As the future of bounce is heavily debated among AFL circles, Ballarat Football League Umpires Association senior coach Roger Le Grand shed some knowledge on the topical issue.
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It looks unlikely the centre bounce will remain a consistent part of the game beyond this season as the umpires’ association lodged documents with the AFL over the medical implications of bouncing the ball.
Le Grand said the bounce was removed from local leagues about eight years ago due to a number of work cover claims placed by umpires – even Le Grand attributes his bad back to years of bouncing.
He said that the umpires’ complaint was a genuine concern for all long-term umpires.
Le Grand felt the fact budding AFL umpires do not get an opportunity to practice bouncing the ball in matches until reaching VFL or AFL level was leading to a drop in standard of the skill.
“I’ve umpired footy for 27 years – I now have a bad back and I have no doubt it’s due to bouncing the footy,” Le Grand said.
“I don’t want to play it up any more, but I can understand why they’re reviewing it.
“A few of our guys and girls head off to Melbourne to join the VFL and AFL squads and had to learn how to bounce the football on the training track rather than on the field – it is a challenge.
“Because umpires aren’t learning to bounce at community level they’re going down to the VFL and AFL and having to learn down there and that’s why the standard of bouncing isn’t that great.”
Adding to the discussion, Le Grand said he had seen a number of top-level umpires, in terms of decision-making, not fulfil their potential simply because they struggled to bounce the ball.
“I would be very sorry to see it go, but are we missing out on the very best decision-makers because they can’t bounce the footy?
“Plenty of good umpires haven’t umpired anywhere near the amount of games they should’ve because they just couldn’t bounce the football.
“Would we prefer to have the best decision-makers or the best bouncers? I think we’d prefer to have the best decision-makers.”