- ‘Ultra Zoom’ vision was a turn-off for many AFL fans
- Close up vision of Josh Gibcus’ knee injury angered many
- Tigers defender Gibcus likely to have torn his ACL
Footy fans are up in arms over Channel Seven’s use of an on-field digital gimmick which featured on television screens during the Richmond versus Carlton thriller at the MCG on Thursday night.
Tigers defender Josh Gibcus, 20, appeared to have suffered a serious knee injury – and the broadcaster felt it was the perfect time to introduce its new ‘ultra zoom’ vision.
The resulting footage showed the exact moment Gibcus more than likely tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
An MRI scan will determine the severity of Gibcus’ injury – but Richmond footy boss Tim Livingstone said the club are preparing for a grim diagnosis.
‘It’s a suspected ACL. We’ll get an MRI [scan], but the poor kid deserves a break,’ he said.
Footy fans are up in arms surrounding Channel Seven’s use of an on-field gimmick which featured on television screens during the Richmond versus Carlton thriller at the MCG (pictured, Tigers defender Josh Gibcus)
Gibcus appeared to have suffered a serious knee injury – but that didn’t stop Seven from using its new ‘Ultra Zoom’ to highlight the awful moment for the 20-year-old
‘He battled all through last year with his head up, and he’s praying for it, but it doesn’t look good at the moment.’
Gibcus also sat out the entire 2023 AFL season due to a hamstring complaint.
When it came to Channel Seven’s new-age coverage, AFL supporters were quick to post their displeasure online.
‘Why the hell do you need to Ultra Zoom that? Seriously have some respect,’ one fan fumed on X.
Another stated: ‘This shouldn’t have been broadcast and this shouldn’t be posted online.’
A third weighed in with: ‘Why are you doing showing a ultra zoom on a kid doing his knee? Whoever decided to do this should be sacked.’
Speaking in the post game press conference, Richmond coach Adem Yze described the likely season-ending injury for Gibcus as ‘gut-wrenching’.
‘It’s not looking great at the moment,’ he said.
‘We’re touching all the wood we can that we get lucky with it. But if it is what we think it is, or could be, it would be obviously gut-wrenching.
‘Not only the season he had last year, but just the type of player and the type of character he is. I feel for him so we’ll wrap our arms around him.’
On the field, ‘Cardiac Carlton’ again roared home in the fourth quarter to record their sixth win on the trot by under a goal, with five points the end margin.
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