4th Umpire making calls?

[Wedgie]

Apologies if this has been brought up or has an obvious answer but I've noticed especially being at games live some umpires seem to make decisions after they're told about it through their ear piece. There was 3 glaring examples in the Power v Bombers game and I've noticed it at other games too.

Usually an obvious decision is missed, none of the 3 field umpires make a call, then after a 2 or 3 second delay and sometimes with the closest umpire touching his ear piece and having a quick listen I notice they make a late decision. People in the crowd immediately say to each other "damn that was late". It really has appeared to me that someone in the stands is telling the ump they've missed an obvious free/mark. It has been the right decision every time too.

Anyone else noticed this, or is this just a common practise I'm not aware of?
I assume its not an official practise, maybe its unofficial?

[RustyCage]

I've noticed a lot of late calls recently, so you may be on to something

[GWW]

My theory is that borderline frees often arent paid where the team who is infringed maintains possession, but if the ball spills free and 2 or 3 seconds later ends up with the team who has done the infringing, then the umpire reacts and pays the free so that the team who is infringed (but not initially paid) maintains possesion.

[Stumps]

Should be the same as hockey/soccer
Make a signal to signify a free but only blow the whistle if no advantage essentially

[Wedgie]

Think my theory might have a bit more credence after Razor called the quarter 3 seconds early. Obviously someone was chatting to him.

[Jim05]

You are onto something Wedgie. Petterd just got a free paid about 3-4 seconds after the incident. Arms were chopped and no free given, ball goes out of bounds and then all of a sudden the ump belatedly gives Petterd the free

[whufc]

Think my theory might have a bit more credence after Razor called the quarter 3 seconds early. Obviously someone was chatting to him.

It happens in the swans blues game

Carlton player took a mark close to the goal square, next thing u know the umpire is heard saying was the mark in the goal square or not.

Then there was a reply of no outside the square

The commentators suggested it may have been one of the other umpires who spoke but they would have been even further away

[RustyCage]

I hope there is someone watching and helping out with calls if more correct calls get paid

[whufc]

I hope there is someone watching and helping out with calls if more correct calls get paid

Agree as long as it stays with just the blatant deciscions and it doesn't hold the game up to much, last thing we need is the play going on for 10 seconds and then the whistle goes