AFL clubs and fans will simply have to put up with more frequent score reviews if they want to see correct outcomes reached, Richmond coach Adem Yze says.
Criticism has mounted in recent weeks over the sheer number of video reviews being called for by umpires this season – many of which the critics have argued were unnecessary.
But Yze believes that umpires taking a cautious approach with their decisions will ultimately lead to the right calls being made.
“We want the right decision, so if we have to look at more (replays) to make sure we get it right, then we’ve got to take that 30 seconds and make sure it’s right,” Yze told Fox Footy’s AFL360 on Monday night.
“We can’t go through what we did last year with Adelaide (in their controversial loss to Sydney), so we can’t have it both ways.
“If you want it right, it’s going to take a bit of time.”
Yze said he felt for goal umpires in their difficult role.
“They don’t want to be that goal umpire that gets it wrong,” he said.
“If they’re calling for a score review, and even if it does seem like a blatant point or blatant touched, they’ve just got to get it right.”
Speaking on the same program, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said it was a matter of choosing between getting decisions right or avoiding more delays in games.
“The AFL just needs a strong philosophy – either perfection or time,” Mitchell said.
“If time is the most important thing and we want to get rid of all the breaks in the game and we want to keep the game going faster, then you can’t get perfection.
“But with the camera angles and the perfection that the media outlets have and the access that you have, everything can get reviewed.”
Meanwhile, the AFL has ruled out introducing a “captain’s challenge” system where clubs would be allowed to contest umpiring decisions through video review.
Calls had grown louder for such a mechanism in the fallout from Fremantle’s last-gasp loss to Carlton.
The league conceded Matthew Cottrell’s mark, which led to the goal that put the Blues in front, should not have been awarded because it was touched by Docker James Aish.
But AFL football boss Laura Kane dismissed the “captain’s challenge” idea.
“It’s not something we’re looking at,” Kane told the AFL website on Monday.
“We’re focusing on making sure that our technology is as good as it can be for score reviews.
“It’s not something we’re looking at extending into the game itself in terms of officiating the game.”
Shayne Hope
(Australian Associated Press)