Buckley queries AFL scoring review

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has criticised the AFL’s video review system after the Magpies were disallowed a goal in an epic Anzac Day clash against Essendon.

The Magpies desperately held on in the last minute of Wednesday’s clash at the MCG before 86,932 fans to win by a point, 11.14 (80) to 11.13 (79).

Best-afield Collingwood midfielder Dane Swan won the Anzac Medal.

The win gives Collingwood a 10-7 advantage over the Bombers since they started the annual fixture in 1995.

Early in the third term, Collingwood forward Tyson Goldsack appeared to soccer through a goal after desperate defence from Dustin Fletcher.

But the goal umpire seemed uncertain and so the league’s new review system was used.

The umpires were still unclear after the incident was replayed and eventually it was ruled a behind.

“I mean, Goldy got his foot to it, it looked like it didn’t hit the post and Fletcher didn’t touch it – so isn’t it a goal?,” Buckley said.

“It took a long time to work out that we had to take the lesser of two because (they) couldn’t conclusively say it was a goal.

“I wasn’t rapt with that at the time and I probably won’t be rapt with it now or in a week’s time.

“I would have been even less rapt with it if we’d lost by less than a goal.”

Jarryd Blair’s crucial goal for the Magpies late in the last term also went to video review, but that was more clear-cut.

Buckley added he is confused about how the system is supposed to work.

“I’m not altogether clear on what the rule is,” he said.

“It should go back to whatever the goal umpire’s decision was initially – so if he thinks it’s a goal, but ‘I want to get it checked’, fair enough.

“If it’s inconclusive, then back to the goal umpire.”

Buckley was relieved to have won after his side had “butchered” several scoring chances.

It was a massive win for the Magpies after a stuttering start to the season, while the Bombers suffered their first loss.

Another benefit was that after a shocking run with injuries, the Magpies did not add to their casualties through the short four-day break between last Saturday’s win over Port Adelaide and Anzac Day.

“We’ve had a couple of clean weeks,” Buckley said as he tapped the wooden bench in front of him.

By contrast, Essendon’s soft-tissue woes continued when defender Michael Hibberd went off in the first term with a hamstring strain.

They also suffered a big blow for this game when key forward Michael Hurley hurt his hamstring last Saturday against Carlton.

While the Bombers have defended their emphasis on weights training in the off-season, coach James Hird admitted enough was enough.

“It’s like everything in our game … if you don’t push the limits, you’ll never get better,” he said.

“We pushed the limits probably as far as we’re prepared to go.

“We’ll go away this week and have a look at why we’re getting them (soft tissue injuries) and we’ll do something about it.”

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