The AFL has revealed players will soon face potential suspensions if they are found guilty of making 'careless contact with an umpire' four or more times, with the Players' Association expressing its 'disappointment' with the change.
On Tuesday the league released a statement confirming that players who are charged with the offence four or more times in a two-year window will likely be referred directly to the AFL's Tribunal.
There, the player could be handed a suspension or see their fine increased.
The change, which will aim to combat the rise in these incidents, will be introduced with immediate effect
So far this home and away season, the 'careless contact with an umpire' offence has been handed down 63 times by the Match Review Officer, an increase already on the 56 from 2024.
โWe are seeing far too many instances of avoidable umpire contact, and since writing to clubs on this issue in February and again in April we have not seen a change in behaviour, and in fact seen an increase in umpire contact,โ AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.
โWe have an obligation to provide the best working environment for everyone, including the umpires, and there have been too many instances of avoidable umpire contact.โ
Only two players were charged with the 'careless contact with an umpire' offence in Round 16, while a further six were charged the week prior.
St Kilda recruit Jack Macrae has been charged with the offence four times this year, and would be facing a potential ban if the change had been brought in before the season started.
The AFLPA responded to the crackdown on the careless contact with an umpire offence, revealing the players had wished for a forum to discuss the issue with the league.
The Players' Association went as far as to say the current MRO and Tribunal process "is not working".
"The safety of umpires is a critical component for the game, and it's one the players wholeheartedly agree with," an AFLPA statement from CEO Ben Smith read.
"However, unilaterally deciding to increase the penalties on the playing group to greater extremes without consultation is disappointing.
"The AFLPA wrote to the AFL weeks ago to request a forum where the players can sit down and genuinely discuss these issues wholistically with the AFL.
"There are multiple factors that go into the number of fines increasing for careless contact with an umpire, such as additional umpires on the field and greater congestion around the ball, and the players feel the threshold of what constitutes incidental or accidental contact between players and umpires continues to shift. They ultimately believe these fines aren't proportionate to the acts committed.
"It's evident to the AFLPA and players that the current MRO and Tribunal system is not working and needs to be reviewed and revised, and we look forward to being a part of that process."
Players have paid over $100,000 in fines for the careless contact with an umpire offence from a total of 69 upheld charges (63 in-season, six pre-season).
