Re: AFL Rd 22 2023 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Melbourne
Reply #119 –
Refer to Lods' comment (above), which specifically addresses my query "the field umpires direction to the ARC is this....
"Score review...Umpire's call is touched one behind. Please make sure it was touched inside the field."
That indicates that there was no question about whether the ball was touched but whether it was touched in the field of play.
Don't think you can draw this conclusion from this statement.
When looking at a touched call, there are two criteria (a) was it touched and (b) if it was, was it in the field of play, or behind the goal line. When the field umpire sends it upstairs, I am sure the expectation is that both criteria will be assessed. I think "Please make sure it was touched in the field" is a simplified way of the umpire requesting that both criteria are checked.
Our saving grace was the soft call from the goalie - if he says not touched, and video evidence can't prove otherwise, criteria (a) is out the window.
I say we train all our backmen to wiggle all fingers when they are reaching to touch a ball on the goal line.