“There’s a difference”: Longmire weighs in on umpire dissent debate as AFL respond to criticism

The AFL's umpire abuse enforcement has been a controversial topic throughout the opening weeks of the season, with the league's crackdown on arm and hand gestures igniting plentiful discussion in recent days.

It is understood umpires have been directed to pay 50-metre penalties against players who raise their arms in disagreement with umpiring decisions.

Brisbane's Harris Andrews was penalised last Thursday night for raising his arms in disagreement while standing the mark; an incident that has since been commentated on at length.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, Swans senior coach John Longmire discussed his own views on umpire dissent.

Asked if he thought the rule was being umpired in the way it was intended, Longmire preached "common sense" and reiterated the healthy relationship that should be had between umpires and players during games.

"I think everyone's still going through that feeling-out phase in regards to what you can or can't do," Longmuir said.

"I guess my personal view is that there's a difference between asking an umpire a question and abusive behaviour, and hopefully there's enough common sense to be able to wade through those moments that happen during the course of the game.

"If Harris Andrews puts his arms out like that and doesn't say a word, that is not a 50-metre penalty. But if it is, the AFL needs to tell us it is."

Kane was perplexed by the Harris Andrews call, saying he could have found "20 other examples" that weren't penalised.#9AFLSFS pic.twitter.com/m2xK8nBHh3

— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) April 17, 2022

"It's really important that the players and the umpires to live a relationship during a game, a respectful relationship both ways and at different times if they ask a question in the right manner hopefully that doesn't get penalised."

When quizzed about the 'hand gesture' aspect of the rule that has been the main talking point in recent days, Longmire's response was somewhat cryptic.

"Look, I understand the rules, but I live in that grey area I guess, as far as hopefully there's also an area to be allowed for comments in regards to common sense and just making the right call at the time and hopefully that's still available in the game of AFL football these days," he said.

AFL football operations boss Brad Scott stated that at all six umpire dissent penalties from Round 5 were the correct call by the adjudicating umpires.

The AFL released a statement following the contentious calls that took place over the weekend, with Scott calling on players to "move on" from when an umpire pays a free kick.

“It is incumbent on us at the elite level to set the standards of behaviour for all levels of the game. We have fallen short as a football community and dissent towards umpires during matches has become an issue at all levels of the game, particularly at the community level where we are 6,000 umpires short,” Scott said.

“Respect towards umpires and penalising players for showing dissent has strong support from everyone in football – including Presidents, CEOs, coaches and football managers.

“Our message to players is that when an umpire pays a free kick, accept it and move on and our message to umpires is we encourage you to continue to pay free kicks or 50-metre penalties where players have shown dissent. We will stay the course on this and acknowledge there have been instances across this season where we have missed free kicks for dissent.

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“We commend players overall for the shift in behaviour this season and we are already seeing that reflected at the community level.

“It is not lost on us that the elite level has a unique leadership role in the community, and with that role comes responsibility.”

While there is plenty more to play out in this space in the coming weeks, Longmire's Swans will be more focused on trying to make it five wins from their first six games when they face the Hawks at UTAS Stadium on ANZAC Day.