The North Melbourne vice-captain launched a long bomb from beyond fifty at the MCG and thought he’d cleared the goal-line and Demons’ defenders.
While the goal umpire’s initial call was a goal, that decision was overturned upon review, despite what appeared to be inconclusive footage.
“You’d hate for a decision like that to cost someone a game or even a career,” Ziebell told NMFC.com.au.
“I think for the AFL, it’s not a bad investment if they took the guess work out of the current system.
“There needs to be better technology I reckon. I know they had a camera set up at the ground today on the goal-post, but we need one set up horizontally I think to make sure the decisions are right…the sooner the better.”
PRESS PLAY above to watch the controversial score review | YouTube
While the midfielder acknowledges people can make errors, he believes the goal umpire’s call should have been accepted.
“If you don’t have conclusive evidence, you have to go with the umpire’s call. To spend that much time on it, probably a minute and half, you might want to get the right decision.
“People make mistakes, so we’ll get over it,” Ziebell added.
North forward Drew Petrie was in the best position; the ball actually hit him on the shoulder as it sailed through. However he was unable to say whether it hit the post.
“It was definitely over the line. I know that (Mark) Jamar didn’t touch it and I certainly didn’t touch it, but I kind of turned away at that point of impact so I’m not sure if it hit the post or not,” Petrie recalled.
Like Ziebell, he believed the rules were clear.
“I looked at all those replays on the screen and there was nothing that could conclusively say it was a point, so I thought it should have remained a goal from what I saw.”
Fox Footy commentator and football great Jason Dunstall was convinced Ziebell’s kick missed the post after looking at several replays.
“That is indeed a goal,” Dunstall declared.
When the decision was changed, he too was shocked saying, “It hit the post! What angle were they looking at?”
Controversy aside, Ziebell says the biggest disappointment was what happened after the behind was signalled.
“I was surprised it was a point…but the most frustrating part was that Melbourne went down the other end and kicked a goal straight after it.”
