The AFL admitted on Monday the decision to award a free kick against Geelong for a breach in the last quarter of Saturday night's game against Hawthorn was an error, but the penalty would not be changed mid-season.
The punishment now is a free kick and a 50m penalty, after which Hawk David Hale kicked a goal trimming the margin to nine points with 10 minutes remaining.
The interchange official thought Geelong's Josh Hunt had entered the ground early to replace Tom Lonergan, who then turned around and re-entered the field.
But Geelong had just 16 players on the ground before Hunt and Lonergan went back on.
Following the mistake, AFL officials have been briefed to be absolutely certain a breach has occurred before calling for the game to be stopped and awarding a penalty.
Post match, both coaches called for the rule to be reviewed.
Geelong's Chris Scott also spoke to AFL football operations manager Mark Evans in the rooms.
"The bottom line is, I think the rule is a poor rule, especially when a mistake is made," Scott said.
"A goal had been kicked. There was time to double check it, maybe even triple check as well."
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said the penalty was too harsh.
"The League should look at it, because it's a harsh penalty for what is a pretty honest mistake ... sometimes by a volunteer interchange steward."
The AFL also trialled Hawk-Eye technology at the three games played at the MCG on the weekend to see if it would aid the score review system in place since 2012.
An AFL spokesperson said the trial showed there was a potential for the technology to reduce the time the score review official takes to make a decision.
"The system uses all camera angles displayed together and time synchronised, and that is of significant benefit."
However the AFL remains adamant that it is yet to see a system that will deliver a conclusive verdict on every score.
A decision on whether to conduct a further trial later in the season will be made after all the information from the weekend's trial is considered.
