Umpiring has never been under more scrutiny, with fans, players and coaches regularly debating controversial interpretations of the code's rules. Umpiring can be a huge factor in how a game ends.
While mistakes will always be made, there are several ways, in my opinion, the AFL could improve the standard of its officiating.
1. Improve Communication with Fans
Many fans are left confused by decisions, particularly around holding the ball, last disposal rules and dissent. The AFL could follow the lead of other sports, such as the NFL, where umpires explain major decisions over the stadium PA system. This increases fans' understanding of why the decision was made. This could be implemented for game-defining decisions, where play has stopped so the umpire can give an explanation.
No umpiring in any sport will ever be perfect, especially in a sport as fast as AFL. However, improvements, better communication, and improved technology could help the AFL to achieve its full potential.
This!!! Make them full time. Get them in their prime and train them to be good. The Freo Syd game was such a good example of how poor the standard of umpiring has become. Case in point, umpire contact free kick paid at CB. Literally the next CB, umpire contact not paid.
Rather than the usual garbage about “fans not knowing the rules”….. there are three things the afl could do:
1) clarify the rules and do away with the idiot “interpretations” (and anything else the moronic “rules committee has infected a simple game with).
2) cease the stupidity in the umpires having the discretion of not applying the rules in order to “free up the game”.
3) scrap the umpiring program and use the SANFL program……. In the SANFL, one might not agree with an umpire – BUT you always know why the decision was made (in the “AFL” the whistle blows and no Fu(&er knows what for……)
Of course – they could also make the job easier by restricting the interchange rotations, making the game a touch slower (that’d also cut down the number of concussions as well).