Led by Kennedy,the umpires lobbied heavily during their pre-season media briefings and the bounce was officially scrapped from the TAC under-18 competition. And Kennedy was admonished by AFL head office after he went public on 3AW describing the previously undocumented heavy injury toll from bouncing the ball along with the difficulties it posed in recruiting both men and women umpires.
"I think there's no real benefit,"said Kennedy."I think by throwing it up and creating an even contest on all occasions is probably the best way to go."The umpires coach was told that,as an AFL employee,he should have been more circumspect.
Schwab,who took over as umpires boss late last year after Luke Ball had held the position in a caretaker role,has vowed to support the process being run by the umpires but has not taken a position on the bounce itself. The traditional post-goal manoeuvre will come up for debate at the Laws Of The Game Committee next month with no decision due until the end of the season.
Then a recommendation either way from McLachlan and new football boss Simon Lethlean will go to the commission. Currently the noises coming from head office are less supportive of the umpires'stand. The AFL has long believed the umpires'aversion to the bounce is more due to mental stress not physical.
McLachlan and the AFL Commission have,over the past year,done away with the potential for a grand final replay and introduced a bye on the eve of the finals. They strongly considered rescheduling the grand final to a twilight fixture and have suggested that move is inevitable.
The long-standing tradition of an AFL-free Good Friday has been removed and now supporters are being asked to accept that another custom,the bounce,and all the artistry and uncertainty that accompanies it,could be eradicated.
The timing,then,for the umpires'campaign is not great. But they mean business. And whatever the outcome,the events of the pre-season dictate that there was clear room for improvement in the communication between the AFL and this crucial group of stakeholders.