AFL Players' Association says 'fines aren't proportionate to the acts' amid latest umpire contact crackdown
The AFL Players' Association has called the move "disappointing", saying it wasn't consulted before the sudden change ahead of the upcoming round.
Starting on Thursday night, a player charged with careless umpire contact for a fourth time or more during the past two seasons can be referred directly to the tribunal and face possible suspension.
Fines have skyrocketed recently, with the total amount to exceed a record $1 million over the past 24 months by the end of this season.
While agreeing umpires needed to be protected, interim AFLPA boss Ben Smith said the match review officer and tribunal system was "not working and needs to be reviewed and revised".
"The safety of umpires is a critical component for the game, and it's one the players wholeheartedly agree with," Smith said.
"However, unilaterally deciding to increase the penalties on the playing group to greater extremes without consultation is disappointing.
"The AFLPA wrote to the AFL weeks ago to request a forum where the players can sit down and genuinely discuss these issues holistically with the AFL.
"There are multiple factors that go into the number of fines increasing for careless contact with an umpire, such as additional umpires on the field and greater congestion around the ball, and the players feel the threshold of what constitutes incidental or accidental contact between players and umpires continues to shift.
"They ultimately believe these fines aren't proportionate to the acts committed."
Newly re-signed Gold Coast star Matt Rowell has already been fined three times this season for umpire contact.
A fourth offence would likely send Rowell to an unprecedented tribunal appearance.
There have been 63 careless contact fines this season, with 56 last year and only 20 in 2023.
A change mid-season could impact the Brownlow Medal, with Rowell expected to poll well.
Essendon coach Brad Scott warned the AFL was already asking a lot of the playing group.
"I just hope there's a deep dive being done into umpire positioning for umpires on the ground," he said on Wednesday.
"Player fines are getting out of control at the moment.
"I understand the reasoning for it. The AFL has had their hand forced on this one … everyone's got to take some responsibility for this, not just the players."
Bombers players took part in drills at training on Wednesday to ensure they aren't making unnecessary contact with umpires.
"The ball-ups are the problem," Scott said.
"The incidental umpire contact around the ground doesn't happen very often."
AAP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
40 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Wimbledon 2025 live scores: Doubles action for Aussies early on day three, Jordan Thompson flying the flag in singles
A number of Aussies are in doubles action early on day three at Wimbledon with the last male Australian in the draw set to take the court. But play on the outside courts was delayed by persistent drizzle, postponing the action. Jordan Thompson is set to face Benjamin Bonzi on court 15 overnight (AEST), on a schedule headlined by superstar Carlos Alcaraz. lcaraz will aim to avoid one of Wimbledon's greatest upsets against British amateur Oliver Tarvet after a record-breaking number of seeds crashed out at the All England Club. Their contest will follow the match between women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic. Alcaraz's meeting with the British qualifier is a classic David against Goliath encounter. While the Spaniard, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is bidding for a third successive Wimbledon crown, world number 733 Tarvet is playing just his second main draw match at the All England Club. 'I'm quietly confident that I can win against anyone,' he said. 'Alcaraz isn't an exception to that. Obviously, he's done an incredible amount in the tennis world. He's a difficult guy not to respect.'
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
British Lions hit straps to sprint past plucky Reds
Hunter Paisami barged back into Wallabies calculations before the British & Irish Lions swallowed up the fast-starting Queensland Reds in Brisbane. The tourists were made to work for Wednesday's 52-12 victory in front of 46,435 fans at Suncorp Stadium after the hosts scored first and then lead 12-7 midway through the first half. Spots in the Wallabies midfield are at a premium with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii set to combine in the centres against Fiji on Sunday. But bustling centre Paisami, after being pulled from Australia's camp to instead front up against the Lions, gave Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt plenty to ponder ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. His first touch was a rampaging run that set up Jeffery Toomaga-Allen's first try and he kept the Lions guessing with short kicking and stoic defence. When Kalani Thomas's grubber was brilliantly swept up on the half-volley by Josh Flook to score, the Reds looked a chance of joining their 1899 and 1971 side in knocking off the visitors. The Lions, who beat the Force 54-7 with 14 different starters on Saturday, were clunky early but found their groove approaching halftime. Andrew Porter burrowed over to put them ahead before No.10 Finn Russell, who booted four-of-four conversions before exiting after 50 minutes, straightened the attack and Duhan van der Merwe soared to score inside the left corner post. A wicked bounce denied Lachie Anderson an incredible try when the Lions didn't collect the restart and the ball dribbled dead. Lock Maro Itoje made an impact in his first outing as Lions captain and cashed in with a try after Bundee Aki's storming run and scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park darted from the ruck. The Reds got desperate as the match opened up, Huw Jones plucking Tim Ryan's ambitious chip and racing 60 metres to score. Substitute Gary Ringrose iced the contest with an 85th-minute try as the tourists again passed 50. Hooker Matt Faessler, another Wallabies squad member, was solid in a 50-minute stint in his return from a hamstring injury while Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) put his case forward after being a regular in Schmidt's teams last year. Russell, the only Lion to start in both games, looked dangerous in his first partnership with Gibson-Park while flanker Jac Morgan earned man-of-the-match honours for his damage around the ruck. Coach Andy Farrell will have a chance to shuffle his deck again when the Lions play the NSW Waratahs on Saturday. They'll also play the Brumbies, who beat the tourists in 2013, and a combined Australia-New Zealand outfit coached by Reds coach Les Kiss, before Brisbane's first Test.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
