Richmond coach Damien Hardwick on Thursday slammed the AFL’s video review system, saying it was unnecessary and led to confusion over goal-umpiring decisions.

The technology has come under heavy scrutiny following Collingwood’s one-point win in Wednesday’s Anzac Day clash with Essendon at the MCG.

Collingwood’s Tyson Goldsack appeared to soccer through a goal after desperate defence from Dustin Fletcher, but the goal umpire’s uncertainty led to a review.

Eventually it was ruled a behind following several replays.

Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said it was a goal and should have been awarded as such.

Buckley complained it took a long time to decide the video footage was inconclusive, which meant the lesser of two options would result.

Jarryd Blair’s crucial shot for the Magpies late in the last term also went to video review, but was awarded a goal.

“Just let the bloody goal umpires do their job,” Hardwick said.

“It has caused more conjecture than what it has been worth at the moment.

“Us, like everyone else, are probably a little bit confused.

“I don’t know how much benefit it has been.

“The goal umpires and the boundary umpires are there to make the decision. Let them make the decision.

“You don’t need to go up to a third umpire. I just don’t think it’s a part of our game that we need.

“It’s not necessary.”

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson admitted there had been communications problems between the umpires and officials in the review process.

He said the system wasn’t perfect but it was helping goal-umpiring accuracy and had been invoked in 22 of 37 matches this season.

“We knew that the vision is unhelpful in about half of cases and that’s why we designed a process that it goes back to the umpire’s call,” he said.

“We’ll continue to refine it.”

Anderson said the vast majority of clubs and fans supported using video review.

“There will be some delays. It won’t be perfect,” Anderson said.

“But it will improve scoring accuracy. It already is.”

Anderson said more camera angles provided by the host broadcasters would increase the likelihood of useful vision.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said the AFL was doing its best to improve the game.

“I was watching Anzac Day yesterday and it certainly added to my suspense, which way it was going to go,” he said.

“Is it foolproof, I don’t think anything is. We’ll all sort it out eventually I reckon.”

Carlton coach Brett Ratten said funding of extra cameras was the key issue.

“The biggest thing is bringing more vision and angles into the game, and I think that will come,” he said.