James Aish's vital touch missed as AFL fans slam score review system in Fremantle heartache
Fremantle fans have been left fuming over the final few seconds in the loss to Carlton.
The AFL world has been left divided over whether the score review system should have been implemented in Fremantle's devastating loss to Carlton after the umpires missed a James Aish touch in the final seconds. The Blues managed to kick the last three goals in a 10.13 (73) to 9.9 (63) victory over the Dockers on Saturday at Adelaide Oval in Gather Round, but the win didn't come without massive controversy.
In the final 30 seconds, Fremantle had a two point lead when George Hewett found Matthew Cottrell 30 metres out and right in front. However, Fremantle were adamant the ball had deflected off Aish on the way to Cottrell.
Fremantle were up-in-arms as Cottrell put the Blues in front with only seconds remaining. And after the players protested, Matt Kennedy sealed the result with a goal after a 50 metre penalty. Fremantle coach Justin claimed the dissent was from Jordan Clark.
And the AFL world has been left divided over the incident. Replays show the ball most likely deviated off Aish on the way to Cottrell. Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall claimed it would have been hard for the umpires to notice the slight deflection, but took aim at Fremantle's discipline after the call.
“We’ve been so complimentary of Freo; their discipline, their pressure and everything they’ve brought - but the lost their call when they thought the ball was touched off the boot and the umpire didn’t pay it," he said on Fox Sports commentary. “The one thing you’ve got to do is keep your cool, and they lost it.
"They would’ve had a minute to try win a centre clearance and go forward, but obviously they were too vociferous with their protests over the ball being touched, before Cottrell marked it."
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps admitted he was unsure if the umpire would pay the mark in the final seconds of the contest. “I’m not 100% sure, I was nervous that the ball might’ve been touched off the mark when (Cottrell) kicked that goal, so I thought it might’ve been a review," he said after the game. “I think it was dissent… it made our job a little bit easier in the middle instead of scrambling - you take them ones when you can."
AFL world divided over score review system
The score review system is generally used when the goal umpire is unclear on whether a shot at goal has been touched or grazed the post. However, Hewett's effort was not at goal, but a kick to a teammate in a better position. This opens up the argument on whether the score review system should be used since it led to a goal, or whether it was rightfully ignored.
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AFL great Jobe Watson questioned if the umpires should have gone upstairs since the mark stopped play anyway. "If it's a clear touched and we've got video evidence to suggest and support it...it becomes a stopped play anyway, why not just go upstairs?" he said. However, Richmond great Matthew Richardson did not want the review system implemented unless it was only for goals, since it would disrupt the flow of the game.
"You open up a big can of worms there with other decisions throughout a game...it's an interesting conversation to have," he said back to Watson. Regardless, fans were divided on the incident having claimed Fremantle were hard done by in the final seconds of the clash.
So they review everything else and they can’t even review this. If the blues don’t win the flag they should be embarrassed, when they just get handed wins week after week. 😹😹 #AFLFreoBlues pic.twitter.com/CrFOsvy9BA
— Levi (@Levidraper_) April 6, 2024
@RalphyHeraldSun if foxfooty can show it clearly hits his tricep and see it? What the hell is the @AFL staff watching? The players clearly seen or heard but why wasn’t this shown on the screen to the crowd and extra review used as it was late in the game? pic.twitter.com/LqoBADpjPz
— trout (@TroutWoodend) April 6, 2024
No no no! Leave the game alone. Let umpires make the on ground calls. Goal technology is fine. But as for the rest of it leave it be. It’ll make for shite viewing, it’ll slow our game down and as we’ve seen the round ball game they still cock it up.
— Mark Williams (@markwillow80) April 6, 2024
Let’s review every mark around the ground Jobe. Game will last 2 days 😂
— Bibby Bennett (@mr_bibos) April 6, 2024
Hits Aish on arm and hair. Absolute howler of a decision. And then to double down with the dissent call is an absolute travesty.
— Patrick Beams (@patrick_beams) April 6, 2024
Hate games decided like this! Clearly touched off James Aish's arm, umpires don't see it by paying the mark to Carlton with a dissent call thrown in between. Carlton kick 2 goals and win it.
Cannot believe the umpires missed that. #AFLFreoBlues #AFL— Trystan Spooner (@TrystanSpooner) April 6, 2024
Not a Freo fan but that was clearly touched pic.twitter.com/PIqkn9QRQe
— Cameron (@Cameron_G089) April 6, 2024
how do you expect the umpire to see the hair to move on a bloke? that mark is paid 100/100 without argument. fremantle wanting rules to change just because of the time left on the clock. suspect the umpire must of copped some serious (unwarranted) abuse to pay the next one.
— lock egg (@lachlanjosef) April 6, 2024
Justin Longmuir hits out at Fremantle discipline
Regardless of the tough call against Fremantle, Longmuir claimed the dissent from Freo's Jordan Clark was not good enough in the final moments. "We should have just got on with it," Longmuir said.
"Even if they weren't happy with the (umpiring) call before, there's not much you can do. The players clearly thought they touched the footy and they still say that now. But it's a really hard call for the umpire to make ... we just need to move on because the umpires are never going to backtrack."