The controversial lack of review afforded a shot on goal by Ollie Dempsey in the first minute of the Cats loss to the Blues on Friday night has drawn the ire of Geelong coach, Chris Scott.
The ball appeared to touch Dempsey's shin last, before making its way over the goal line. Goal umpire David Rodan did not see it that way, and was bundled over in Blue Blake Acres' attempts to stymie Dempsey's shot. Rodan awarded a behind, without reviewing the play, in a match the Cats would go on to lose by less than a major.
It is the latest faux pas in a year full of talking points for the umpiring fraternity, and specifically, its ARC practices.
"My feelings don't matter," Scott said afterwards.
"The goal umpire got knocked over.
"I probably disagree in principle with the idea that someone sitting in the ARC … the technology is there for the howler and someone within the ARC should've seen that was a howler within seconds.
"But, again, you guys will talk about it more (than me). I don't think I have that much more to add. All I would be doing is making the observation that's as plain to you as it is to me."
Scott, a veteran of the coaching game, offered that ARC processes, as frustrating as last night's instance may be, would not be the first point of contention he would raise with decision makers at the AFL, if they asked for his input.
"There are some things I'd like to have my opinion heard on, but that is so far down the list. I'm not sure they need my help on that, or even my observation on whether it's appropriate or not," Scott said.
"I certainly think they all should be, that whole department, held to high standards.
"But, honestly, I'm not going to spend a second more thinking about it," he added, while noting his own "surprise" at the lack of a review, given Rodan's tumble.
Scott did however refuse to put the loss squarely on the controversial moment, telling reporters that the last 109 minutes of the bruising encounter will be the focus of his side's review, as opposed to the costly judicial error in the first 60 seconds.
"The umpires shouldn't believe the players, probably, but for what it's worth we're quite strong with our players … don't lie. I think it's terrible at lower levels as well. If you claim you touched it and you didn't, don't say it. If you know Ollie Dempsey even casually, when he says it's a goal then it's a goal.
"But anyway, I'm waxing lyrical. I hope you can tell … it's the rub of the green sort of stuff, in my opinion. I completely accept that the AFL should spend some time on their processes, but we'll let them do that and we'll move on to the last 109 minutes that will be our focus in the review."
Geelong face Adelaide, in Adelaide, on Thursday night, with the chance to respond to their first loss in a month of action.
