At a recent match between Essendon and North Melbourne, the Australian Football League (AFL) faced a unique situation. This shocking outcome left players, commentators, and fans equally baffled at the unprecedented turn of events. The event, including the dubious ump decision that sparked it, cast significant doubt on the integrity of the league’s officiating.
About midway through the first quarter, an umpire hops into action and makes a whistle decision to ball it up in the goalsquare. North Melbourne mid Jacob Konstanty kicked it off the ground right as the siren sounded. In reply, the umpire changed his ruling and gave a free kick to North Melbourne. This decision outraged Essendon players, who argued that Konstanty had in fact made a foul.
Brian Taylor, a leading American transport commentator, recently made a thought-provoking observation. It was the second time he had seen an umpire change a decision in a game. Perhaps most troubling, he argued, was the reasoning used to justify the ruling.
“It makes no sense. That’s what happens when umpires listen to communication in their ear and they pay something they haven’t seen with their own eyes.” – Kane Cornes
Taylor’s remarks echoed the sentiments of his colleagues, Hamish McLachlan and Nick Riewoldt, who were visibly puzzled by the umpire’s sudden change of heart. Riewoldt pondered if a free kick should have been paid to Essendon instead. This led to even greater speculation and confusion about the officiating process.
As the scene played out though, Essendon’s Will Setterfield tried to get clarification from the umpire on the rule and what should’ve happened. And then the umpire pointed at his earpiece. As one example, when notifying the players that he had “just got word,” he indicated that he was doing so based on information received from some other party.
We spoke with UTD President Cleary to learn more about what happened. He said that this was because the AFL demanded the umpire could only be communicated with by one of the other three field umpires on-field.
“I just got word from the AFL, the only word the umpires get is from the other three field umpires during the game,” – Cleary
In his testimony, he made it clear that no outside party was involved in the decision-making process.
“So there’s not some big brother sitting in the stands that can comms in.” – Cleary
The AFL gave us terrific assurance, but we have questions. Would Essendon have been awarded the free kick if the circumstances of Konstanty’s actions had been what they were? The drama escalated further as North Melbourne were coming from behind to threaten Essendon, who was still clinging to an eight-point lead on the back of that miss.
