AFL Hall of Famer Terry Wallace says people are missing the point as to why the AFL is trialling four umpires during matches in rounds 13 and 14.
The league has copped criticism for the overuse of umpires, but Wallace said it is for the benefit of the game long-term.
“Understand this is not about this week, or next week, or three weeks’ time,” Wallace said on SEN Afternoons.
“This is about 12 months’ time.”
Wallace said AFL supporters need to look at the bigger picture, with the league using the trial to see how the four-umpire system would work if zoning was implemented next season.
“I think a lot of people are missing the key issues,” he said.
“This is bigger picture stuff.
“Do you think in all honesty that the AFL are trialling four umpires at the moment just for the sake of putting another umpire out there?
“That’s not what this is about.
“This trial is about having two end zone umpires and two middle umpires to have a look and how it will work and how that will operate for when they change up some of the rules of the game going into next year.
“This is only the first step into the bigger picture which the AFL are looking at.”
Wallace’s son, Brent, is a current AFL umpire and he believes the system has a lot of potential.
“My son’s umpiring and he believes this system is the best system they’ve ever trialled,” Wallace said.
“(It means) less running, so therefore you’re not finding yourself out of position anywhere near as much.
“Your angles to be able to make a more correct decision, he believes is far superior to what they were doing before.
“From his point of view … he thought it was a big tick item.”
Listen to the full chat with Plough on SEN Afternoons in the player below: