2016 season - Round 8 - Port v Carlton - 3rd quarter about the 10 minutes in.

Jason Dunstall commented on an umpire heard saying to Port's Brad Ebert, 'get your hands off him' or words to that effect. Jason didn't like it. This was umpires coaching. Let the play unfold and if there is an infringement pay the free kick. Umpires umpire and players will learn. Fair enough. Umpires umpire and yes players play. But players there should be no room given to players trying to umpire. If they do, umpires need to be able award a free kick against the player who tries to umpire. 

In the recent past, this has been most evident when players try to adjudicate holding the ball decisions, especially when a player has gone to ground and the ball is not released. When a tackling player is involved in this situation they have been almost invariably holding their arm in the air indicating that a free kick should be given. Not unusually this comes after the tackler has raked the ball back under the tackled player, who is pinned to ground, and ensured the ball won't be released. It would be an improvement if a free kick was given for raking the ball back in, but it would be a huge improvement if players were penalised for 'coaching' the umpires.

This season (2016) the new area for umpire coaching is deliberate out of bounds. There is uncertainty as to when a free kick is going to be given and players aren't shy about letting umpires know which way it should go. Normally it is players from the team hoping to receive the free kick who offer the coaching advise and it comes in the form of running to the ball, picking it up and going back to take a kick. When the player doesn't get the free kick the expert commentators watching on express sympathy should the player show dissent.

What from a distance appears to be the most corrupt game on the planet, 'the world game', has the worst record when it comes to this sort of behaviour. An umpire makes a decision and players from the team it has gone against cluster around the umpire gesticulating and vociferously show dissent. It is meant to put pressure on the umpire. It shows a win at any cost mentality where it is ok to threaten those who are attempting to umpire. And if on field intimidation doesn't work, pay them off.

Aussie rules doesn't exhibit the same level of open hostility towards umpires, but there is a constant harping on how umpiring standards aren't good enough which leads to a view that 'my' team is not getting a fair deal and, in fact, was robbed.

Get rid of dissent in any form. Players play, not umpire. The best thing would be the eradication of arm lifting, especially arm lifting with palms out and shoulders shrugged; a free kick against any player doing this as a gesture indicating a free kick should go their way. Now that would be something.

Commendation goes to Dale Lewis from Adelaide's MMM FM radio station, who over and over refuses to condemn umpires, but instead recognises it is a difficult task where the intention at all times is to be fair.