>
‘The technology is NOT good enough’: Damien Hardwick calls for the AFL to SCRAP review system after Richmond are controversially denied a crucial goal in dramatic elimination final loss to Brisbane
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has urged the AFL to get rid of its goal review system after a huge call went against the Tigers in their dramatic elimination final loss to Brisbane.
Up by three points with two minutes to go, Richmond looked to have booked a place in the semi-final as Tom Lynch booted his fourth major of the night.
Lynch didn’t celebrate but the goal umpire gave a ‘soft’ call of a goal to his angled set shot before it was sent upstairs for review.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick wants the AFL to scrap its goal review system
Despite not finding conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field decision, the goal was overturned to a behind after the footy was adjudged to have sailed above the upright.
That left Richmond up by four points instead of nine and allowed the Lions just enough time to snatch a dramatic 16.10 (106) to 16.8 (104) win, with Joe Daniher stabbing home the match-winning goal.
Speaking after the game, Hardwick called on the AFL to scrap the technology as it was ‘not good enough’ to make decisions.
‘I just feel the technology is not good enough and hasn’t been for a long time,’ he said.
Tom Lynch (No 9) took a stunning mark with two minutes left in the game against the Lions
Lynch looked to have sealed the win for the Tigers, but his goal was overturned to a behind on review despite the goal umpire giving a ‘soft’ call of a goal on the field
‘Clearly it’s indecisive still. We’ve got goal umpires. Pick which way you want to go.
‘The whole thing is the technology is not at the level it needs to be. Either get better or don’t have it.’
Hardwick then elaborated further, suggesting the umpires should be the sole judges of contentious decisions.
‘I sit there and see the same vision you do, I see the umpire make the call. It’s got to be definitive to overturn it,’ he said.
Joe Daniher (middle) kicked the crucial goal late in the fourth quarter as Brisbane won an epic semifinal 16.10 (106) to 16.8 (104) against Richmond at the Gabba
‘Why don’t we just let the umpire make the call. They’re paid to do a job – let them do a job or don’t have them. One of the two. To me it doesn’t make any sense.’
The Lions and the Tigers produced one of the all-time finals classics, trading 32 goals as the lead changed 17 times in a rollercoaster affair at the Gabba.
Aside from the goal controversy, Hardwick lamented his side poor execution of the ‘fundamentals’ in key moments.
‘That (defeat) probably sums up our year,’ he said.
‘We just made some wrong decisions […] and we just weren’t clean enough with our skills.’