The AFL is dealing with renewed strain to eliminate the normal centre bounce, with rival coaches Chris Scott and Ross Lyon declaring it an pointless burden for umpires.
Whistleblowers have been vocal in latest seasons about wanting the bounce to be scrapped, warning it has precipitated them anxiousness and elevated their threat of accidents.
Scott and Lyon instructed Fox Footy they might be in favour of umpires throwing the ball up on a regular basis.
“My issue is it costs you some good umpires,” St Kilda coach Lyon stated.
“When you talk to the umpires, (they say) there’s good umpires that don’t get in because they can’t bounce.
“It’s exhausting sufficient to get umpires as it’s.”
Geelong premiership coach Scott backed Lyon’s stance, saying the aim should be to make umpires’ jobs easier.
“I am unable to give you a sport the place it is tougher to umpire or referee than our sport,” Scott stated.
“A reasonably good guideline is, ‘let’s make it as straightforward for them as potential’.”
The discussion around the bounce stemmed from Scott’s reaction to a ruck contest between the Cats’ Rhys Stanley and Carlton opponent Tom De Koning.
De Koning raised his knee into Stanley’s ribs at a centre bounce but was not penalised with a free kick against him.
He was later fined $2000 for ‘kneeing’ in an act that was considered careless conduct, medium impact and body contact.
Stanley, who was substituted out of last Thursday night’s match after the incident, is in doubt for Geelong’s clash with Gold Coast on Sunday.
Scott said the Cats have since received clarification from the AFL around kneeing rules and had no issue with De Koning’s penalty.
“I do not wish to see De Koning get suspended and even fined. All you wish to see is behaviour change,” Scott stated.
“The AFL saying you can’t do that’s significantly better than suspending gamers, for my part.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
