AFL boss Andrew Dillon says umpiring in the game is “as good as it’s ever been” just one day after the league personally apologised to Essendon coach Brad Scott for “several” incorrect umpiring decisions during their loss to Geelong.
Dillon’s claim on Tuesday came despite intense scrutiny on the state of umpiring in the game generally during the 2024 season.
The defence follows Laura Kane’s admission that the controversial deliberate rushed behind call against Bombers defender Jye Menzie in their 45-point loss to the Cats on Saturday at the MCG, was a mistake.
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Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Dillon leapt to Kane and the umpires’ defence.
“I think it’s as good as it’s ever been, the umpiring,” he said on Tuesday.
But the CEO, who has only be in the role since the end of 2023, did not shy away from admitting there is always work being done by umpires boss Steve McBurney, to hone their “craft”.
“We’re in the second year of a four-umpire system, so we’re on a journey with that system,” he said.
“There’s always been a focus on umpiring, it’s been around since I’ve been around, and it will continue to be but because the competition is so tight, maybe there’s an increased focus.
“It’s an incredibly tough game to umpire and we’ve got elite decision-makers.
“They’re continuing to work on their craft.”
Dillon also explained the decision for Kane to stop appearing in her weekly television slot, that saw her explaining all umpiring decisions after each round, on a Monday.
He confirmed the league would still front up, but only if a really controversial decision, that likely changed the outcome of a game, was made.
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“If there’s umpiring decisions at the end of games and there’s a real focus on them, then we will be up (fronting media),” he said.
Dillon’s comments also follow Essendon great Matthew Lloyd’s declaration that the AFL is lacking “leadership” when it comes to umpires and their decision-making.
“Absolutely, there is a lack of leadership,” Lloyd said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday night.
“I think it’s an absolute mess, whether they want to speak publicly or they don’t want to speak and they go straight to the clubs and tell them.
“What other bosses of an organisation listen to so many people?
“Have some fortitude in what you want to do as an organisation.”
It comes as the league undertakes a “pivotal shift” on how umpiring decisions will be explained going forward, in what Caroline Wilson labelled as “big concessions from the AFL”.
“There has been a reset at AFL HQ, that too much focus has been on umpiring, it’s taking up too much time,” she said.
“I think that’s a really significant shift. The AFL is insisting, and Laura Kane is saying, that they want to continue to be as transparent as possible, happy to explain (decisions).”