Dillon’s response to Hardwick anger over umpire contact change

2 months ago 10

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon says clubs were given multiple warnings about players making umpire contact, but concedes it is highly unlikely a player will be suspended.

The league this week announced that players hit with a fourth or subsequent careless umpire contact charge within the past two seasons will likely be sent straight to the tribunal and face a ban after fining players had failed to cut the number of incidents.

Andrew Dillon says clubs were repeatedly warned that player contact with umpires was too high.

Suns midfielder Matt Rowell, St Kilda pair Hunter Clark and Jackson Macrae and Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett all face possible suspensions if they make careless contact with an umpire once more this season.

This prompted Suns coach Damien Hardwick to take aim at the league for the in-season rule change.

However, Dillon said on Friday the time had come for the league to take a stand, having warned clubs several times that umpire contact was on the rise.

“We are concerned about the number of umpire contacts that are happening,” Dillon told SEN.

“Back in 2022 we had six for the year, it was low 20s in 2023, up to 50 last year, and then we’ve already had 60 this year.

“We wrote to the clubs at the start of the year, warning that this was on the radar.

“Again we wrote to the clubs in April and reminded the clubs to remind the players that there is the potential if there are multiple infractions for the same offence, which has got a fixed financial sanction, that there is the ability to refer that to the tribunal. So we reminded the clubs and the players that that actually exists.

“We had a president’s meeting in June where I raised that again. We had a lot of talk about umpires, and that was another thing that we raised there – the increased number. By that stage, the number of careless contacts had already gone above what it was last year.”

Hardwick, the three-time Richmond premiership coach, was furious on Thursday, even warning the league there could be repercussions if Rowell was cited again.

“If it leads to a suspension, look out from our point of view,” Hardwick said.

“I know we’re the Gold Coast Suns, and don’t get me wrong, Matt Rowell is a superstar, but if this was spoken about with Nick Daicos, Collingwood would tear the place down.

“Let’s sit there and understand what we’re talking about here. We can make a change about umpire adjudication, but we’ve been calling out for change to the tribunal for a period of time. Why can we, with the swipe of a pen, change one but not the other?”

Kysaiah Pickett has been repeatedly fined for umpire contact.

Dillon suggested it would have to be a major careless act for a player, already with multiple offences, to be suspended.

“I won’t go into hypotheticals, but if it was a careless contact for clipping heels, that would be a fine, but if it’s someone who’s had multiple [offences], it might be referred to the tribunal and the fine might be increased,” he replied.

“I think it’s very unlikely [a suspension].”

Regarding Hardwick’s comments, and whether there had been an over-reaction to the change, Dillon said the health and safety of umpires was just as important as it was for players.

“I think if you take things to the extremes you can always do that,” he said. “We spoke with all 18 [club] CEOs, and they were really understanding. The health and safety of our players is paramount – we say that all the time.

“Absolutely, it’s the same for our umpires. Of the 60 careless contacts that there were after round 15, every single one of them was at a stoppage.

“So it’s nothing to do with four umpires or three umpires or two umpires. It’s the umpire backing back with their back when they’re balling it up or bouncing it in the middle.”

Dillon also defended the decision to spread the bye rounds over five weeks, pointing to the needs of fans and broadcasters, but suggested it could be cut to four weeks.

“We’ve done everything. In my time at the AFL we’ve had a week off, then we’ve had one game, then we had two, and now we spread it over five weeks,” he said.

“My personal opinion is either what we did this year or may be one less week. I like weekends where there are at least seven games. You can have your Thursday night, Friday night, a full slate on Saturday, and a couple of games on Sunday.

“But we also have to be mindful of what we’re asking of our players and also of the football staff. Having a week off is really important for them as well.”

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