AFL’s new Snicko technology failed

THE AFL has admitted “human error” was to blame for new AFL Edge technology failing to detect Brody Mihocek’s poster against Brisbane.

Mihocek’s first-quarter shot at the Gabba flicked the inside of the padding on the post, but wasn’t reviewed despite the league introducing its answer to cricket’s “Snicko” before the season.

The AFL trumpeted the development before Round 1, claiming multiple microphones would be placed within each goalpost. Audio from those microphones is synchronised with the existing Hawk-Eye video feeds and displayed as a wave form to determine if a football has hit a goalpost, the league said.

The new system was expected to provide “conclusive evidence of slight touches of the posts”.

But the “innovative” technology counts for nought unless it is engaged by staff in the score review bunker. The league yesterday said AFL Edge doesn’t automatically send an alert or make a noise when a ball hits the post, arguing players come into contact with a post too many times during a game for that to occur.

Fans and commentators were shocked with the original decision on Thursday night, with AFL great Garry Lyon declaring the error disgraceful. “You don’t need [goal line technology] The Edge,” Lyon said on Fox Footy. “We saw it with our eyeballs. They say that every goal is reviewed.

“I will cut umpires slack every day of the week for making a mistake in general play, but that’s disgraceful.”

Commentator Jonathan Brown added: “Maybe The Edge has malfunctioned.”

Ex-coach Paul Roos said the incident was “bizarre”.

The AFL released a statement which read: “The goal awarded to B. Mihocek [Collingwood] in the first quarter of the Round 5 match between the Brisbane Lions & Collingwood should have been overturned to a behind by the DrinkWise Score Review.”