TonyK
CibbuanoGieschen defends new bounce rule
April 27th 2009 10:42
AFL umpiring boss Jeff Gieschen has defended the new recalled bounce rule following the dreadful display of bouncing during the clash between Carlton and the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
The league introduced a new rule this season where centre bounces that significantly disadvantage either ruckman are recalled.
It came under scrutiny following Sunday's match where field umpires Michael Vozzo, Mathew Nicholls and Heath Ryan recalled a number of errant bounces.
Gieschen said the numbers for the first five rounds of the season showed the new law is working well.
"So far after 40 games we've had 1557 bounces and we've had 40 recalls," Gieschen said.
"Unfortunately in one half of a game on the weekend, we had six recalls which drew a lot of attention to that game and the bounce."
"But when you look at it in an overall context, the umpires have been bouncing it really well, it's just a shame in that game we had six offline that drew that attention."
Gieschen also said he was confident the match was just an aberration.
"Our responsibility is to make sure that the umpires bounce it as consistently as they can, so if some umpires need to go and work on that and practise, they can do it," he said.
"But we're pretty confident we can keep that percentage of 97.5 percent up throughout the year and if we're doing that, we're probably not far away from what's acceptable."
"By and large they do an outstanding job of it, but in this day and age when everyone is extremely accountable, and everyone wants everything perfect, there is attention drawn to it."
The league introduced a new rule this season where centre bounces that significantly disadvantage either ruckman are recalled.
It came under scrutiny following Sunday's match where field umpires Michael Vozzo, Mathew Nicholls and Heath Ryan recalled a number of errant bounces.
Gieschen said the numbers for the first five rounds of the season showed the new law is working well.
"So far after 40 games we've had 1557 bounces and we've had 40 recalls," Gieschen said.
"Unfortunately in one half of a game on the weekend, we had six recalls which drew a lot of attention to that game and the bounce."
"But when you look at it in an overall context, the umpires have been bouncing it really well, it's just a shame in that game we had six offline that drew that attention."
Gieschen also said he was confident the match was just an aberration.
"Our responsibility is to make sure that the umpires bounce it as consistently as they can, so if some umpires need to go and work on that and practise, they can do it," he said.
"But we're pretty confident we can keep that percentage of 97.5 percent up throughout the year and if we're doing that, we're probably not far away from what's acceptable."
"By and large they do an outstanding job of it, but in this day and age when everyone is extremely accountable, and everyone wants everything perfect, there is attention drawn to it."
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