FROM front-on, it looked like a goal. Brett Kirk and the cheer squad, seated directly behind the posts, celebrated as if it was a goal. Watching on television, coach Paul Roos's wife, Tami, was pretty sure it was a goal.

But from the AFL umpiring department, which has a remarkable record of putting ticks beside decisions that confound and infuriate others, came yesterday's official version: No goal!

After the department's standard Monday review, an AFL spokesman said the decision by the goal umpire that Kirk's snap in the frantic final moments of Sunday's draw against North Melbourne had been touched was correct, a finding based mainly on the grounds that Roos defender Michael Firrito tipped the ball into the side of the goalpost, not the back of it - something that is difficult to confirm even after repeated viewings.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the fact there were two umpires, the goal umpire and a boundary line umpire stationed directly across the line, and that there was no side-on camera angle to contradict their finding, was another factor in giving the decision the thumbs up.

"But the key thing is when looking at the video, the ball when it leaves Firrito's hand hits the side of the goalpost, not the back of the goalpost - meaning that when it goes from the player's hand, it was either travelling straight or it was travelling backwards from inside the field of play," he said.

"They concluded because [Firrito] was diving in mid-air … he could not have hit the ball strongly enough with the end of his fingers to push it back over the line. More likely it was in line with the goalposts [when touched and therefore a behind]."

While such reasoning might not withstand the scrutiny of the video analysts and biomechanists regularly called to give evidence at the AFL tribunal, the Swans had already put the controversial call behind them on Sunday night by adopting the stoic attitude that there was nothing they could do to change the result - a position that did not alter with yesterday's finding.

However, after some post-game banter with teammates who were confident Kirk's kick was a goal, defender Tadhg Kennelly said yesterday that, unlike Roos, who dismissed talk of "Hawkeye in the goalposts", he would like to see technology used to determine close calls and five minutes of extra time each way in the event of a draw.

"We were talking about it after the game and I suppose a video ref would be great," Kennelly said. "It would give you the right decision, really. But I don't know, it's something the AFL might think will waste a lot of time, waiting for a decision like that. But if it's the difference between winning and losing a game, it would be good."

Meanwhile, Peter Everitt looks set to play his first game of the season against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG on Sunday, with the 201-centimetre ruckman's height in the attack considered as crucial as the relief he would provide the in-form Darren Jolly.

Everitt declined to talk to the Herald yesterday, but Roos received positive reports after he played 65 minutes in his second reserves game after returning from a knee injury, and said he was in line for a quick recall.

"We'll see how he pulls up," Roos said. "But without Barry [Hall], he certainly could give us an option. I thought in the first and last quarters [against the Kangaroos] our forward line did OK because there was a bit of unpredictability. But in the second and third quarters we could have used a bigger body when we were trying Lewy [Lewis Roberts-Thomson] and Teddy Richards down there."

Having been recalled early because of Hall's suspension, erratic forward Nick Davis is again struggling to keep his place after another disappointing display. Davis kicked one goal and missed two easy shots against the Kangaroos but it was his inability to create pressure by tackling and chasing in the Swans' attack that might lead to another spell in reserves.

"He's probably aware of that [that he is under pressure to keep his spot]," Roos said. "We'll discuss it with him and work out the best possible way for him to get back to playing his best football."