AFL Players’ Association hits out at AFL over changes to umpire contact rules

The AFL has been slammed for dramatically increasing penalties for contact with umpires, placing a number of players at risk of suspension.

The AFL Players’ Association has called the move “disappointing”, saying it wasn’t consulted before the sudden change ahead of the upcoming round.

Starting on Thursday night, a player charged with careless umpire contact for a fourth time or more during the past two seasons can be referred directly to the tribunal and face possible suspension.

Fines have skyrocketed recently, with the total amount to exceed a record $1 million over the past 24 months by the end of this season.

While agreeing umpires need to be protected, interim AFLPA boss Ben Smith believed the match review officer and tribunal system is “not working and needs to be reviewed and revised”.

“The safety of umpires is a critical component for the game, and it’s one the players wholeheartedly agree with,” Smith said.

“However, unilaterally deciding to increase the penalties on the playing group to greater extremes without consultation is disappointing.

“The AFLPA wrote to the AFL weeks ago to request a forum where the players can sit down and genuinely discuss these issues holistically with the AFL.

“There are multiple factors that go into the number of fines increasing for careless contact with an umpire, such as additional umpires on the field and greater congestion around the ball, and the players feel the threshold of what constitutes incidental or accidental contact between players and umpires continues to shift.

“They ultimately believe these fines aren’t proportionate to the acts committed.”

Newly re-signed Gold Coast star Matt Rowell has already been fined three times this season for umpire contact.

A fourth offence would likely send Rowell for an unprecedented tribunal appearance.

This season there have been 63 careless contact fines, with 56 last year and only 20 in 2023.

A change mid-season could possibly impact the Brownlow Medal, with Rowell expected to poll well.

Essendon coach Brad Scott warned the AFL was already asking a lot of the playing group.

“I just hope there’s a deep dive being done into umpire positioning for umpires on the ground,” he said on Wednesday.

“Player fines are getting out of control at the moment.

“I understand the reasoning for it. The AFL has had their hand forced on this one ... everyone’s got to take some responsibility for this, not just the players.”

Bombers players took part in drills at training on Wednesday to ensure they aren’t making unnecessary contact with umpires.

“The ball-ups are the problem,” Scott said.

“The incidental umpire contact around the ground doesn’t happen very often.”