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Important SN update for SouthlandDillon: Why the AFL has cracked down on umpire contact
Andrew Slevison • July 4th, 2025 10:31 am
CEO Andrew Dillon has outlined the AFL’s reasoning for the in-season crackdown on umpire contact.
The league released a statement earlier this week outlining that players could be sanctioned for repeated careless contact with match officials.
It has come to light that some players, including Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell, are already on four strikes meaning any subsequent umpire contact could lead to a possible suspension.
The decision has been slammed in some corners, particularly by Suns coach Damien Hardwick who says “look out” if one of his stars is rubbed out.
Dillon joined Kane Cornes and David King in the SEN Fireball studio to explain the mindset of the league in making this call.
“We are concerned about the number of umpire contacts that are happening,” said Dillon.
“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.
“Then at the CEO's conference after another weekend where there was another three or four careless contacts, we advised the CEOs to remind them that that is there. And also, if there are players that have multiple ones in addition to the fines for the players and the potential to go to the Tribunal that the clubs would be fined $5000.”
As for making the change during the season, Dillon insists it has been done in a bid to avoid unwanted surprises at a later stage.
“If we feel there is a need to change we will do that,” he added.
“This is one where we’ve always had that ability. What we have done - we did it in April, we did it at the start of the year - is just reminding clubs and players that the ability to refer to the Tribunal just sits there.
“And just putting some clarity around when we might use that so if it did happen it wasn’t a surprise.”
Dillon was asked if he believes a player will ever miss a game for umpire contact.
“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).”
Has there been an overreaction from the public and people like Hardwick?
“I think if you take things to the extremes you can always do that,” he said.
“We spoke with all 18 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.”
