Tigers coach Damien Hardwick and Magpie star Mason Cox hilariously weigh in on video review saga

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox have hilariously weighed into the video review controversy that denied Tigers star Tom Lynch’s a vital goal in their elimination final loss against Brisbane on Thursday.

While it appears the AFL’s video review decision to award a behind late in the fourth quarter at the Gabba was correct, the Tigers boss and US import took to social media to convey their thoughts on the controversial matter.

Hardwick tweeted a series of laughing emojis and a GIF when responding to a post from Fox Footy on Lynch’s ‘goal’

Hardwick, who saw the premiership hopes of his team dashed in the two-point defeat, tweeted a popular GIF featuring reality series Big Brother star Elissa Slater spraying Sprite everywhere in a fit of laughter in response to a Fox Footy post.

The original Fox Footy post read: ‘A player’s reaction is reportedly taken into account before viewing score review footage’. 

He was joined by Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox, with both men tweeting their thoughts on the ‘goal’ awarded to Tigers star Tom Lynch which was overturned seconds later

Magpies star Cox tweeted ‘me this week even if the ball goes out on the full’…#ARC – it was accompanied by an meme featuring American actor Will Ferrell from the movie Wedding Crashers (pictured)

Cox, who will play Geelong at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, was on the same page, tweeting ‘me this week even if the ball goes out on the full’…#ARC

It was accompanied by an meme featuring American actor Will Ferrell celebrating in a dressing robe from the movie Wedding Crashers.

In what were incredible scenes with the game on the line on Thursday, Tigers star Lynch saw his snap originally given as a goal by the on-field umpire.

Seconds later Lynch’s joy turned to despair as the decision was overturned by the video review system based on the opinion the Sherrin would have hit the post if it extended further in the air.

It then emerged player reactions are used as evidence by the video review system, meaning Lynch’s lukewarm reaction may have cost his side victory.

AFL reporter Tom Browne confirmed on Channel 7 that player reactions are a metric used in the video review process.

‘I was told from a reliable source that they do look at the player reaction as a guide and then look at the evidence,’ he said.

Former St Kilda player and coach Grant Thomas labelled the video review system a ‘circus’ following the incident.

‘We have an umpire and technology system. Umpire makes the call, then it’s either supported or overturned by the tech system. If ARC can’t decide, it’s umpires call… simple. If we are then going to player reactions in an elimination final, that’s a circus right there. Amateur hour.’

Veteran commentator and analyst Gerard Whately said the issue exposed multiple problems with the review system.

‘I think we set ourselves up with a system that has inherent failures in it,’ he said.

Tom Lynch did not immediately celebrate his goal attempt late in the fourth quarter – which worked against Richmond

Meanwhile, video from a reverse angle surfaced on social media on Friday which appeared to confirm the Lynch’s snap would have hit a taller goal post.

But questions remain over the review centre’s ability to make key decisions with matches on the line.

‘I just feel the technology’s not good enough, it hasn’t been for a long period of time,’ a frustrated Hardwick said in his post-match press conference.

‘We’ve put a lot of money into it and clearly it’s indecisive still. We’ve got goal umpires. Pick which way you want to go.

‘The whole thing is the technology is not at the level it needs to be. Either get better or don’t have it.

‘Why don’t we just let the umpires make the call? They’re paid to do a job, let them do a job or don’t have them. One of the two. To me it doesn’t make any sense.’

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has weighed into the chat surrounding Tom Lynch’s ‘goal’ against Brisbane on Thursday at the Gabba

AFL icon Leigh Matthews added it was ‘disturbing’ games could turn on the ‘balance of probabilities’ in what is deemed definitive.

‘Does it need to be 99 per cent or 90 per cent or 60 per cent? That’s what the debate is all about,’ Matthews said on 3AW Radio on Friday.

‘The whole idea of the score review system is to remove clangers. 

‘The ones where the ball goes over the top of a post, a goal post, the assessment is, would it have hit the post if the post went up higher? I don’t know whether the camera angle is good enough to give you definitive views on that.

‘To me, it wasn’t conclusive and therefore overturning the goal umpire was just a gigantic decision.’