This season, the Australian Football League (AFL) tripled fines for forceful play against umpires. It’s hard to blame players and coaches who are complaining about the seemingly arbitrary nature of these harsh penalties now. The league has already given out 63 fines this season for avoidable contact with umpires. Last year, they issued a mere 56 fines, down from 20 in 2022. With the AFL season winding down, total fines this year are on track to surpass $1 million, an all-time high. This total has built up over two years’ time.
From Thursday night, any player to incur a fourth careless umpire contact offence in the last two years will go straight to the tribunal. This referral puts them at greater risk of suspension. This Legislative Interpreter article explains how this new measure has opened up discussions about the far-reaching effects of these policies on player behavior and game integrity.
Rising Concerns Over Fines
Essendon coach Brad Scott has already raised his concerns over the increasing pressure being placed on players. He thinks the AFL is asking too much of them at this stage. He emphasized the need to look at umpire positioning on the field. This would be a good step toward addressing many of the underlying problems that give rise to these fines.
“I just hope there’s a deep dive being done into umpire positioning for umpires on the ground,” – Brad Scott
Yet the frustration expressed by Scott’s comments is emblematic of a larger growing frustration within the league. With the penalties for high or reckless contact increasing dramatically, he famously said, “The ball-ups are the issue. The increased number of umpires on the field is a major factor in these incidents. The growing congestion at the ball makes it worse.
Impact on Players and Awards
The rising number of fines has prompted discussions about their potential impact on prestigious awards such as the Brownlow Medal. Star players such as Matt Rowell will be strong contenders for this year’s Brownlow. They are hit with challenges unlike any others if they collect enough offenses. A fourth violation would take Rowell to an uncharted world of tribunal appearances, one that would surely change his eligibility for this terrific honour.
Brad Scott was right to be disappointed by the way that penalties have been ramped up without adequate player consultation. He suggested that as important as player safety is, rule-making and unilateral imposition of harsher penalties undermine the collaborative conversation.
“However, unilaterally deciding to increase the penalties on the playing group to greater extremes without consultation is disappointing.” – AAP
Factors Influencing Careless Contact Fines
There are several reasons behind the increase in dangerous driving fines. As we have seen with the ongoing definition of incidental/accidental contact between players and umpires. This rapid evolution is leaving many players unsure of their role in this new ecosystem. The higher staff levels of umpires and greater game experience combatants has led to a playing field where contact is inevitable.
Speaking on behalf of the players’ representatives Ben Smith outlined the dire importance of safety for umpires. Simply put, players are committed to ensuring that safety continues to be their top priority. He stated, “The safety of umpires is a critical component for the game, and it’s one the players wholeheartedly agree with.”
