Goal-line cameras on the way in wake of Demons-Suns error
AFL plans goalpost cameras after admitting Demons-Suns error
Gold Coast players and spectators alike were baffled when a James Frawley shot in the first quarter that appeared to be touched by Suns players Steven May and Rory Thompson was given as a goal.
The umpires called for a score review, but the vision was deemed inconclusive and the goal umpire's decision stood.
AFL football operations manager Mark Evans conceded on Monday that the review was mistaken.
"I've reviewed that this morning with our umpiring department and we felt that there was enough of a deflection seen on one of the bits of vision in the score review system that it should have been called touched," Evans told AFL.com.au.
"We felt that that was an error and it should have been called as touched and then changed the goal umpire's call.
"It's an error under the time pressures of running the system. It's just a simple error."
The AFL has plans to introduce goal line cameras at the MCG and Etihad Stadium later this season, but it is yet to arrive at a specific date.
"We do think goal line cameras will help us produce a better result and we're still hopeful that we can get the MCG and Etihad on board for the second half of this season," Evans said.
"The solution isn't easy and we should absolutely be telling people that even when these cameras are in there will be other things that the system doesn't pick up."
Evans said the time constraints involved with a score review needed to be taken into consideration when thinking about the technology available.
"It's not possible to have a camera on every angle of a goal post for example. So even when these goal line cameras come online, there will still be times where the system won't be able to decipher a result."
Evans said the Frawley error was the first made after goal line reviews from five rounds (with one game to be completed on Monday) this season.
"Two-thirds of the reviews we do have been conclusive, so for the most part the system works very well."
Twitter: @AFL_BenGuthrie