Decorated umpire Shaun Ryan says the new man on the mark rule is set to make a tough job even more difficult for the whistleblowers this season.
Clubs are bracing for a wave of costly 50m penalties early in the season after the league’s call to ban the man on the mark from moving in any direction before play on is called.
The AFL has warned in briefings to clubs that even the slightest movement to the left or right from the man on the park will incur an immediate 50m penalty.
While the league is encouraged by the players’ adherence in match simulation in recent weeks following hundreds of meetings with clubs, Ryan said the new rule adds yet another layer of complexity for the umpires.
“It is certainly an area that is going to be difficult for the umpires because they’ve got so many things to observe and all of them are fatal,” Ryan said.
“If you miss the person move off the mark then you’ve missed the 50m; if you miss the guy play on and pay a 50m then it is big and if you miss the player entering the protected area then they are all reasonably big ticket items.
“And it is all within a second or two of the player taking the mark.
“So, it was tough prior to this because there is already a fair bit going on and often our priority is the man with the ball because as soon as he plays on all bets are off.
“That is really crucial and there is an emphasis on the protected area as well, but now there is going to be a bit of a priority with the man on the mark.”
There are on average 175 marks, 47 free kicks and 20 kick-outs a game (based on last year’s normalised playing time), when umpires will have to scrutinize any lateral movement from the man on the mark.
The AFL is confident the initiative will result in a more open, free-flowing and high scoring game.
“We want to see players do random acts, see more instinctive acts and take the game on,” said AFL operations manager Steve Hocking.
Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps said the shift would have a considerable impact on the game and favour teams with speed.
“If you are an attacking team I think it will benefit you a lot more,” Cripps said.
“It is really going to help guys who are really quick off the mark. Guys like Zac Fisher, (Adam) Saad and (Zac) Williams.
“I like the rule change because as a viewer you want to see the game open up and higher scoring.”
Ryan, who was regarded as one of the best umpires in the league and officiated in eight Grand Finals before retiring last season, said there would be an adjustment period for everyone.
He said it would be interesting to see if any leeway is given to the man on the mark throughout the season.
“Like any new rule there is going to be difficulties, there will be some teething issues, then over a period of time it tends to settle down,” he said.
“And then umpires will work out where their priority needs to be in terms of observation and what sort of lateral movement they are going to permit and players will understand where the boundaries are.
“After a little bit of time they will find some balance.”
Players will be subject to the new rules in their informal scratch matches next weekend and then for the full-blooded AAMI Community Series from March 4-8.
Ryan said the game had never been more demanding on umpires.
“It is definitely harder than when I started out just because is so much more congestion around the play and there is also a lot more rules that are trying to deal with things,” he said.
“When I commenced we didn’t have to worry about whether a player was dropping his knees or ducking. If he got him in the head it was a free kick.
“We didn’t have to worry about contact below the knees and all of these types of things.
“And sometimes you’ve got 0.01 of a second to decipher it all.
“So once player behaviour goes in a certain direction then the AFL attempt to address that and a lot of that is to do with the safety of the players and there is a good intention behind it.
“But obviously it means there are more things to take into account and the speed of the game (has increased).
“So it is certainly tougher now than what it was.”
