AFLW players admit confusion over landmark goal but back smart-ball tech

The first match-winning AFLW goal awarded by a microchip brought two rounds of celebrations, piece of mind for the umpires and more than a little confusion, but the landmark moment for the sport has won over players.
Carlton midfielder Maddy Guerin booted her first career goal in the dying stages of Sunday’s clash against the Suns in Mackay to win the round two match by a single point. The goal was awarded after umpires reviewed data produced by the so-called “smart ball”.
“It was a bit nerve wracking when we started celebrating, and then everyone’s like, stop celebrating,” Guerin said. “We’re happy that the score review was available to use, and it went our way.”
The ball was touched by a defender on its descent, and it was only after 56 seconds of deliberations by the umpires – during which time the micro-chip data was analysed – that the goal was awarded.
“It was going through, so I didn’t really check to see if it was a goal. It just felt like a goal, because we all started celebrating,” Guerin said.
“It was only until everyone stopped celebrating, and we didn’t really know what was happening. We could see the umpires discussing what happened and all we were doing was just waiting for the umpires to make the call.”
The goal umpire finally awarded the goal, which lifted the Blues – who play their first home match of the season at Ikon Park on Saturday – into the lead.
The AFL announced the new technology would be trialled this AFLW season last month.
The men’s competition’s ARC system – based on camera angles and audio recording – drew criticism last year when an Adelaide goal appeared to be wrongly disallowed in a match against Sydney. It has been deemed too expensive to roll out in the many venues used around the AFLW.
The smart ball has been tested at VFL and VFLW level and uses wireless sensors in the bladder and supporting infrastructure around the venue. The sensors record the ball’s position, distance travelled, speed, spin rates and hang time.
It is the latest effort among many in professional sport around the globe to use technology to assist decision-making. Many of the solutions have drawn controversy, with some believing poor execution – for example around VAR (video assistant referee) in football – has undermined any benefit.
Carlton ruck Jess Good backed the use of the smart ball in Australian rules football, but said the players only received limited information before the system was rolled out.
“The most I heard was the ball gets charged a day before, and then just more so on the boundary technology to make sure that when it’s out, it is called,” she said on Thursday.
“[The umpires] have got a tough job as it is, so if we can help them with any little bit of technology – it’s growing for a reason, and it’s being used in all different professions. So why not help the umpires?”
Guerin said confusion in the immediate aftermath of her kick allowed her to enjoy the moment even more.
“I’ve never kicked a goal before in AFLW, so I was surprised at myself for even getting it there, everyone was getting around me,” she said. “Then we had another round of celebrations after it went through, officially.”