3 minute read

A controversial decision late in North Melbourne's defeat to Fremantle has sparked Alastair Clarkson's call for greater use of AFL video review technology.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has called for increased use of video technology in an expansion of the AFL score review system after an umpiring error at a crucial stage in his side's 26-point loss to Fremantle.

The Dockers were 19 points up with eight minutes left to play at Marvel Stadium on Saturday when Matthew Johnson's pass backwards in defence floated over teammate James Aish and hit the behind post.

The goal umpire signalled out of bounds on the full, which would have given the Kangaroos a free kick in a scoring position, but was overruled by the nearest field umpire, who deemed Aish had got a hand to the ball.

The boundary umpire was not close enough to make a clear call but was also involved in a three-way discussion between the officials before they decided on a throw-in.

The incident was not reviewed because there was no score - or potential score - involved in the passage of play.

But Clarkson felt the uncertainty could have been solved by a video review.

"Any time there's uncertainty by a goal umpire or a field umpire - whether it's out or in or touched or whatever - I would've said any time there's uncertainty on that, let's just use the score review," Clarkson said.

"I'm not sure why they didn't, but anyway, it doesn't really matter. It wasn't the issue in the game.

"We know where we did well in the game and we know where we need to pull our socks up."

North led by 33 points midway through the second term but coughed up the first seven goals of the second half as they were overrun in the 15.12 (102) to 11.10 (76) defeat.

There was also some controversy around the Luke Jackson goal that put Fremantle in front for the first time following a 50m penalty in the third term.

Luke McDonald charged in to attempt a smother as Jackson took a snap from a set shot near the behind post.

But the Kangaroos' co-captain was ruled by the non-officiating umpire to have encroached on the protected area before play-on was called.

Jackson converted from point-blank range and the Dockers never looked back.

"It was adjudicated from a long way away and I haven't even looked at whether it was on or off," Clarkson said.

"But the bottom line is that the decision was made and it's not going to be changed, so you've just got to move on from it."