AFL: goal review technology that determined the thrilling final against Brisbane is criticized by Richmond's coach.
'Not good enough,' says Damien Hardwick of the system that prevented Tigers from scoring the game-winning goal in the final seconds of the elimination game.
Coach Damien Hardwick of Richmond has criticized the AFL's goal review system after it controversially cost his team the victory in the heart-pounding elimination final.
On Thursday, when Sydney was leading Brisbane by three goals with two minutes remaining, the goal umpire made a "soft" call and sent Tom Lynch's angled set shot up for review. According to the replay, the Tiger's snap went straight over the goal post, earning a behind.
The call prevented the Lions from taking the lead by nine points before they moved to the opposite end of the Gabba, where Joe Daniher stole the ball with 64 seconds remaining.
Hardwick was furious with the AFL review center's assertion that the replay wasn't conclusive enough to change the result.
The technology, he continued, "just doesn't seem to be up to par, and hasn't been for a very long time." "It's still undecided, obviously."
Even Lions coach Chris Fagan admitted he wasn't sure how the decision would turn out.
Hardwick downplayed the significance of Lynch's lack of post-kick celebration, despite the fact that Lynch had made three straight field goals before missing two in the fourth quarter.
The technology isn't where it needs to be, he said, which is the root of the entire problem. Consequently, "either make it better or get rid of it."
The triple premiership coach emphasized that he had never liked the ARC and believed that goal umpires should be the only arbiters unless the system was perfect.
Why don't we just allow the umpire to make the decision, he suggested.
[Let them carry out their duties; they are being paid to do so.]
Throughout a game with 17 lead changes, Richmond came close to blowing the final wide open several times.
Despite being pleased with the effort, Hardwick bemoaned turnovers caused by "fundamental" mistakes and another hamstring injury to his star midfielder Dion Prestia just before halftime.
Hardwick believed that Prestia's absence changed the balance of his team, pushing Dustin Martin deeper into the middle than they would have liked.
He said, "That defeat probably sums up our year." We simply "made some bad choices" and "weren't skilled enough."
