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Important SN update for SouthlandHow players could be suspended for umpire contact
Andrew Slevison • July 2nd, 2025 10:45 am
The AFL is cracking down on umpire contact whether it be accidental or not.
The league sent a memo to all 18 clubs on Tuesday outlining their plans to sanction players for repeated careless contact with match officials.
Players with four or more offences of umpire contact over two years can now be sent directly to the Tribunal.
A league statement read: “When an offending player is sanctioned for a fourth or subsequent offence for Careless Contact with an Umpire from across the last two AFL years, the MRO or the EGM Football Performance will now likely directly refer the player to the Tribunal.
“The AFL may then seek from the Tribunal an alternative sanction for the offence, which may include an increased fine and/or where applicable, a suspension at the Tribunal’s absolute discretion.
“In addition, where an offending player is sanctioned for a second or subsequent offence for Careless Contact with an Umpire from across the last two seasons, the AFL will impose a fine of $5,000 to the player’s Club, exempt from the Soft Cap.
“The change has been implemented to combat the increased number of contact to umpires incidents which has been dramatically on the rise over the last two AFL years.”
Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson says the league is worried about an influx of injuries to umpires stemming from careless player contact in recent times.
“We had several cases of whiplash last year, there were concussions, there were more serious injuries,” Wilson said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.
“The injuries have mounted this year, more concussions, more injuries. There’s a view that more players are pushing their opponents into the pathway of the umpire. They’re setting up wrongly.
“Coaches are saying, ‘For heaven’s sake, stop bouncing the ball’.”
Channel 7’s newsman Mitch Cleary outlined how players may be sanctioned even if the contact is not intentional.
He also revealed how the players wanted to be involved in and informed of any changes only to find out about the AFL’s stance via the statement released.
“So essentially four (offences) in the space of two years going forward and you can be sent directly to the Tribunal and be suspended, or fined further,” Cleary said.
“The clubs are questioning this and the players have released a statement to us at The Agenda Setters saying they actually asked the AFL for a statement. The players and the AFL had a sit-down a couple of weeks ago, and that was denied. They learned of this today (Tuesday) when the AFL released it for the first time.”
Cleary says Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell is among the players who could face a suspension if they happen to reoffend.
“Matt Rowell has had four already in the last two years, Jack Macrae four, Adam Cerra three,” he added.
“If Matt Rowell essentially gets one more of these umpire contacts then he can be sent to the Tribunal and potentially be suspended and (maybe even) be out of the race for the Brownlow.”
Wilson added: “It’s like driving on 11 (demerit) points.”
Cleary concluded: “And they only learned of it today (Tuesday).”
The current umpire contact records of players will not be reset meaning Rowell, Macrae and Cerra could all face suspension if they happen to offend again.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon says there are too many contact incidents, which was raised earlier in the year, and the league has taken a stance on the matter.
“We are seeing far too many instances of avoidable umpire contact, and since writing to clubs on this issue in February and again in April we have not seen a change in behaviour, and in fact seen an increase in umpire contact,” said Mr Dillon.
“We have an obligation to provide the best working environment for everyone, including the umpires, and there have been too many instances of avoidable umpire contact.”
