They are multiplying like rabbits.

[saynta]

The AFL has decided that there will be 4 umpires per game in 2023. As if three weren't more than enough.

[cwrcyn]

I'm not against it. Just pay every free kick that's there, that's all I ask

[Sainter_Dad]

I'm not against it. Just pay every free kick that's there, that's all I ask

LOL - at the moment we get the worst 3 of 27 (ie 25/26/27 best in the league) next year we will get the worst 4 of 36 (ie 33/34/35/36)

Forgive me if I wonder if we would not be better having 1 umpire that misses some frees - but is at least in the best 10 of the country

[Ghost Like]

I think we can get rid of boundary umpires can't we? Last touch etc rather than the lottery that is the "deliberate" rule.

Wasn't there a shortage of umpires at the start of the year, country wide, all levels? Now the AFL is about to make that shortage greater.

[The Fireman]

Curly will be over the moon

[mr six o'clock]

great
so when we play the Weagles in perth they'll get even more frees !

[Sanctorum]

It's a bit like the NFL in the States: in every NFL game there are seven officials on the field.

These are: referee, umpire, down judge, line judge, field judge, side judge, and back judge.

When you consider that AFL is played on a much bigger field, immensely faster and with 18 players (NFL just 11) per team it's perhaps not unreasonable in the modern era of "instant video replays" to have a 4th field umpire.

Apart from decisions about whether or not the ball has passed the posts untouched, AFL does not stop to check if a player has infringed, unlike in most other football codes where play can be held up for protracted periods while things are scrutinised. And that need to stay that way.

Like it or not, the game is constantly evolving and things are never going to be perfect or please everyone.

When I look back to the 50's, 60's and 70's, today's game is quite different and I still get immense pleasure and satisfaction watching the modern game.

[The_Dud]

4 umpires means they have to cover less ground less quickly, so that high level of fitness required is less of a barrier keeping the best decision makers out.

[CURLY]

Given they ignore stuff they see this will make no difference

[bangaulegend]

Great now we have 4 different interpretations of the rules instead of 3 ,that's going to be interesting

[saynta]

I think we can get rid of boundary umpires can't we? Last touch etc rather than the lottery that is the "deliberate" rule.

Wasn't there a shortage of umpires at the start of the year, country wide, all levels? Now the AFL is about to make that shortage greater.

Yep, or the AFL was as usual talking crap just to justify their supposed crack down on maggot abuse.

[Scollop]

If there's 4 umpires you'd think there'd be more frees given, but I reckon if each guy thinks the other guy will pay the free, perhaps there'll be less frees overall.

Possible scenario - Umpire A thinks to himself; "Gee that looked like an arm chop but I better not pay it this late in the game in case I'm wrong. Hopefully Umpire B saw it and pays the free, that way they will cop the heat and abuse if it's the wrong call"

The worse thing that can happen is that people (i.e media) don't give the new system a chance to bed down and there's too much criticism early on when the umps are getting used to the changes. I think just like fatigue impacts players and especially their goal kicking and decision making, maybe if umpires are not as fatigued it will be a good thing

The main thing that the AFL and umpires bosses need to work on is the interpretations and making sure there is consistency

[D.B.Cooper]

Perhaps each game should have one designated Centre bounce umpire.

If you remove the bounce skill and extreme fitness running required, you may get better decision making?

I hope for less free kicks but fear this will turn into a free kick fest.

Though not a big fan on rule changes, I agree with above comment about potentially getting rid of boundary umpires and last touch free kick could be an interesting rule change.

[The_Dud]

I think we can get rid of boundary umpires can't we? Last touch etc rather than the lottery that is the "deliberate" rule.

Wasn't there a shortage of umpires at the start of the year, country wide, all levels? Now the AFL is about to make that shortage greater.

Yep, or the AFL was as usual talking crap just to justify their supposed crack down on maggot abuse.

Well the crackdown obviously hasn’t worked on you Stinger!