Time for a new one.
I'm perplexed by the workings of the multi-umpire arrangement. During games, I often hear the "yours" shout when the ball is kicked from one zone into another, which I presumed was handing off responsibility to the nearer ump. Yet, we now seem to see many cases where the farthest ump blows the whistle and awards a free. I don't recall this happening so much in the past.
I don't see how this can work, especially when the local ump has made one decision, and the distant one makes the opposite: very embarrassing to the officiating ump. In that case, they should be able to have an argument, with the offciator's decision satnding.
Also irritating is where the local guy calls play-on, yet a whistle comes from the distance: ridiculous! This situation can't be recovered.
Surely, the local guy's decision should stand in all circumstances unless he has been knocked over, etc.?
I realise that the AFL are trying to ensure that the correct decisions predominate, but having too many cooks is making things look ridiculous at present. If the controlling ump has been transferred, that's the way it should stand, with the exception, of course, that distant off-ball incidents should be able to be called by any ump.
Any ideas on how to improve the system?
I guess there will always be grey areas (no pun intended): e.g., in the Gray push in the back,
rear and front umps would arguably be guessing; a side-on ump would probably be best to see the dive.
Perhaps, when the controlling ump is in doubt, he should be able to call for quick help from the others via radio?
In any case, he should remain in control.