Carlton Blues v Sydney Swans, Elimination Final, touched, Blake Acres, fingertips, twice, John Longmire, press conference, goal, AFL result review

Sydney coach John Longmire has given the AFL a brutal reality check on its goal scoring system after the Swans suffered a six-point elimination loss thanks to two Blake Acres touchdowns on Friday night.

Acres nailed Braeden Campbell’s third-period shot at the MCG – but the score was overturned after the referee initially declared it a goal.

And it was Acres once again who proved the difference on the goal line in the thrilling final quarter.

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His flying touch on Errol Gulden’s shot on goal seemed less obvious on replay, but the gentle call of a deficit remained even after a longer viewing.

When asked directly whether the AFL’s goal review technology was “good enough”, Longmire replied with remarkable honesty: “Definitely not”.

But he refused to blame the points scoring system for his team’s heartbreaking defeat.

“We shot 2.5 in the last quarter – that makes a difference even in these moments,” he said in his press conference.

“We have to make better use of our opportunities.

“(Accuracy) is an important value in football – talk to Leigh Matthews.

“In the end you have to take your chances. Unfortunately, we just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities when we could have had them.”

Longmire said he couldn’t clearly see the two touched goals in the replay.

“If I’m on the bench, you can’t see replays if your media member is in the press box,” he said.

“I didn’t know – I don’t know, still haven’t seen it.”

Footy commentators were divided over Acres’ second touch.

“Wow. I’m not sure there’s a glove in there,” said James Brayshaw.

“They already think they were a bit stiff with one (Sydney).

“I can see no evidence that this ball was touched.”

But Richmond star Matthew Richardson said the soft call of a deficit was the deciding factor.

“However, it will be difficult to overrule the referee,” he explained.

“Could you categorically overrule that? My goodness, that would be a brave call.

“I don’t think you can override it.

“It’s too blurry to be categorical.”

This moment proved to be game-winning as Acres at the other end was able to come out from behind and score Carlton’s winning goal.

Longmire said he hoped the AFL would commit to making improvements to the goal review system in the future.

“You would like to think that (that technology will improve),” he said.

“We’ve been on both sides of the fence, haven’t we?

“We spend a lot of time trying to get things right.”

The Swans narrowly made it to the final thanks to a goal scoring controversy in Round 23, when Crow Ben Keays’ goal to give his side the lead late against Sydney was not reviewed – instead it was declared a deficit.

Sydney was able to prevail in the final seconds and secured the important four points. But when they dropped out of the final race on Friday evening, they weren’t on the right side of the reviews.