The Non-Success of Umpires Appreciation Round

As someone who has been refereeing soccer matches at a senior level for 4 years, I can sympathise with umpires. A lot of people who criticise them can't actually relate in any meaningful way to the job that they do.

However, it has to be said, often the criticism that umpires receive is well-founded and shouldn't be dismissed as fans just being fans - you would be surprised how well the fans actually know the rules.

Umpires are just human; they aren't perfect. Even in this round dedicated to appreciating the enormous and beneficial role that umpires play in the great game of Australian Rules Football there were several noticeable errors (a Hille goal being called a behind - it was a shocking kick to be fair - and Pendlebury's play on being called back are prominent examples) and we are not going to eradicate errors from the game.

There's something that spectators, players and staff have to remember, though.

Two weeks ago at Essendon vs West Coast, the umpires were booed from the ground at quarter time by 30,000 annoyed one-eyed Bombers supporters. If you watch the quarter, you can see why, the fans had every reason to be frustrated.

But put yourself in the shoes of the umpires. They're out there, doing the best they can. They are the best in the country and are getting paid a LOT less to do their job than the best players in the country. They call the game as they see it, and don't have the help of a view from 50 metres up in the stands, nor do they have a television screen to use to make a decision.

Without umpires, there's no way we could have a game of footy like we do now. They are the most unappreciated part of sport, and, although they make mistakes, some more recognition for the great work they do would definitely not go astray.

Umpires Appreciation Round failed. Despite TV stations widely promoting what a great job the umpires do, it's time to be realistic. People want a fair game of footy, and don't care how they get it. But they do care when a fair game of footy is, in their view, taken away from them by the umpires.

Building the reputation and acceptance of umpires is more than a job for one round a year. It's a job that needs to be attended to for every match of the year and there is no other way to do it.