The AFL review process has been exposed again after a divisive moment during Carlton’s win over Richmond on Saturday night.
Carlton continued the club’s mid-season revival under interim coach Josh Fraser with a nail-biting 10.14 (74) to 10.12 (72) victory at the MCG.
The margin was cut back to eight points late in the fourth quarter when Carlton’s Nick Haynes was pinged for a deliberate rushed behind.
Footage showed Haynes carried the Sherrin over the line, but it was unclear as to whether the entirety of the ball had crossed the line between the goal post and point post.
The former GWS Giants player picked up a loose ball at speed and the momentum appeared to carry the ball over the line, but play continued before he eventually walked it over under an assumption the umpires would rule he had rushed the ball behind the sticks.
However, fortune turned against him in vicious fashion when he was penalised for rushing the ball while no defenders were applying any pressure.
The free kick allowed Mykelti Lefau to kick a goal which set up a thrilling finish after the Blues had led by 19 points in the third term.
As soon as the umpire made the call against Haynes, the 34-year-old was seen gesturing to the umpires, appearing to tell them the incident should have been looked by the ARC (AFL review centre).
The ARC had powers to review the footage, but it went overlooked.
Carlton supporters could be heard booing as players ran back to the middle of the ground after Lefau kicked the goal.
Football journalist Damian Barrett said on the Sunday Footy Show: “It’s mess. They (the AFL) chose to remove the element of the ARC to intervene after the Rowan Marshall incident”.
Haynes was asked about the moment after the game.
“I think if I took it over the first time I would have been sweet,” Haynes told AAP.
“I think that hesitation just not taking it over put a bit of less pressure on me, so therefore they paid it.
“It could have gone either way, but I think I should have rushed it over that first time and then we wouldn’t even be talking about it, so probably my fault.”
The win keeps Carlton’s season alive, while he Tigers have several headaches.
The returning Tom Lynch struggled in his return game, wasting several elementary chances, mirroring his performance against the Blues earlier this season.
The Tigers’ defeat was made worse by the loss of Jack Ross, who was ruled out with concussion at halftime.
Richmond coach Adem Yze leapt to the defence of Lynch after the game.
Lynch kicked two goals from 11 shots in that earlier fixture and missed several regulation shots in his return from a larynx injury on Saturday night.
Yze felt it wasn’t a night for forwards, insisting his veteran goal-kicker provided everything but the finishing touches.
“I think that was the story of the night for a lot of guys, I think both teams were pretty inaccurate,” Yze said.
“It was pretty blustery, the third quarter Armageddon hit and the wind was swirling around, it’s raining, slippery conditions.
“But it’s bloody good to have the big guy back, he gives us a focal point, his contest work, his leadership in our front end.
“He’s had a long time out, so for him to come back in and impact as he did in the air and create the contests we needed… it’s a credit to him.
“Anyone that misses shots tonight in a close game is going to feel like you’re left one out there, but like I said, both teams battled in front of goals I thought.”
Lynch has had an interrupted season through injury but has kicked more behinds than goals when he has got on the park.
— with NewsWire
Originally published as ‘It’s a mess’: AFL review system exposed again by divisive call