What does the vision check: what is a goal and what is a behind?

Under Law 16.1:

Goal: the football is kicked completely over the goal line by a player of the attacking team without being touched by any other player, even if it first touches the ground.

Behind: any of these:

• the football passes completely over the behind line;
• it touches or passes over a goal post, or touches the padding or another attachment to the post;
• the attacking team kicks it over the goal line but another player touches it before it completely passes over the line;
• an attacking player handballs, knocks or otherwise takes it over the goal line (anything other than a kick);
• a defending player kicks, handballs, knocks or otherwise takes it over the goal line or behind line; or
• a defending player plays on from behind the goal or behind line and then changes direction before entering the playing surface.

Also, if the football is kicked by an attacking player while another player is touching it, it is deemed to have been touched by that player.

Source: Laws of Australian Football 2026, Law 16.1.