WA coroner makes nine recommendations after finding policeman acted 'too hastily' before shooting JC
A Western Australian coroner has found the fatal shooting of a woman by police on a Geraldton street was preventable, and has made nine recommendations to prevent a similar outcome in the future. WARNING: The following story contains discussions of suicidal ideation and the image of an Indigenous person who has died. The 29-year-old Ngarlawangga Yamatji Martu woman, referred to as JC for cultural reasons, was shot dead by officer Brent Wyndham, after she was recently released from prison and reported to be walking down a suburban street holding a knife in September 2019. Two years later, Mr Wyndham was acquitted of murder after telling his WA Supreme Court trial he acted in self-defence, believing she was going to stab him before he fired his weapon. The verdict sparked an outpouring of grief from JC's friends and family as well as the local Indigenous community. A two-week coronial inquest last year in Geraldton and Perth examined the actions of the eight officers at the scene of the shooting. The inquest focused on factors including the circumstances of JC's death, the adequacy of WA Police policies and training concerning de-escalation and use of force, and the adequacy of mental health care she received in the weeks prior to her death. Coroner Ros Fogliani ultimately found JC's death to be a "lawful homicide". However, she found there were a number of opportunities for police to de-escalate the situation. Coroner Fogliani said JC's death was preventable, despite it being unknown whether a de-escalation tactic could have prevented the shooting. The findings detailed how JC had endured a difficult life, which was marred by long-term impacts, with her likely fetal alcohol spectrum disorder contributing to her volatility. She said JC's social factors became "overwhelming" and contributed to some instances of poor decision-making in her life. The findings stated JC's homelessness exacerbated her "fragile mental state", leading to suicidal thoughts. Both the inquest and trial highlighted the significant challenges JC faced accessing effective mental health care, particularly after her return to Geraldton. She had been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and drug induced psychosis by age 20, with an additional diagnosis of schizophrenia made in later years. But with the bulk of her treatment taking place in Perth, the inquest heard she effectively fell off the radar of local support services after her return to country. Amongst Ms Fogliani's recommendations is a call for better information sharing between WA's various health services, as well as between health and WA Police, about potentially vulnerable people re-entering the community. "That she died three weeks after her release from prison ... is very telling," Coroner Fogliani said. The coroner said Mr Wyndham shot JC within 17 seconds of leaving his vehicle. "He acted too hastily in running towards the threat posed by JC, not considering communication with the other police officer who was trying to engage with JC and putting himself in a situation where he perceived the need to fire," she said. Coroner Fogliani said JC's premature death caused immeasurable grief for her family and caused distress for Aboriginal communities. "It sadly reactivated and magnified the historical mistrust and antipathy that many Aboriginal persons feel towards police officers, for reasons that are well known and deeply embedded in the unfortunate and brutal consequences of colonisation," she said. The coroner said she was satisfied WA Police missed opportunities to effectively train the attending officers at the incident. "There were missed opportunities to communicate, which may have avoided JC being approached so quickly," she said. Coroner Fogliani said she could not exclude JC was having a psychotic episode when she was fatally shot. "JC fell through the cracks in the system," she said. The coroner said she was hopeful her recommendations would assist in providing "continuity of care and follow up" when Aboriginal people are removed from Country for treatment. The findings also included nine recommendations from the coroner, the first being improving relations with Aboriginal communities. Coroner Fogliani said consideration should be given to establishing a section or branch within WA Police dedicated to improving the relationship between police and Aboriginal people. Coroner Fogliani recommended WA Police oversee Aboriginal Cultural Awareness training, to be co-designed with and delivered by Indigenous people — on a regular basis. She asked for the effect of intergenerational trauma, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and the importance of cultural wellbeing, to be a focus. There was a recommendation for six police officers to undergo additional training. Coroner Fogliani also made a number of recommendations into the treatment of people with mental health issues. She called for the Department of Health to consult with WA Police, in working on how relevant information, such as mental health conditions can be shared between agencies. A recommendation was also made for discharging health service providers to consider notifying local health services a patient was returning to Country or an area they habitually reside.
