Seven sees role for Hawk-Eye in AFL
Jon Ralph
February 04, 2007 12:00am
Sunday Herald Sun
AFL football has moved a step closer to video technology for goal-line decisions, with Channel 7 looking at using Hawk-Eye in broadcasts with the league open-minded about its introduction.
Hawk-Eye's success at the Australian Open as a tool for entertainment as well as increased accuracy had Seven seeking to transfer it into this AFL season.
But cost constraints -- because of the number of cameras required for accuracy in football -- means Hawk-Eye will not appear on TV screens this year, but the push for added technology is growing.
The AFL said yesterday it had no philosophical objection to the use of technology, but would consider the issue when suitable systems became available.
Hawk-Eye technology could assist umpires to decide whether to award a goal or behind, as well as rule on balls marked on or over the goal line.
Recent contentious goal umpiring decisions have included Anthony Rocca's 2002 Grand Final behind, Aaron Davey's touched point in Round 3 on the Gold Coast last year and Aussie Jones's debatable point in a one-point win over the Brisbane Lions in 2004.
Hawk-Eye founder Paul Hawkins said this week that while the technology was improving it was not yet cost-effective for football.
"We have spoken to Channel 7 about it, because Seven got the rights back and wanted to see if they could use it," he said.
"We think we could resolve (decisions) in a reasonably high percentage of cases, but I don't think we could deliver technology that would always work.
"The most difficult scenario is that you have a lot of players around the ball and you have to put a lot of cameras in to ensure you could track the ball from at least one of them.
"We definitely could do something which was right 95 per cent of the time, but if (a controversial decision) only happens five times a year, and you get unlucky and can't give an answer, people don't have much faith and won't give you a second chance."
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said he welcomed debate on the role of technology.
"We are always open to looking at any technological advances that may assist umpires in their role or create greater interest for our fans," Anderson said.
"You can see in tennis how Hawk-Eye can adapt to that."
http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,21168334-11088,00.htmlShould Hawk-Eye be used in the AFL?
