Footage of what should have been a match-winning goal by Adelaide star Ben Keays conclusively proves the Crows were ripped off by the goal umpire who ruled it was a behind.
With 80 seconds remaining, Adelaide's Ben Keays celebrated what he thought was a goal that gave the Crows the lead against Sydney.
But the goal umpire awarded a behind, signalling the ball hit the post - but he didn't seek a video review and replays later showed the Keays kick was a goal.
Sydney's 74-73 win ends the Crow's chances of making the finals this year, yet Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says his players have no choice but to rapidly get over a controversial goal umpiring decision in a one-point loss to Sydney.
Replays from more than one angle proved the ball didn't touch the post or the padding - meaning Adelaide's finals chances are done due to a shocking error
Jubilation turned to despair for Ben Keays (centre) his teammates and Crows fans when the goal umpire refused to check his shot with a video review
The Crows are seeking a please explain from the AFL after the highly controversial finish to the Saturday night thriller in Adelaide, but the league has no plans to overturn the decision or the result of the match, according to the Herald Sun.
That's despite AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan admitting, 'There was a goal umpiring decision that should have been reviewed - and that was a mistake.
'I want to say conclusively that if the decision had been reviewed, it would have been overturned and it would have been a goal.'
Diplomatic Crows coach Matthew Nicks summed it up by saying, 'I can't tell you whether it was a goal or not.
'What I can tell you, my understanding is that we review those moments, especially at the end of games.
'We've just put trust in the process now. So as a footy club and as a coach, that's all we can do.'
Even if the AFL admitted an umpiring error, the result will stand and the Crows' finals aspirations remain over.
The 13th-placed team are two wins outside the top eight with one game remaining, an away trip to play struggling West Coast.
Keays' major should have kept Adelaide's season alive - now the AFL reportedly has no plans to overturn the decision or the result of the match
'As we have done every week, we lick our wounds and we get ourselves prepared for the next week,' Nicks said.
'This year, our improvement, our development, has been off the charts.
'We're sitting right up there from an offence point of view as number one in the comp with our scores.
'We're getting better at our defence if we want to be great, we have got to keep improving.
'The last thing we do now is take our eye off the ball and not finish the season.'
