AFL ARC error admitted: Horror weekend will see changes to process

The AFL has admitted its score review system — ARC — made a critical error in North Melbourne’s seven-point loss to GWS, while the criticised process for Rowan Marshall’s controversial will be changed.

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Griffin Logue appeared to touch the shot from GWS utility Xavier O’Halloran that was awarded a goal in the last quarter — which proved crucial in halting a surging North Melbourne.

The ARC looked at replays of the decision, but appeared to not see a camera angle that clearly showed the North defender got a hand on the ball.

«In this (O’Halloran’s goal) case, they (the ARC officials) both felt there wasn’t sufficient evidence to turn that over, so they went back and said it was the umpire’s call,» Swann said in a press conference on Monday.

MORE: AFL ARC fail: Rowan Marshall call shows game headed into murky territory

«We’ve had another review of that today and you can see that it was touched, so that one was incorrect.»

«Come off it! Did you see his left finger go down?!»

It sure looks like Griffin Logue touched this… and then GWS held on to beat North by 7 points 🤔 #AFLGiantsNorth

MORE >> https://t.co/aheeTwFwWY pic.twitter.com/0AhI2CvBes

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 26, 2026

However, Swann insisted ARC for the decision to award Marshall a mark nearly a minute after it actually occurred was correct in St Kilda’s 101-point win against West Coast.

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But the process that was followed to make the decision will be changed — with reviews no longer happening once the ball was back in play.

‘ABSOLUTE MADNESS!’ 😡@DavidZita1 breaks down the ARC’s controversial decision to award this mark nearly a MINUTE after it was awarded a behind… and it cost West Coast a goal 🫣#AFLSaintsEagles LIVE >> https://t.co/WIeNgxpmUF pic.twitter.com/I6HGQhtBSa

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 26, 2026

«They got that decision correct, but it obviously took too long. It was 55 seconds, so it took way too long,» Swann said on Monday.

«Going forward now, the ARC won’t do that. The ARC will still do goal reviews (when a goal is awarded), but they won’t intervene in a score like they did on the weekend, unless the goal umpire asks for a score review.

«It was a mark. When you go through it frame-by-frame, the ball doesn’t cross the line. The mark was right.

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«Was it right? Yes. Did it take too long? Yes, it took too long.»