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Sport Nation
Why the AFL should get rid of the centre bounce
Jaiden Sciberras • August 3rd, 2025 3:30 pm
Is it time for the AFL to ban the bounce?
The umpire’s bounce has become a significant debate, with wayward bounces and umpire contact rising to the forefront of discussion.
Following an innocuous incident following a poor centre bounce on Saturday afternoon, the danger of eliminating the bounce has never been so critical.
During the Round 21 clash between Gold Coast and Richmond, a wayward bounce saw the ball float above the controlling umpire, who had a slight fumble as the ball was thrown into the deck.
As a result, Richmond ruckman Toby Nankervis – with eyes only for the ball – accidentally barrelled into the umpire, sending him to the ground and resulting in opposition ruckman Jarrod Witts tripping over the top of the umpire with forward momentum.
The incident will certainly test the AFL’s newest umpire contact ruling, as the ruckman simply competed within their designated circle, with the umpire himself failing to move out of the zone in time. Nankervis, who initiated the contact, was simply attacking the bounce of the ball, not putting himself within the umpire’s clear zone.
Following the incident and the ongoing discourse surrounding the nature of the bounce, former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson believes now is the time to eradicate the centre bounce tradition.
“I reckon the conversation will last about 90 seconds – the bounce will be gone,” Sanderson told SEN Crunch Time.
“It has to. We saw last night; the umpire was put in a position where he was at risk. What other sport do we put referees or umpires in a position where they are going to get absolutely poleaxed by the players who are playing the game?
“I’m anti-bounce, because I think we’ve lost too many great umpires because they simply can’t bounce the ball like they used to. Some great decision makers – because they can’t bounce, they can’t get a game.
“Maybe just (keep) the opening bounce of each game, just for the traditional element of it all.
“Yesterday, the umpire bounced the ball, he half tripped a little bit and he staggered back, but the ball floated right where he was and Nankervis – yes, duty of care, those famous three words in footy – Nankervis has got his eyes on the ball.
“He’s not looking, ‘I better make sure the umpire’s not here while I jump up and tap this to one of my three midfielders.’ Not only that, he got cannoned into by the other ruckman as well!
“I really feel for the umpires. It’s a tough gig. I reckon we get everyone in and say ‘hey, should we get rid of the bounce?’ I reckon everyone in the room will go ‘yep, let’s do it.’
“Maybe the first one of the game, maybe Grand Final day we try and get one, but that puts enormous pressure on the poor umpire that’s got to deliver the perfect bounce on Grand Final day.”
