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"All sports are really difficult to officiate, but I think our sport is one of the hardest ones.(1)
"What our focus on is actually just preparing our umpires and making sure we get the processes right and continue to umpire as well as we can.
"It's as good as it's ever been, the umpiring.(2)
"We're in the second year on the four-umpire system as well, so we're on a journey with the four-umpire system." (3)
Dillon said the recent focus on umpiring decisions was a by-product of the closeness of the league.
"The competition is so tight," he said.
"I don't understand why, but there's always been a focus on umpiring — I'm pretty old and it has been around for as long as I've been around and will continue to be.(4)
I am somewhat perplexed by the comments of Dillon in this ABC sport article (this is not the full article and I have cut this segment out in one piece and the numbering is mine)
(1) If it is so difficult why do the AFL continue to introduce more rules and change rule interpretations (often mid season)? It does nothing simplify the game and creates confusion and anger amongst almost everyone in the game. It makes the umpires job so much tougher and makes them the target of abuse. Well done AFL.
(2) If it is good as it has ever been why is everyone talking about the issues with umpiring? As a measuring stick surely no conversation about umpiring or complimentary comments would be the best result.
(3) So the current conversation could infer that umpiring has not improved with the 4 umpire system. So what is next? The 6 umpire system? Umpires IMO need a method of applying the rules that is as simpler and clear as possible. More umpires may pick up some behind play or blind side incidents but does not make the decision they need to make in the millisecond timeframe required any simpler.
(4) He does not understand why there has always been a focus on umpiring. Really? The CEO of the AFL does not understand why umpires and their decisions are the focus of so many people. Whether that focus is fair or reasonable can be questioned but surely you should understand how people can believe so much can hang on the decisions umpires make. A slight condescending smell wafting around that statement.
