Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has blasted the AFL’s goal review technology, after a crucial decision proved costly in their elimination final loss to Brisbane.
In the dying stages of the clash, Tigers star Tom Lynch took a mark close to the posts from a tight angle, with a goal to put his side up by nine points.
The on-field goal umpire ruled a goal, but it was sent to the score review system and the decision was overturned despite seemingly insufficient evidence.
The decision proved to be a deciding factor in the game, with the Lions mustering up a late surge to take out the clash 106-104 at The Gabba and end the Tigers’ season.
Speaking to the media after the game, a visibly frustrated Hardwick took aim at the technology and urged the AFL to make a change.
“I don’t know – I just feel the technology is not good enough, it hasn’t been for a long period of time,” he said.
“We put a lot of money into it and clearly, it’s indecisive. We’ve got goal umpires, pick which way you want to go.
“The whole thing is that the technology is not to the level it needs to be. Either get it better or don’t have it.
“I sit there and see the same vision…I see the umpire make a call. I think it’s got to be definitive to overturn it.
“Why don’t we just let the umpires make a call, they are paid to do a job. Let them do the job or don’t have them, one of the two.
“To me, it just doesn’t make any sense – but I was pretty adamant when it first came out.
“What we did see was a pretty good game of footy and one side had to lose, and unfortunately that was us tonight.”
Richmond fought hard in the back-and-forth clash, finishing with 16 goals apiece and only falling short of Brisbane on behinds.
Hardwick admitted his side lacked in the fundamental areas – a component of their game that has haunted them all season.
“It probably summed up our year, to be fair,” he said.
“We were in the fight every game and I think we play a style of game that allows us to do that.
“The thing that haunted us throughout the year haunted us again tonight – the fundamentals of the game just weren’t good enough for long enough.
“That’s as harsh as a lesson the game will teach us.”
Brisbane will now take on the loser of Melbourne and Sydney next weekend.
