The AFL needs to bring the umpires, oops, sorry ....maggots, into the mainstream AFL sytem instead of isolating them and treating them like tax collectors.
Let the clubs, the press and media (sorry but these press and media morons need to be part of it too) treat the maggots just the same as they treat the players, coaches and officials.
Allow them to be praised publically, and critiscised publically.
When the Geish comes out and supports a particular maggot or decision, you know that the poor basketcase is going up country next weekend, just like Eddie declaring his support for Mick M last year.
Get them into the rooms before and after a game. Get them onto the footy TV shows. Make the good ones Legends of the Game. But let the also rans, go home to mum.
Put them under the same pressure and media scrutiny that the players and coaches are under..............and they will respond to this pressure and RAISE THEIR BLOODY GAME and get even more enjoyment out of our mighty game.
The maggots would then become respected citizens within our great game and would no longer be called bloody maggots..... the real respect for their craft will filter down through the minor leagues and we will have quality umpires coming into the system instead of the NFI maggots who have grown up to block out the critiscism "for the good of the game" and hate the attention that the players get.....
Wouldn't it be nice to meet any AFL umpire and get the chance to shake his hand and congratulate him on a wonderful game, or career?
Or to ask him or her his/her opinion on how they made the decision........we all might become more enlightened.
