New rule could see ‘backlash’

DAVID King believes the new crackdown on umpire abuse will bring significant “backlash” this AFL season.

The league on Tuesday decided to dial up the strictness on umpire abuse, fed up with what it believes to be a significant issue in our game, however, King believes players don’t abuse umpire but rather simply question decisions that are made.

The former North Melbourne great thinks the 50-metre penalty is far too harsh, while going on to predict it to be the most talked about thing on a Monday morning in three weeks’ time.

“The abuse of the umpire being an instant 50-metre penalty, I don’t believe AFL players ever abuse an umpire, they may be angry with a decision at a given point in time and they may be frustrated and say something but it’s not to abuse or belittle an umpire,” King said on SEN Breakfast.

“It’s an act that’s gone in three seconds, it’s always been a part of our game and it’s never been a problem, don’t tell me that if it comes from over the fence in lesser games or at junior footy, this is something in my opinion that has been overplayed.

“There were two 50-metre penalties paid yesterday that I thought ‘gee-whiz that’s really tough’, the players not standing there abusing the umpires, they’re questioning the decision, it’s going to bring significant backlash.

“Put it right in your diary now, it’ll be the most talked-about thing on a Monday morning in three weeks’ time about someone getting a 50-metre for saying ‘you can’t pay that Ray’.”

Agreeing with King, Kane Cornes believes the AFL should’ve put their focus on fixing genuine issues with the game instead of putting their priorities in an issue that wasn’t there in the first place.

“I couldn’t agree more with you, you are spot on with this, our AFL players and coaches treat the umpires very well,” he said

“There were probably two examples last year that was worth of a 50-metre penalty.

“It’s just too big a penalty for a small in-discretion and I think the priorities of the AFL need to be elsewhere like fixing and increase scoring rather than crackdown on an issue that wasn’t there.”

The new rules have been designed to set the correct example in a bid for it to filter down through to grassroots level as to attract a new generation of umpires.

– BY HUGH FITZPATRICK/ SEN