THE UMPIRES were correct in calling play-on after a shot for goal from Adelaide's Eddie Betts hit the goal umpire and bounced back into play during the Crows' NAB Challenge game against North Melbourne.

However, according to the AFL, the goal umpire who was struck should have been standing further behind the goal line when the ball was kicked, to avoid any possibility of the ball bouncing back into play before it crossed the line.

Betts thrills family, friends in home town

The remarkable passage of play occurred during the third quarter of the clash between the Crows and North Melbourne.

Betts ran onto a loose ball as it tumbled into the goalsquare, picked it up and kicked it from point blank range through the big sticks as he was being tackled. 

Unfortunately for Betts – and the goal umpire – the ball hit the umpire on the shoulder and bounced back into play before it had crossed the line.

An uncertain North Melbourne player then picked up the ball and dished off a handball as the field umpire called play-on.

Despite Betts' apparent disbelief, the League said the field umpire's call was correct.

According to the rules, if the football touches an umpire or any official and does not pass over a goal or behind line, the football shall remain in play.

The rule means goal umpires need to put themselves in a position that removes any possibility of that happening.

"The umpiring department doesn’t want the umpire standing in a position where he is close enough to the line where the ball hits him and goes back into play," an AFL spokesperson said on Monday. 

"He should have been further back."

If it had’ve been a premiership match, with score review technology available, a review to determine whether the ball crossed the line would have been unlikely, as they are rarely called for when the ball goes back into play.

Below: A screen grab shows Eddie Betts tumbling as the ball cannons into the goal umpire.