The AFL is reportedly edging closer to the formal introduction of groundbreaking chip technology in footballs in an attempt to eliminate human error.
Following the non-score-review debacle in the dying stages of Round 23's controversial fixture between Adelaide and Sydney, the blowtorch on the AFL has been intensified to invest in state-of-the-art technology to eradicate the potential for future match-deciding errors.
While technology inside footballs is an unprecedented concept for the competition, it's understood the league is "three-and-a-half years" into promising trials which could prompt the official introduction of chip technology as soon as the 2025 AFL season.
"This is a 'super football', it's a 'super' Sherrin. This is part of the testing; this is a test ball," Eddie McGuire began on Wednesday night's edition of Footy Classified, holding a seemingly ordinary Sherrin aloft.
"These balls now have chips inside the bladder and you can see, these have motion sensors and [there's] testing that's been going on for basically three years.
"We're getting to a situation where the balls are now at Victoria University, using the state-of-the-art equipment that's being used in soccer at FIFA and around the world, to kick the balls to see how far [they're travelling], to see if they're affected by the chip itself, [assessing] the aerodynamics, those sorts of things. That's where this is at the moment.
"The AFL is ahead (of other international sporting competitions) in all the testing on this at the moment, it's been three-and-a-half years this [has been] going on.
"They're going to test it in the VFL, SANFL, WAFL, etc."
"Matthew Nicks wouldn't be coaching under pressure next year, because he would've taken his team to the finals."
The panel reacts as Eddie McGuire reveals exclusive vision of the new tech the AFL is trialling that would end goal controversies.#9FootyClassified | Channel 9 ๐บ pic.twitter.com/nvOHPnXVL6
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McGuire reports broadcasters will have the opportunity to implement graphics packages that instantaneously show whether a goal or behind has been scored, as well as whether or not the ball has been touched by another player or by the post.
"Let me show you what the graphics will look like," McGuire continued, gesturing as the Footy Classified broadcast an example of the graphics package.
"[It's] live-time, it would come up (on screen) with 'behind, hit post' ... The graphics package is a commercial package and things like that, but, in the meantime, you'll be able to tell the umpire straight away [to] review (a score)."
Newly-named league executive general manager Laura Kane was recently at AFL House discussing what McGuire referred to on Wednesday as 'phase three' of trials.
"The idea is that we would see the ball in more training environments at clubs, and then also, possibly, in competition; maybe through state leagues," Kane said.
"Technology and innovation is a priority of mine and a focus, and it will continue to be for the football department, but what I want to make really clear is that it is an addition to support our umpires.
"It is (important in relation to) both boundary goals and what's happening on the field, so the challenge with the oval (shaped ball) is that it is oval, the ball is oval, it's unpredictable, the goal-line is a little more straightforward in terms of what we're hoping to see through the second trial."
Quizzed by panelist Damian Barrett about a possible timeline for the technology to be introduced at the competition level, McGuire tipped an official introduction in 2025.
"Let's say [2025], maybe midyear next year, but probably 2025, because we want to get it right," McGuire answered.
"We don't want the chip coming loose, we don't want things [going wrong], we want to get this right and, as I said, it's an international, multi-million-dollar deal, not just for the AFL but for basically every ball sport in the caper."