Geelong coach Chris Scott has taken a swipe at the goal-line Edge technology, suggesting that it is not up to scratch for professional football.
In Thursday's stirring 14-point win, Oliver Dempsey was denied a six-pointer during the second term after the goal umpire's initial call was overturned by the technology.
Every goal kicked in the AFL is reviewed as the ball heads back to the centre square, but in this case, it was returned to the goal square after a spike on the Edge was confirmed.
Dempsey and the Cats were perplexed given the decision, which prompted Scott to question the validity of the technology, especially given the fact that the goal umpire was in perfect position.
"I'd love to see the technology around the Edge with that shot of goal, because the goal umpire was 30cm away from that โ and if he can't hear that or see that, then something's wrong. Like, the technology, please," Scott said.
"I'm not commenting on the boundary line technology โ and I literally haven't seen that one โ but I'm prepared to say that the Edge technology, show us that it works. Because they're saying it works off sound, the goal umpire is 30cm away from it. If he doesn't think that it hit the post, I back him over the technology any day.
Ollie Dempsey's goal is overturned via Edge.#AFLCatsDogs pic.twitter.com/2PQqou6QnE
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 22, 2025
Scott also insinuated that he's received "inside information" that the technology is not up to professional standards.
"I might have a bit of inside information that it doesn't work that well."
Late in the game, Dempsey was involved in another contentious decision, only this time, it fell in favour of Geelong.
The Western Bulldogs were making a late charge in the final term, before the 2024 Rising Star marked the ball ever so closely to the boundary line, with some believing it was over and out.
The field umpire, following the instructions from the two boundary umpires riding shotgun to the contest, awarded Dempsey the mark, who then subsequently slotted an important major to give the Cats breathing space.
Was this out of bounds or a fair mark? ๐ค
๐บ Watch #AFLCatsDogs LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/tEbIJrg77g
โ๏ธ BLOG https://t.co/7ogOUYCyaG
๐ข MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/b3vU50Ro3v pic.twitter.com/Nsxt4P1q2P— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 22, 2025
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was apathetic to the "crucial" call, instead saying what comes around, goes around.
"The out of bounds on the full one? โฆ Critical part of the game, lots of eyes on it," he said.
"But other than that, as I always say, swings and roundabouts. They happen.
"No one's sitting in our rooms thinking about the free kick differential, and no one's talking about it. It just happens here and there."
Scott was adamant he "didn't have a good view" of the play.
