AFL coaches want to see the bounce get bounced

THE AFL is under renewed pressure to scrap the traditional centre bounce and rival coaches Chris Scott and Ross Lyon have added their voices to the debate.

In a recent interview on Fox Footy, both coaches declared the bounce an unnecessary burden for umpires and said they would be in favour of umpires throwing the ball up.

Lyon said that the bounce is costing the AFL good umpires when it is hard enough to find umpires as it is.

“My issue is it costs you some good umpires,” he said.

“When you talk to the umpires, (they say) there’s good umpires that don’t get in because they can’t bounce.”

Scott, supported Lyon’s stance, saying the aim should be to make umpires’ jobs easier.

“I can’t come up with a sport where it’s harder to umpire or referee than our game,” he said.

“A pretty good guiding principle is, ‘let’s make it as easy for them as possible’.”

The debate around the centre bounce is likely to continue, with umpires vocalising in recent seasons they want the bounce to be scrapped, warning it has caused them anxiety and increased their risk of injuries.