AFL consider four umpires in all games next year

[westdog54]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...05-p4zjka.html

The AFL is open to the idea of having four field umpires in all games next year, having announced that it will trial four umpires during rounds 13 and 14.

The AFL's general manager of football, Steve Hocking, said four umpires would not be introduced full-time this season, but it was on the agenda for consideration in 2019. "In the future, yes,'' said Hocking, when asked if the four umpires could become the norm. "Not in this season, no.''

Luke Parker has got moves, Jesse Hogan bags a handful, Tim Kelly is a class act, Shane Edwards with goal assist of the round and Kangaroo Wright is a prostrate goal sneak.

Hocking said four umpires was a possibility for next year. "It's one of the things on [the agenda].'' During the upcoming trial, two of the four umpires will be stationed in the middle of the ground, between the two arcs, with one umpire placed inside each of the 50-metre arcs at each end. The AFL says the umpires will be positioned to reflect the way the game is played today.

Hocking said one of the reasons for the trial was to see whether four umpires could extend the careers of the better decision-makers, by reducing their physical demands.

Hocking said the umpiring department – which is headed by Grant Williams and ex-umpire Hayden Kennedy – wanted to try four umpires for these 12 matches to see the impact on how the game was umpired. The AFL has trialled four umpires in the past, but this trial is the most extensive and clearly is a trial for its potential introduction full-time.

The 18 clubs have been sent a memo explaining the rationale for the four-umpire experiment, such as positioning the umpires to reflect the way the different way the game is played today.

Another reason for the trial was to allow the better umpires to officiate in multiple games (across the same round) if the physical demands are decreased.




See, the last sentence is where they lose me.

If part of the objective is to get the best umpires umpiring multiple times in a single round, surely that points to an issue with umpire development rather than issues with the physical demands?

[bornadog]

The most over officiated game in the world

[Flamethrower]

NFL has AFL covered as most over-officiated. They have an umpire just to watch the quarterback.

[bulldogtragic]

When I saw the thread title I thought it was going to be about multiple games, but about saving money longer term...

- There's 9 games with 3 umpires each week. That's 27 umpires and I'll guess 20% more on the wider panel as a very minimum so say about 33 umpires.
- Say with 4 umpires they can get that number down to 23 umpires as a very minimum on the panel.
- So say the move allows the AFEL to shrink the panel by 10 umpires.
- Many umpires have high paying day jobs, such as lawyers etc. To make them go professional the base should be an extra $200,000 to allow for them sacrificing their wages and having their careers put on hold.

So, if they can go to a four umpire system, thereby shrinking the size of the field umpire panel by about 10 umpires, the AFEL would save $2,000,000 p.a. when they have to move to professionalise field umpiring. That's in a sense good for the game that the AFEL are looking to reduce the financial cost of a move to full time professionalism. But what's the cost? In the games I've seen with four umpires I've seen lesser standards of umpiring. I don't see enough basis to suggest four umpires makes the game better officiated. But the game will be cheaper to officiate however, for a multi billion dollar sports body, so that should cover any damage to the actual sport.

[westdog54]

NFL has AFL covered as most over-officiated. They have an umpire just to watch the quarterback.

At least all of the officials in the NFL can actually call a penalty. We have four umpires that have two jobs: Blow the whistle when the ball crosses the line, and throw it back in again.

[jeemak]

At least all of the officials in the NFL can actually call a penalty. We have four umpires that have two jobs: Blow the whistle when the ball crosses the line, and throw it back in again.

But they look so darned officious in doing so.

Has it ever fundamentally concerned anyone just how bloody ridiculous the rigidity of AFL umpire movement and process is? I mean seriously, why do they have to be so proper?

[Twodogs]

But they look so darned officious in doing so.

Has it ever fundamentally concerned anyone just how bloody ridiculous the rigidity of AFL umpire movement and process is? I mean seriously, why do they have to be so proper?

I think I know but some umpires post here so I will keep my opinions to myself...

[Happy Days]

I would hope that the AFL powers that be are doing everything they can to be nothing like the NFL. Overofficiating has completely ruined their product, taking away all spontaneity by reviewing all cool plays to within an inch of their life and making actually sitting through a game a demoralising chore.

Their viewership is in a free fall and the game has never been worse.

[The bulldog tragician]

Dear Lord, no!

[Topdog]

This is an attempt to keep the old boys in jobs for longer. Staggering that they are putting down the next level so publicly

[Twodogs]

We can't afford to kit each of the grounds out with uniform, functional goal review cameras and technology but we can afford the recurring cost of 9 more umpires each round?

Now that's insane.

[bornadog]

"BUMP"

It is on again -

AFL set to workshop four field umpires ahead of possible introduction in 2023

[hujsh]

If that's the only change they make I'll consider us saved from the usual tinkering for headlines

[Dogs 24/7]

"BUMP"

It is on again -

AFL set to workshop four field umpires ahead of possible introduction in 2023

I dont see why this would bother you.

[bornadog]

I dont see why this would bother you.

Did I say it bothers me?

But seeing you asked - the inconsistencies in decisions will be exaggerated.