Should the umpires go full-time?

[elt]

With the new rates of pay being announced for umpires I would be interested to hear people's opinions on whether they should/will go full time. The new rates mean umpires have the potential to earn over $100,000 per year putting them into the professional category. For the purposes of this discussion let's put aside the following points :

• the fact that they are all white maggots
• the fact that the Hawks supporters established last year that Harvey is in fact a w@nker
  

The main problem I see is the lack of consistency and accountability. I can understand the AFL not wanting coaches and players publicly berating umpires in the media. However I think that the AFL, through the Director of Umpiring, would be able to spend more time working on consistency in decisions and accountability for them if the umpires didn't have other work commitments.

More professionalism and the higher rates of pay may also attract more youngsters into the field thus providing greater depth. I know I have heard many people bemoan the fact that there aren't enough quality umpires for the three umpire system.

Your thoughts?

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Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

 

[Catman]

If they are going to go full-time, they bloody better learn to umpire like professionals, instead of the amateurish efforts for the past million years!

 

[mantis]

I think the umpires should go full stop. Oops sorry misread the question.

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RED & BLACK, THE COLOURS OF FENG SHUI

 

[FIGJAM]

Yes.

As part of their salary packages, they must go to games on their "rest days", with a random member of any club. When they sit next to real supporters at a game, they will all of a sudden realise how easy it is to make correct decisions, even when chugging a beer, whilst applying sauce to a four and twenty and giving the finger to a much hated opposition player.

I propose that the first umpire to undergo this job extention should be Harvey. He is friggen useless. I believe he should be teamed up with an upstanding member of the footballing community and someone without prejudice or bias.

Perhaps Joffa might be keen to escort the young fellow? Perhaps he should be taken down to the Ponsford Stand end this Saturday. It would be an enlightening experience and one which would surely earn him his $100K!!!