AFL umpires may turn professional in new dealJon Pierik
January 28, 2011THE future of AFL umpiring, including the prospect of full-time professionals, will be canvassed in pay negotiations between the league and the umpires.
In a year when the AFL is finalising a new $1 billion broadcasting contract and an upgraded collective bargaining agreement with the AFL Players' Association, a new deal with the umpires has emerged as another major agenda item.
AFL Umpires Association boss Bill Deller last night confirmed negotiations with AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson had begun.
''They are very preliminary at the moment in that we are trying to, if you like, identify the future of umpiring in conjunction with the AFL so that the new CBA will do its best to meet the changing face of umpiring,'' Deller said.
''At the moment it's a blank sheet of paper. But I think it's a sensible way to do it.''
While Deller wouldn't disclose figures, top field umpires can earn more than $100,000 a season. An increase, perhaps in line with what the players are set to win, appears all but certain.
Deller said how best to improve the percentage of accurate decisions was a key theme of discussions, with all options to be considered.
As it stands the elite umpiring ranks consist of 32 field, 36 boundary and 30 goal umpires, all who fit their full-time profession around the sport.
One suggestion is to cut this squad and have full-time professionals who could perhaps stand in two matches per round, for instance a Friday and Sunday or a Saturday and Monday night.
''It has already been talked about. There are suggestions from some quarters that it would be a good thing,'' Deller said.
However, if that option is discarded, the addition of a ninth match per round from 2012 could mean extra staff are required.
Another suggestion is to add another field umpire and have four adjudicating in the home-and-away season, a move already trialled in the NAB Cup.
Deller said ''multi-tasking'' was another option.
''That has been experimented with in NAB Cups recently where they have empowered goal and boundary umpires to pay frees and, in certain circumstances, extending the role of the emergency umpire,'' he said.
The use of technology will be another debate. Goal umpires will have the right to call on video technology for difficult calls during next month's NAB Cup, provided the video replay is immediately available.
''The AFL are looking for … improved productivity. In our instance, improved productivity would be improved decisional accuracy. How can we achieve that?'' Deller said.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-umpires-may-turn-professional-in-new-deal-20110127-1a6zl.html
