AFL: Gillon McLachlan defends goal umpires punishment

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has defended the heavy punishment handed to the goal umpire who made a crucial mistake in the dying moments of the round 23 clash between Adelaide and Sydney but conceded the official had suffered “brutal consequences”.

The umpire was stood down for the rest of the season after failing to call for a review following an incorrect decision with 80 seconds remaining, which cost Crows midfielder Ben Keays what likely could have been a match-winning goal and a finals berth for his side.

McLachlan said he had not heard criticism of the league’s treatment of the official, and claimed he had received “endless support” from the AFL following the match.

“Whatever (form) the accountability took, I don’t think the goal umpire was going to be in a position to umpire (in round 24) regardless,” McLachlan said.

“People expect support and he has had endless support – I spoke to him and he’s had people treating him – but I think people also expect accountability.

“That’s what it is. You can support an individual and hold accountabilities, and I’m very confident in all that as well.”

McLachlan said he was confident updates made to the score review system since the error would prevent a similar scenario from unfolding in finals.

An extra supervisor has been added to the ARC to oversee each game during September.

“It was a mistake that had brutal consequences but we’ve reviewed every part of that,” McLachlan said.

“It was a set of circumstances that are hard to mitigate against.

“We’ve made a change for the finals where there will be two score reviewers in the ARC with a very definitive mandate for one of them to stop (the game) if there’s any risk … I feel it’s in good shape.”

McLachlan was speaking at the official launch of the AFL finals on Monday, where he announced Sydney champion Josh Kennedy as the 2023 premiership cup ambassador and Chris Judd (Norm Smith Medal) and Mark Thompson (Jock McHale Medal) as the other award presenters.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ70qmmq6xflrOte8Cfo2aemaOurb%2BMoKClpJ%2Bjeq6vy5qaoaSRo3qlscWepZ2rXZy8oriMrqSpoaKaerHBzaKqoaWVo8FurcWtnKtlk6e8uL%2BMpaasq1%2Bjsri%2FjKyrqKqpZISirZNwm5toZmyuea3FnGlxnmCZf3aAlm2Zm25mmX50