Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says his players have no choice but to rapidly get over a controversial goal-umpiring decision in a one-point loss to Sydney.
Key points:
Adelaide’s Ben Keays celebrated what he thought was a goal to put his team ahead against SydneyThe umpire called it as a behind without asking for a score review, with evidence later showing it was a goalThe decision cost Adelaide the game, and knocked them out of finals contention
The Crows are seeking a please explain from the AFL after their finals chances ended with defeat to the Swans in a Saturday night thriller in Adelaide.
With 1:18 left on the clock, Adelaide’s Ben Keays celebrated what he thought was a goal that gave the Crows the lead.
But the goal umpire awarded a behind, signalling the ball hit a post — he didn’t seek a video review and replays later showed the Keays kick was a goal.
“I can’t tell you whether it was a goal or not,” Nicks said.
“What I can tell you, my understanding is that we review those moments, especially at the end of games.
“We’ve just put trust in the process now. So as a footy club and as a coach, that’s all we can do.”
Even if the AFL admitted an umpiring error, the result will stand and the Crows’ finals aspirations remain over.
The 13th-placed Crows are two wins outside the top eight with one game remaining, with an away trip to play struggling West Coast.
“As we have done every week, we lick our wounds and we get ourselves prepared for the next week,” Nicks said.
“This year, our improvement, our development, has been off the charts.
“We’re sitting right up there from an offence point of view as number one in the comp with our scores.
“We’re getting better at our defence if we want to be great, we have got to keep improving.
“The last thing we do now is take our eye off the ball and not finish the season.”
AAP
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