AFL Score Review stops game and gives St Kilda a set shot nearly one minute after play continued

The AFL Score Review is set to come under massive scrutiny after one of the most bizarre calls we have ever seen during West Coast’s game against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

Craig O'Donoghue
The West Australian
Rowan Marshall celebrates
Rowan Marshall celebrates Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The AFL score review system has plunged into the depths of farce after St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall was given a shot for goal nearly one minute after play had been allowed to continue against West Coast.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera missed his shot for goal midway through the quarter and the goal umpire paid a behind despite Marshall claiming he had taken the mark. The umpires didn’t call for a score review and West Coast played on after the score.

Play continued for almost a minute before the umpires stopped play. This was after West Coast had moved the ball to the wing and after a boundary throw in had taken place.

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The ball was in general play when the umpires stopped the game and took it back to the goal line because the score reviewers had deemed Marshall controlled the ball inside the field of play.

They gave him a set shot for goal which he converted and added the lost time back on the clock.

“Seriously?” commentator Ben Dixon said.

“Are you kidding me? If you’re going to call it, you’ve got to call it. You’ve got at least 15-20 seconds to recognise it on the kick out.”

“They should have 30 seconds or 45 seconds and then it should be done. Let it go.“

The Game NRL 2026

Umpires suddenly stopped play
Umpires suddenly stopped play Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Making matters worse, vision didn’t show a clear mark to Marshall and commentators continued to debate whether it was even a correct decision.

“It’s over the line!” Dixon screamed.

“It looked like it was controlled over the line. To pull the play back? I can’t believe that. That’s embarrassing.”

Former Geelong star Cameron Mooney called it “farcical.”

“That is a ‘mare of a decision,” he said.

Commentator Dwayne Russell summed up the moment perfectly.

“That is as bizarre as we’ve ever seen AFL football played,” he said.

St Kilda led by 16 points when the game was halted. But they took over form that moment and now lead by 40 points at half-time.

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