The AFL has admitted that a costly error occurred during the score review process in the AFLW clash between Gold Coast and Collingwood over the weekend, where new ball-tracking technology overturned a crucial goal from Suns' star Jamie Stanton.
The mistake ultimately cost Gold Coast their first win of the season as they fell to the Magpies by a narrow three points.
In the second quarter of the match, Stanton's snap was initially ruled a goal by the on-field umpire. However, the AFL's ball-tracking technology, introduced this season, incorrectly recorded that the ball had been touched by Collingwood's Muireann Atkinson.
Relying on this data and viewing only one angle of replay footage, the Score Assist Official overturned the goal decision, awarding a behind instead.
AFL spokespersons have since confirmed that human error was at fault, admitting the protocols for overturning the goal were not fully followed. The AFL clarified that additional angles available at the time of the review were not inspected until half-time, by which point it became clear that the decision to overturn the goal had been incorrect.
“During the second quarter, Jamie Stanton was awarded a goal by the on-field umpire which was subsequently overturned by the Score Assist Official,” an AFL spokesperson said in a statement.
“The ball tracking technology incorrectly recorded that the ball was touched after the kick. The official intervened based on one angle of vision, which supported the ball tracking data. Further vision at half-time, which should have been inspected earlier, showed that the decision was wrong.”
The error was not the first time this season that the score review technology has affected a Suns game. In Round 2, a ball-tracking decision awarded Carlton's Maddy Guerin a match-winning goal against the Suns in the dying moments of the game.
Gold Coast Suns, who reached the AFLW finals last year, have now experienced two critical calls go against them in the opening rounds of 2024. They remain winless after four rounds, with this latest incident leaving the team and its fans frustrated.
The AFL has spoken to both clubs to acknowledge the error and explain the circumstances behind the decision. AFL General Manager of Football Operations Josh Mahoney emphasised the reliability of the technology, while acknowledging that occasional issues may arise.
“The ball tracking technology is 99% accurate, and we remain confident in its capabilities. However, in this case, human error in the review process led to the wrong outcome,” Mahoney said.
The AFL introduced the ball-tracking technology in the AFLW this season as part of a broader initiative to improve the accuracy of score reviews. Equipped with sensors and a chip embedded in the ball, the system is designed to detect when the ball has been touched in flight or crosses the goal line.
Despite its promise, the technology has had mixed results so far, with several high-profile errors prompting questions about its readiness for full implementation.
As the AFL continues to refine the technology and its use in officiating, Mahoney also hinted at the possibility of introducing broadcast and in-stadium graphics to enhance transparency and viewer understanding of review decisions.
For now, though, the Suns will feel aggrieved by the loss, and the AFL's admission of human error is little consolation for a team that has been on the wrong side of the technology twice in just four games.