 2012 @ 9:43am
TheSportsFreak said | September 18th 2012 @ 9:43am | Report comment
I was yelling at the box for numerous reasons on Saturday night.
September 19th 2012 @ 3:58pm
Pete said | September 19th 2012 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
Totally agree with you Strummer on the Collingwood call. If you listen to the television commentary team, you’ll hear Richo call it out when it happens. It;s only after Darcy calls his doubt that it all went haywire. I have to admit, I thought exactly the same as Richo in the moment it unfolded. The ground level replay from behind the posts confirmed the ball had to be out or it was two or three times the size of a normal ball.
September 18th 2012 @ 12:07pm
Siege of Perth said | September 18th 2012 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
On the long decisions the problem is the quality of the cameras I think. God knows why they dont use 7 and foxtels super slow mo cameras, when they are used everyone knows what the correct decision. Its so easy to see on those but when they use the normal ones, the frame rates too slow and gives a blurry view at times too
September 18th 2012 @ 2:29pm
Christian Argenti said | September 18th 2012 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
Sports Freak, interesting article and some good points !!
September 18th 2012 @ 4:55pm
TomC said | September 18th 2012 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
I think its been great. The only change that I think needs to be made is large sections of the fans and media need to get over themselves.
September 19th 2012 @ 11:49am
bigbaz said | September 19th 2012 @ 11:49am | Report comment
I think the AFL should employ NRL video monitors.They have no idea about League , I beleive there is no such thing as a knockon in Rules so they are 1/2way there already. Anyway League monitors will keep you entertained for weeks with there off the wall decisions.
September 27th 2012 @ 11:48am
Doc said | September 27th 2012 @ 11:48am | Report comment
You’re wrong about Hawkins’ goal.
If the mob in the box think there is sufficient doubt, they can call the review themselves.
Like what happened with Kraker’s goal.
Otherwise, not too much to disagree with.