AFL scraps ARC intervention after score review controversy

The AFL has backflipped on its decision to allow ARC intervention after a goal is kicked.

It comes after St Kilda were paid a mark on the goal line following a review in their match against West Coast, nearly a minute after play had continued on.

AFL football boss Greg Swann admitted the process took “way too long” and the ARC now won’t intervene in score reviews unless the goal umpire asks for one.

“It was 55 seconds so it took way too long. It stopped the game mid-game,” Swann said.

“So going forward now the ARC won’t do that. The ARC will still obviously do goal reviews, but they won’t intervene in a score like they did on the weekend unless the goal umpire asks for a score review.”

The goal umpire initially called it a behind, but Swann confirmed the ARC reviewed it and instructed the umpires to stop play and bring the ball back where Rowan Marshall kicked a goal.

Swann said it was a fine balance but understood the dangers of stopping the game for intervention from the ARC.

“You’re trying to prevent the howlers to be honest. Other than that we don’t want it to be too technical,” he said.

He added that the ARC can still intervene in last disposal decisions, as long as they can do so within the 15 seconds he said it takes for the boundary umpire to throw the ball back in.

He also conceded that the Griffin Logue non-touch call was incorrect, noting that both ARC operators felt there was “insufficient evidence” to overturn the call late in North Melbourne’s close loss to the GWS Giants on Sunday.

However, Swann also confirmed there would be no changes to the controversial ‘stand’ rule despite Suns coach Damian Hardwick speaking out about it in his post-game press conference.

“Common sense has to prevail at some stages,” Hardwick said post-match on Saturday.

“I don’t know what that looks like but someone needs to take charge.”

Swann said the rule changes have so far worked “really well” and there would be no further changes.

He said: “There’s always going to be debate on some of those decisions but the rules work, we think, really well and we won’t change it.”

Originally published as AFL scraps controversial score review power after admitting process took ‘too long’