The AFL needs umpires. Independent arbitrators between ultra-competitive football clubs that uphold and enforce the rules that govern the code. Important as they may be, and forgive me for stating the bleeding obvious, they don't always get it right.
And players don't always respond well when such mis-steps occur.
Here's a stroll down memory lane - a look at five unforgettable run-ins between a player and an officiator.
4. A really Curley one
In 2001, Western Bulldog Todd Curley was the first player banned under the new "making contact with an umpire" rules, undoubtedly brought in to minimise the chances of Williams' conduct becoming normalised.
His contact seemed much more incidental, but the damage was done, and a furore followed.
Curley was handed four matches (a sanction later halved on appeal), but his confidence never recovered, and the Bulldogs parted ways with the West Australian at the conclusion of that season.
