Geelong’s Ollie Dempsey has been robbed of one of the greatest goals ever kicked in a final and, in the morning after, no one can still understand how or why. 

In the semi-final thriller against Fremantle on Friday night, the dashing winger was in a one-on-one contest in the goal square and couldn’t get his hands to the ball, so threw a boot at it, and hit it perfectly behind him for a miracle bicycle kick goal. 

However, the goal umpire called it touched and sent it upstairs for review (a perfectly understandable decision, mind you).

But madness set in when ARC (the AFL Review Centre) — equipped with their new, fancy cameras that have more frames and clearer pictures — announced there was insufficient evidence to overrule the goal umpire’s decision. 

AFL great Matthew Richardson was immediately “staggered” by the call.

And star Seven commentator Alister Nicholson was also baffled.

“I just do not understand how you could reach that conclusion,” Nicholson said.

“So that’s potentially one of the greatest goals we’ve ever seen, but it just disappears into the ether, never to be spoken about again. And on the basis that the evidence was inconclusive.”

Former Collingwood superstar Dale Thomas said: “It was an extraordinary piece of skill. Regardless of what else happened. But looking at those replays, I don’t know how you don’t believe that ball came off the boot.”

James Brayshaw added: “I understand the goal umpire’s call; as things happen in fast motion, you’re not sure. But when you look at the replay, it had to be overturned, surely?”

When the decision landed, Geelong coach Chris Scott threw his arms up in the air in disbelief before giving the wall of the Optus Stadium coaching box a light punch.

However, when asked about it later, he tried his best to downplay his reaction to the non-goal during.

“I was surprised it was taking so long. It looked pretty clear to me,” Scott said.

“But it’s not for me to judge. From what I’m told, everyone has the same opinion that Ollie did.” When asked about his punch of the wall, Scott gave an unexpected answer.

“Sometimes I punch the wall when I’m happy. Sometimes I punch the wall when I’m annoyed,” he said.

“There were a few moments where we had momentum and for one reason or another we couldn’t capitalise on it. That was probably one of them.

“There’s some strange things in the game at the moment that are better off being spoken about in the cold light of day, probably in November, rather than September.”

Had Dempsey’s effort been paid a goal, Geelong would have closed the margin to eight points early in the third quarter.

The Cats still managed to kick four of the next five goals after that incident to snatch an eight-point lead, before the Luke Jackson-inspired Dockers hit back to secure the 18.12 (120) to 16.10 (106) win and book a spot in the preliminary final against Sydney.

7NEWS sports reporter Ryan Daniels later said it looked “like it was a clear goal”.

“I’m actually shocked, and you see Chris Scott’s reaction. I mean, the momentum alone of the boot ... that has to be a goal.”

Thomas also said the physics of the ball told you it’s a goal.

“The ball’s going up, the arm is going down, and the boot’s going up, so it has to hit boot after it hits arm.”

Dempsey was also controversially denied a clear goal in earlier in the season when Geelong played Carlton in Round 12.

On that occasion the goal umpire, David Rodan, called it a point, and did not ask for a review.

Although ARC is supposed to review all calls, the ball was brought into play and ARC did not have time to make the call (a new rule essentially prevents it from calling the ball back when the umpire does not ask for a review).

On that occasion, the AFL later called it an error by the goal umpire. Geelong lost that game by four points.

As for Friday night’s non-goal, Daniels said: “So if an email comes from the AFL tomorrow and says, ‘Oh yeah, we got that one wrong,’ it’s not really going to help the Geelong footy fans, is it?

“But no, it was clearly a goal, and if it (was allowed), it’s one of the great finals goals we’ve ever seen.”

- With AAP