Auld described the better-behaved trend as one he had observed both first-hand and “anedoctally.” He said that the AFL,which oversees the game at all levels as the governing body,did not have data yet to back up his impression.

“Too early to quantify,and quantification would come from looking at the numbers ... yellow cards and red cards.”

Auld said the improvement in treatment of umpires “improves the match day environment,which is so critical to getting and keeping people (to umpire).”

He said the improvement was from both players and fans. “It’s been fans as much as players.”

He said there remained a shortfall for community umpiring of about 6000 nationwide - a shortage that the AFL and chief executive Gillon McLachlanhave often cited in the context of making umpiring more attractive by reducing abuse by fans and players.

Auld said the abuse of umpires was “contributing” to the shortfall but there was also another key factor:the growth in women’s football. “What’s actually driven it more broadly is just the growth in female footy outpaces most things,including umpiring.

“It’s not the only factor and it’s certainly not the sole factor.”

Auld said remuneration wasn’t a key driver of why umpires walked away. “No one’s going to look a few bucks in the eye and say no,right? But it doesn’t sit high in the ranks of why umpires don’t stay.”

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