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0 Essendon great Matthew Lloyd is “questioning” AFL umpires after it was revealed they are receiving feedback via their earpieces during games from a senior figure.
The Age reporter Sam McClure disclosed that up to three senior AFL coaches were unaware umpires were communicated to during matches, with those key stakeholders now fearing the game’s integrity is at serious risk.
He confirmed “at every game, there is an umpires coach” communicating to those officials on field.
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Michael Jennings, the main umpire coach, is part of the team communicating in a box at each game across the country every week.
McClure also confirmed the “rate” in which umpires were communicated to on-field had “risen exponentially” since the start of 2023.
Matthew Lloyd says he is questioning the sanctity of the game. Getty
Geelong great Jimmy Bartel questioned whether umpires received warnings Collingwood players might be time-wasting in the final quarter of the Magpies’ round 11 draw with Fremantle.
The Dockers won a controversial free kick in front of goal when Lachie Sullivan threw the ball up to teammate Nick Daicos instead of straight back to the umpire.
“It’s not even that,” McClure said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
“They will say that it is (the communication) simply around positioning, it’s around positive affirmations if there’s been a controversial free kick. They may wait until there’s a stop in play and say ‘hey … well done with that holding the ball, great decision’.”
Despite multiple coaches expressing concern, AFL umpiring boss Steve McBurney denied the communication could influence or change games in favour of one team.
Umpires are talked to during games by a coach. AFL Photos via Getty Images
McBurney said three coaches had approached him seeking clarity around the umpire communication.
“They cannot tell umpires what free kicks to pay, they cannot give them advice of what free kicks to pay,” McBurney told McClure in The Age on Wednesday.
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“Our game does not permit an off-field official to tell the on-field official what free kicks to pay and what free kicks not to pay.”
McClure said the umpires leader’s role was to coach during the game, just like any AFL coach.
AFL Umpires are communicated to during games through their ear pieces. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Lloyd was confused as to why communication needed to occur during matches.
“I’m not sure why you need the affirmations within games. They’ve got that much going on, do they really need to be told ‘wonderful positioning, you did a great job’. You can tell them that a quarter time, half time,” he said.
Lloyd also expressed concerns about the communication, suggesting the AFL was in the wrong for not disclosing umpires were talked to during matches.
“OK, I’ve felt like I’ve seen an umpire react after the event and thought, ‘are they actually being spoken to, in their ear being told ‘you need to pay this decision’?” he said.
“That has me questioning when Steve McBurney says it doesn’t happen in games.
“I felt like I’ve seen it before in recent years.”
McClure said you wouldn’t hear the communication received from the box to umpires, unlike when the public hears from the ARC during a score review or when umpires talk to players and each other.
