The Formula 1, the English Premier League, and the Australian Open could help solve one of the AFL’s most controversial issues.
The AFL is tapping into a number of elite sports from around the world this off-season in a bid to finally iron out the wrinkles in its score-review system.
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The maligned system is regularly in the news, with the issue reaching boiling point last year during a match between Adelaide and the Sydney Swans.
In that game a clear goal — kicked by Ben Keays — near the very death was ruled that it had hit the post by the goal umpire and ended up costing the Crows a chance of playing in the finals.
That incident followed another dramatic moment during the Carlton and Melbourne game when vision of a Christian Petracca shot on goal was said to be inconclusive.
In that instance the “soft call” — which was a point — remained, and Carlton won the game.
Following the Keays non-goal, the AFL stood down the goal umpire and appointed “senior” officials in its ARC (AFL Review Centre) for the finals.
It also gave the ARC official the power to stop play and review a goal, where previously that could only be done by the field umpire.
The review centres are filled with ‘Super Slow Motion’ cameras and ‘Extreme Super Slow Motion’ cameras but not all grounds have the same equipment.
The AFL’s new footy boss Laura Kane told 7NEWS the aim was to get consistency and state-of-the-art technology across all venues.
“We’ve been looking at all the different aspects of the Australian Open,” Kane told 7News AFL reporter Mitch Cleary.
“Back-of-house technology, player facilities, the courts and everything in between.”
Kane has also visited the NFL and NBA in the US while her colleagues have travelled the world to investigate the systems of other elite sports.
“What is important to me is that we’re always at the forefront,” she said.
“We have cutting-edge technology, we have the best that is available, but I’m also mindful that we roll that out across all of our stadiums in AFL around the country.
“And that’s really important consistency that we strive for.”
Cleary said fans could expect that there will be slight tweaks the AFL’s technology for the upcoming season.
Of course, the question is, will that stop the in-game blunders and subsequent fan fury?
Players, coaches, supporters and commentators alike will all be hopeful … while the AFL will have its fingers crossed.
