4 boundary umpires with powers experiment

[Wedgie]

I've always been a push for this idea, have 2 field umpires with 4 boundary umpires who can call frees that the central umpires don't see on the rare occasion such as in Rugby, League and Soccer.
After only seeing it in effect once tonight (all be it with 3 field umpires) I thought it worked a treat, from my poor memory the boundary umpires only called 3 or 4 frees the field umpires didn't see and I thought they were all there, only thing we have to get used to is they call it late as they have to wait and see if the field umpire is going to call it.
I asked Mrs Wedgie what she thought of the umpires and she said she honestly didn't notice them, to me that's the ultimate compliment.
I'd be interested on others views of tonights game but I honestly thought it was the best umpiring exhibition I'd seen in my memory and the boundary umpires were NEVER out of position.
Definately a PLAY ON with this rule IMHO.

[Jimmy]

if it works well then im for it, i think its a good idea to start with too

[therisingblues]

Sounds like a good idea to me also Wedgie. Possibly with only one field umpire (if not, then two). This would allow a SINGLE interpretation of the game, allowing for more consistency. Then the boundary umps' can call the real obvious ones without needing to make a decision on everything. I reckon it is a very sound theory.
Is this going to be used for all trial games? I hope they at least consider trying it out with two field umpires. Three is a flaming joke!

[Spiritof64]

I've always thought that they should be allowed to call deliberate out of bounds frees as they are often in better position to se those than the field umpires and after all the free involves their reason for being there, the boundary.

[Jimmy]

plus those little throws and holdings and holding the ball calls that field umps are out of possie for, these will finally be called....those are the ones that often cost teams matches

[Ian]

I thougt it worked well, the only times I saw it used, the free was blatant, but not in the field ump's vision. If the field umpires were reduced to 2, I think the rule change would be good for the game.

[Hazydog]

I think they are only trialling this in 2 of the SANFL Trials from what I have heard.

[Ian]

I think they are only trialling this in 2 of the SANFL Trials from what I have heard.

Correct, one more game next week. Someone must have been taping the game, apparantly the AFL has asked for copies of the games to see how it goes.

Last night (and next week) 2 of the 4 boundry umpires used are normally field umpires.