The AFL has set a timeline for a much-needed upgrade to its goal review system ahead of this season's finals series. AFL football boss Greg Swann has confirmed that upgraded cameras will be installed at the AFL Review Centre (ARC) before the postseason begins.
Recent Controversies Prompt Action
The ARC has been at the center of two major talking points this season. A delayed free kick to St Kilda's Rowan Marshall led to a rule change, while a clear goal by Geelong's Ollie Dempsey was missed just weeks later. Swann acknowledged that the Dempsey incident was more about the umpire's failure to review than a flaw in the system itself, but he still flagged imminent improvements.
"We get a whole new set of cameras in August, the last few games and then leading into finals. We should be able to be quicker, (with) better definition," Swann told SEN.
Technical Upgrades
Swann explained that the current system uses 10 or 11 cameras with a shutter speed of 50 frames per minute, which often requires multiple angles to get a decision right. The new cameras will operate at 250 frames per minute, providing clearer and faster images. "It takes some time to get that right but, again, that's in cameras that do 50 shutter speed a minute. We're getting cameras that do 250 now, so they'll be able to see a lot clearer, a lot quicker and hopefully that improves it," he said.
Swann also mentioned the possibility of introducing a time limit for reviews, but stressed that they do not want to rush decisions. "Then we might end up putting a time limit on it, but we certainly don't want 50 (seconds)," he added.
Umpiring Quality Under Scrutiny
Swann also addressed the controversial call that allowed Carlton forward Harry McKay to take 41 seconds for a set shot against Essendon. He said the scenario is difficult to adjudicate and will be monitored throughout the season. "The direction is if they call it they've got the 30 seconds and they must start to walk in at 30 seconds. Our looking at that, Harry started walking in at 29. He took his sweet time to walk, I think he got up to about 40 or 41. He probably should have got a bit of a hurry-up at stage, but it is at the umpire's discretion," Swann explained.
Swann noted that previous discussions considered not calling play on if the man on the mark is 50 meters out or beyond, but due to players like McKay who can kick that far, a hard-and-fast rule is difficult. "It's a difficult one to have a hard-and-fast rule, so at this stage, it's the first one we've had blatantly this year … we're not jumping at shadows at the minute, going to change it, but it is to be monitored," he concluded.
