Former AFL Players becoming Umpires

[Aussie_Roo]

Read the other day that Mark Fraser has joined the AFL Umpires Squad. There's no doubt that the standard of umpiring does not seem to improve year after year. I think it is quite refreshing to see Jeff Gieschen trying a different approach. Will it work, time will only tell. Would it bother you if your team were playing either Collingwood or Essendon and he was umpiring??

 

[JUBJUB]

Mark Fraser was a shithouse player,so he can't be any worse at umpiring. Can he ?

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"He is a loathsome offensive brute,yet I can't look away".

 

[sainter]

JUBJUB,

He has played about 110 more AFL games than any other league umpire.

I agree Aussie Roo. I think it is a great idea to get some senior players into umpiring. Hopefully Fraser will not be the last player to make the change at the end of his playing career. I just hope that the success or failure of the initiative does not rest on the performance of Fraser.

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Fortius Quo Fidelius

 

[Mr Ripper]

Hope and pray that the likes of Jamie Shanahan and Mick Gayfer never get involved in umpiring.

Ye gods - We wouldn't know whether we were watching footy ot Greco-Roman wrestling!

 

[Frodo]

I didn't know Mark Fraser had the neccessary blindness in one eye and vision failure in the other eye to be considered!

 

[CJH]

When Australia play England in an Ashes test do we worry about the possible bias of Peter Willey? Not likely, as his character is seen to be beyond reproach. I imagine the same will be expected of Mark Fraser and any other future ex player who moves into umpiring.

The AFL should encourage as much of this as possible - dont't stop with Fraser, but target every midfield type player that is retired prematurely that shows a capacity for running. Then maybe we will get some decent quality umpires!

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This is a hallucination and these faces are in a dream. A computer generated environment; a fantasy island you can do anything and not have to face the consequences.

 

[fighting fury]

Good replay CJH.
Lol at Ripper.

I think it's a good idea for former players to be able to move around within the entire footy system. It just shows us that there is life after football playing and different avenues to go down. Not just a one way street. Look at our commentators, again former players themselves. I guess some players might believe they would perform better at other jobs around the AFL, but if not, can't say they didn't try.

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Welcome to the jungle

 

[-TotalFooty2000-]

I wonder how long it will take him to reach the AFL. He can't be given an easy ride. He has to be able to umpire. To do that, he must be accredited. Then he will/should move up thru the TAC Cup, VFL Reserves and VFL Seniors before making the BIG LEAGUE.

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Go to Football Victoria Total Footy or The Pitch

 

[lioness]

Yeah I also think it's great to see former players get into umpiring. Like fighting fury said, it kinda gives players options for after their playing days are over, but in like a footy-related field. I also like the footballers going into commentary, we have quite a few freshly retired players who would fit in perfectly commentating games.