AFL greats have hit out on the “flick of a switch” dissent crackdown that noticed two gamers marched for pointing on the massive display throughout Friday evening’s conflict between Carlton and Collingwood on the MCG.
After final 12 months’s controversial dissent crackdown, which noticed gamers commonly cough up 50-metre penalties for simply elevating their arms, the rule gave the impression to be softened in 2023.
But the crackdown was again in full drive on Friday evening, which left Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown, Jordan Lewis and Nathan Buckley all questioning how umpires might immediately be red-hot on the rule as soon as extra.
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“We looked like we found the right common ground and then out of the blue, round 20 – they go bang, bang! What is that?” Lyon questioned.
“If there’s another dissent given tomorrow or Sunday because a player points then they’re knuckleheads because you’ve just been given the greatest heads up of all time.
“The problem is … I bet no one gave Carlton or Collingwood the heads up! It’s just bizarre stuff.
“That’s why we get frustrated.
“We try to support the umpiring fraternity … And you come out and give us that!”
Brown questioned if the brink of dissent had “been reached”, and as outcome Brodie Kemp and Nathan Murphy had been each punished.
“Is there a chance they’re just sick of players pointing up at the big screen? Since when has an umpire changed their decision looking up at the big screen?” he requested.
“Reckon the umpires are sitting around at their lunch room saying, ‘Jeez I’m sick of these blokes pointing to the big screen’.
“Friday night, they’re setting the tone. Players watching, don’t point at the screen, don’t dissent.”
But Buckley stated it wasn’t sufficient for a dialog available, after which golf equipment not learn.
“So why don’t they send out, ‘we’ve just about reached out dissent threshold, so the next couple of blokes are going to get pinged’,” he stated.
“Send it out!
“You don’t put up with it for 10 weeks and not penalise people and then all of a sudden flick a switch.”
Lewis stated whereas he didn’t have a problem with the decision itself, it was the sudden change of interpretation that left gamers at the hours of darkness.
“I think everyone’s happy if this is paid every single week so players get consistency … but I’ve spoken to a couple of coaches and nothing has been sent out during the week,” he defined.
“How are players meant to react when it hasn’t been paid for a long period of time and then for whatever reason tonight, the umpires thought it was necessary to pay that dissent?
“What hope have the players got?
“Players have probably been doing it for a number of weeks without being penalised.”
Collingwood’s Mason Cox was seen on Friday evening throwing his arms up after conceding a ruck free kick – however was not penalised for dissent.
Umpires may very well be heard telling each Murphy and Kemp “be very careful” and “you can’t point at the screen and tell me to look” earlier than they had been marched 50 metres.
Originally printed as ‘What is that?’: AFL greats slam ‘bizarre, out of the blue’ dissent crackdown
Source: www.news.com.au
