AFL gives all-clear on Roos goal

THE AFL has given the allclear to a contentious goal kicked by North Melbourne’s Billy Hartung in the Kangaroos’ thrilling twopoint win over Sydney.

Hartung’s first-quarter goal appeared to be touched off the boot by Swans veteran Jarrad McVeigh, but no review was called for at the SCG on Saturday night.

McVeigh was adamant he had got something on the ball and replays suggested it may have glanced his fingers.

All goals are reviewed before the restart of play in the centre of the ground and the league is satisfied that allowing Hartung’s goal to stand was the correct call.

“There was not enough definitive evidence to overrule and change the decision in time before the restart of play,” an AFL spokesman said. “So the original decision stood.”

AFL football boss Steve Hocking put score reviews on the agenda earlier in the season, saying they were taking too long and he would instruct reviewers to complete their task more quickly.

Sydney coach John Longmire was uncertain about the incident but seemed philosophical about the outcome.

Score reviews were in the spotlight again yesterday, when two Richmond goals were overturned in the second quarter.

Dustin Martin snapped truly through traffic only to have it disallowed upon review, as did Josh Caddy in similar circumstances.

On both occasions, no review was called for on the field, but play was held up while reviews were completed, to the chagrin of coach Damien Hardwick.