Rory Sloane calls AFL decision on disallowed Dempsey goal ‘ridiculous’

Geelong’s semi‑final against Fremantle ended in a loss for the Cats, with the match decided in the closing stages of the game. During the second quarter, Geelong forward Ollie Dempsey appeared to have kicked a goal that would have narrowed the margin, but the score was subsequently ruled out by officials.

The decision to disallow Dempsey’s kick was made after a review of the play, with officials determining that the ball had not met the criteria for a valid goal under the league’s rules. The ruling left Geelong trailing and contributed to the final outcome of the contest.

Former Adelaide midfielder Rory Sloane, who is now a commentator, responded to the decision on the day’s broadcast. He described the ruling as “ridiculous” and criticised the AFL’s handling of the incident, suggesting that the decision had a material impact on the result of a high‑stakes match.

Sloane’s comments highlighted concerns about consistency in the application of the goal‑line adjudication process, a topic that has been debated among players and officials in recent seasons. He called for a review of the procedures used to assess such calls in future games.

As of the time of reporting, the AFL had not issued an official statement addressing Sloane’s remarks or providing further clarification on the specific circumstances surrounding the disallowed goal.