North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has questioned why the umpires didn’t leave it to the score review system to decide whether a back pass had hit the point post on the full or not.
The Roos could have had a set-shot from the behind post when they were 19 points down with eight minutes to play in the final term in their 26-point loss to Fremantle.
But after the three umpires came together to work out their decision, Matthew Johnson’s back pass over James Aish’s head was deemed to have hit the grass before the post, hence why a throw in was called.
Replays however clearly show the ball hit the behind post first, raising questions as to why the review system wasn’t used.
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“If there is a score review system in there, and if it obviously hit the post, then why doesn’t that get reviewed,” Clarkson said post-match.
“That’s up to the umpires and the game to adjudicate that sort of stuff, where there is confusing like that, where three umpires come together.
“Well if no one is sure, let’s have a look at the screen; I don’t know why they didn’t do it.
“We would have actually got a shot for goal if they deemed it to hit the behind post on the full.”
Commentators on Fox Footy said the umpires were not allowed to review the decision as there was no score involved in the play.
Clarkson remained firm that the play should have been reviewed despite the uncommon parameter which suggests umpires can only review if a score is involved.
“Score review, anytime there is uncertainty by a goal umpire or a field umpire, a boundary umpire whether it’s out, in or touched or whatever – I would have said anytime there is uncertainty on that, let’s just use the score review so I’m not sure why they didn’t.”
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Earlier in the game, North suffered two close calls as well, but perhaps not so obvious as Luke Jackson was gifted a second goal and Michael Walters got a high free-kick when he tried to evade a tackle on the quarter-time siren.
Jackson was sent to the goal line after McDonald left his mark too early to try a smother his snap set-shot from the pocket. The umpire had not called play on, however, gifting Jackson and the Dockers their first lead of the game midway through the third term.
Walters kicked his 350th AFL goal to the sound of boos from North fans after he was trying to get out of the path of a dashing Aidan Corr, but perhaps in a ducking manner.
The free kick count finished 16-all in a rollercoaster affair at Marvel Stadium, where the Dockers kicked nine goals in a row after trailing by 33 points midway through the second term.
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