The AFL this weekend are set to take a momentous leap toward rectifying future goal-review problems.
Being introduced in VFL and VFLW games, the league is trialling ball-chip technology during the Sandringham vs Collingwood match at Moorabbin's RSEA Park as well as the women's game that follows.
According to journalist Sam Edmund, "specifically-designed Sherrins" have been used at various clubs over the pre-season but are reportedly ready to take the next step into games.
As a part of the next phase of testing, the AFL will use the data from Friday night's games as another component of the study, with a keen eye on how the ball will react to the rigours of intense competition.
Looking at kick and handball lengths, ball speed, spin rate and height, the AFL is hoping that the chipped balls will eventually be used to measure a host of "stats and data in real-time".
Just over a month ago, both AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and GM of Football Laura Kane tried the technology out themselves, noting they were "confident" with the progression.
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"He (Dillon) thinks the distance metric isn't up to it because he was let down by the length of his kick," Kane joked.
"But I feel confident in the technology.
"We have a trial process to go through with ball tracking technology. We are feeling really good about it. It's clearly a big decision to introduce it into competition so the important question is 'for what purpose?'
"There is data football performance information we can gather but there is also an officiating overlay. It's just about determining which one we want to go with first and that will determine the timelines."
Journalist Tom Morris also shared at the time that the league was looking at implementing the new technology in 2025.
The push for creative technology is to prevent howlers from happening throughout game day, as we date back to the Round 23 clash between Adelaide and Sydney.
With a finals spot on the line, the Crows thought they were home in the dying seconds of the match when midfielder Ben Keays thought he put one through the big sticks.
Following Keays' premature celebration, the adjudicating goal umpire called a behind, believing it grazed the post.
During the chaos, the Swans took full advantage of the confusion and immediately brought the ball back into play, removing any chance of the decision to be recalled.
It is believed that the AFL's Review Centre (ARC) Edge technology was compromised given a Sydney defender came in contact with the goalpost around the time the ball past it.
As a result, Adelaide was absent from the 2023 Finals Series whilst the Swans were the beneficiaries of the four premiership points.
