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.
3. Taylor bristles at the law
The internet is littered with compilations of beloved commentator, and former Richmond and Collingwood key forward Brian Taylor abusing umpires.
It's entertaining viewing. Scenes from a bygone era.
Sporting the tightest of white shorts, Taylor gets in the grill of the controlling umpire one afternoon at Victoria Park, while his Magpies are playing the Saints. After getting nose to nose with the official, as he retreats, he can be seen giving the umpire the 'up yours' gesture. The sequence of events would result in an eye-watering financial sanction in 2026, one would think.
