AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has admitted that Adelaide should have been awarded a goal that would have put them up late in Saturday’s one-point loss to Sydney at the Adelaide Oval.
With 80 seconds remaining, Ben Keays thought he had kicked a goal to give his side the lead. But as he and his teammates celebrated to the crowd, the goal umpire signalled that the ball hit the post and awarded a point.
IT HIT THE POST! The Crows thought they were home! 😱
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The goal umpire didn’t seek a video review, but replays later showed that the ball missed the post and went through for a goal.
😅#AFLCrowsSwans pic.twitter.com/S9Ze9wCrqW
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) August 19, 2023
Given the 73-74 loss crushed Adelaide’s finals ambitions, the mistake was incredibly costly and may end up shaping the final eight.
McLachlan said at a press conference on Sunday that the goal umpire should have reviewed the decision where it would have been ruled a major by the AFL Arc.
“There was a goal umpiring decision that should have been reviewed and it was a mistake,” McLachlan said at a press conference on Sunday.
“It’s a human error but given the context and moment, it was of great consequence.
“It would have been overturned and been a goal.
“The result stands, but this was a mistake.”
Unfortunately for Adelaide, the result stands and they’re now mathematically out of the finals race.
Adelaide’s season will end next Saturday at Optus Stadium against West Coast.