Double standards? Sydney Swans coach fumes that the AFL score review system is ‘clearly not’ good enough weeks after controversial win against Adelaide that cost Crows their season
It was just three weeks ago that the Adelaide Crows were robbed of their chance at the AFL finals because of the score review system.
Now footy fans have declared karma has come back to bite the Sydney Swans who were eliminated from the AFL finals by Carlton after two controversial score reviews in the 11.8 (74) to 9.14 (68) defeat.
Adelaide’s Ben Keays scored a goal in the final seconds of their match against Sydney in the penultimate round of the regular season but was conceded despite reviews showing it went through the sticks.
But the goal referee signaled that the ball had hit the post and did not request a video review.
On Friday night, the Swans found themselves on the wrong side of the ledger when it came to video review decisions.
Longmire has been on both sides of the target assessment system and says the AFL needs to improve technology
Blues wingman Blake Acres made two desperate runs during the match – including in the decisive final quarter – to secure goal attempts.
On both occasions it was determined that he had touched the ball and cost the Swans a goal.
Longmire had to speak out on the decisions, especially the second, which on review appeared inconclusive, even though the soft call on the field was a backlog.
When asked if he thought the controversial AFL score rating system worked, Longmire bluntly said ‘clearly not’.
“We scored 2.5 in the last quarter, which also makes a difference in those moments,” he said at his press conference.
‘We have to make better use of our opportunities.
Sydney launched a huge second-half comeback against the Blues but fell just short at the MCG on Friday night
It means the Swans’ season is over, just weeks after a controversial goal review decision in a match in Sydney cost Adelaide their season
“(Accuracy) is an important statistic in football – speak to Leigh Matthews,” he continued, referring to the champion coach’s goals and the minutes theory.
‘Ultimately you have to take your chances. Unfortunately we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we could have had.’
“When I’m sitting on the bench, you don’t see replays like you guys in the media are sitting up in the press box,” he said.
“I didn’t know – I don’t know, I still haven’t seen it.”
Longmire added that he wanted to see the technology revised and improved.
That’s what you’d like to think (that technology will improve),” he said.
“We’ve been on both sides of the fence, haven’t we?
“We’re spending quite a bit of money to get things right.”
For many football fans, it was a justified way for the Swans season to end after only making it to the final due to the controversial decision in the Crows match.
“A few weeks ago there was no problem judging the scores and now Johnny Boy thinks it’s not good enough,” one footy fan posted on social media.
“I’m not one for karma etc but I’m struggling to find any sympathy for Sydney with these goal reviews,” another added.
“Target ratings aren’t going Sydney’s way, that’s a shame,” was another’s sarcastic comment.
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The commentators were divided over Acres’ second touch which had the most influence on the result.
‘Wow. I’m not sure there’s a glove for that,” James Brayshaw said.
“They already think they were a bit stiff with one (Sydney).
“I don’t see any evidence that that ball was touched.”
Richmond great Matthew Richardson said the soft call of going behind was the deciding factor.
‘However, it will be difficult to overrule the referee.
‘Can you dismiss that categorically? Gosh, that would be a brave decision.”
‘I don’t think you can overrule it.
“It’s too fuzzy to be categorical.”