Footage proves Adelaide Crows were ripped off by referee disallowing a goal that would have saved their season against the Swans
- Ben Keays thought he had scored with 80 seconds remaining
- Goal umpire ruled the ball hit the post to negate Crow’s win
- The official did not request a video review of the decision
Footage of what should have been a match-winning goal by Adelaide star Ben Keays conclusively proves that the Crows were ripped off by the goal umpire who ruled it a deficit.
With 80 seconds remaining, Adelaide’s Ben Keays celebrated what he thought was a goal that gave the Crows the lead against Sydney.
But the goal umpire awarded a deficit, indicating the ball hit the post – but he did not seek a video review and replays later showed that the Keays kick was a goal.
Sydney’s 74-73 victory ends the Crow’s chances of making the final this year, but Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says his players have no choice but to quickly overcome a controversial referee decision in a one-point loss to Sydney.
Replays from more than one angle showed the ball failed to hit the post or padding – meaning Adelaide’s final chances are lost due to a shocking foul
Jubilation turned to desperation for Ben Keays (center), his teammates and Crows fans when the goal ref refused to check his shot with a video review
The Crows are asking the AFL for an explanation following the highly controversial finish of Saturday night’s thriller in Adelaide, but the league has no plans to overturn the decision or result of the game, the club said. Announce sun.
That’s despite AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan admitting: ‘There was a decision by the referee that should have been reviewed – and that was a mistake.
“I want to say unequivocally that if the decision had been reviewed it would have been reversed and it would have been a goal.”
Diplomatic Crows coach Matthew Nicks summed it up by saying, “I can’t tell you whether it was a goal or not.
“What I can tell you, I understand that we evaluate those moments, especially at the end of games.
“We just have faith in the process now. So as a football club and as a coach there is more we can do.’
Even if the AFL conceded an umpire error, the result will stand and the Crows’ ambitions for the Finals will remain over.
The 13th-place team is two wins outside the top eight with one game remaining, an away trip to play the struggling West Coast.
Keays’ major should have kept Adelaide’s season alive – now the AFL reportedly has no plans to overturn the game’s decision or result
“As we have every week, we lick our wounds and prepare for the next week,” Nicks said.
“This year our improvement, our development, is off the charts.
“We are number one in the league in terms of attacking point of view with our scores.
“We are getting better at our defense if we want to be big, we have to keep improving.
“The last thing we do now is take our eyes off the ball and not finish the season.”