Corona Man wrote:My understand is as follows.
The goal umpire has "authority" to call a touched within the goalsquare. If however the goal umpire believes a ball was touched in play outside the goal square he/she is to consult with the field umpire. This is when you see the goal umpire enter the field of play to discuss with the fieldy. If the ball is touched outside the goal square, and in general play, the call is made by the field ump. The field umpire will indicate to the goal umpire by either raising 2 hands (goal) or one hand (behind) to communicate what he/she believes the score is. The ultimate score decision is that of the goal umpire in general play.
I have 2 experiences with this in my umpiring tenure.
1. Goal Umpiring a HFL Div 1 A grade game. Final Quarter home team kicks it through the goals, field ump signals to me touched in general play. I raise my hands to signal the touch, and wave off a point. Supporters at the bar behind me giving me heaps. One of them (A guy I know) comes down to the fence & says, why was that a point...... touched in the field of play mate, take it up with the central ump...... he returned to the bar.
2. Field umpiring a junior game here in Melb, Parents goal umpiring. Close game kid kicks at goal, touched off hands & I call it staright away, ball sails through the goals..... Dad signals goal..... I go over & say nah mate it was touched...... Dad says I get to call the touched ones mate..... yep you do, in the goal square, this was 35 metres out..... signal a point champ!
Spot On
Goal Umpires responsibility is the basically the line. In general play it is the field umpires responsibility to call if the ball is touched in flight. Obviously where there is doubt and if the goal umpire is potentially in a better position a good Field umpire will discuss it with the goal umpire.
The weekend was another black mark in Peter Walsh's copy-book as this act of play clearly showed once again is lack of knowledge of Australian football.