AFL umpires have asked league officials to consider the impact of the centre bounce on officials amid suggestions the traditional practice could be contravening occupational health and safety guidelines.
AFL football operations general manager Simon Lethlean said he was collaborating with umpires on the issue to find out whether bouncing the ball was in some cases leading to injury.
“We’ve had that claim for a while now, so we’ve certainly understood the umpires’ position,” Lethlean told SEN radio.
“I suppose ‘claim’ is a strong word – they more asked us to look into the occupational health and safety issues that may or may not be around the bounce, and we’ve got independent doctors doing that alongside the official physiotherapist of the umpires.”
Lethlean ruled out an immediate change to rules concerning the bounce but said the issue was worthy of investigation.
“There will be no change to the bounce this season, but it’s certainly a commission decision at some stage this year to whether there’s a change or not,” Lethlean said.
“Just because there is a occupational health and safety review doesn’t mean the bounce has to go. It actually means there are ways to mitigate and prevent injuries, if that’s the case, by way of training methods, frequency, better medical and research.”
The centre bounce is understood to put a strain on umpires’ backs and shoulders, and calls to seek an alternative method of restarting play have been heard before.
But taking the bounce out of the game has proved difficult, with the more conservative factions within the AFL keen to uphold traditional elements of the game.
“It’s an unusual and unique facet of our game that I think is a fantastic part of the game, but if the overwhelming evidence and facts are that it’s removing umpires from our game, limiting the umpires that we get, losing good decision-makers and good umpires and causing injuries, we’ve got to consider [changes],” Lethlean said. “We certainly will and we’ll do it seriously.”
The AFL will, however, act immediately to outlaw the jumper punch before the end of the current season, following a series of recent incidents.
“It’s unusual, but we’re going to [change the rules]. We don’t want punching to continue,” Lethlean said. “We’re unequivocal about that.
“I think a change is required. Clearly, the deterrent of fines is not stopping on-field punching in various forms. That’s up to me now to give the MRP [match review panel] the equipment by which to be able to classify for either more forceful contact or for more intent.
“We’ll make that really clear to the players and clubs and make a change that’s enforceable and gives the MRP the right equipment in their classifications to ensure that sanctions are now matches [suspension], as compared to fines, if that’s going to be the deterrent required.”
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