David King has called for more tolerance from the AFL umpires after another weekend of high free kick counts.
Sunday’s clash with Brisbane and Hawthorn saw 63 frees paid, the highest number in a game since 2012.
It follows calls from AFL greats Kane Cornes and Adam Cooney that free kicks are turning fans away from the game, with faith in the umpires seemingly falling to an all-time low.
Not one to focus on umpires or umpiring, but it's difficult to recall a time when the officials have been a hotter topic of conversation. Feels like it's boiling out there. Bris-Haw, Nth-Melb, dissent, Bevo on Naughton, Hardwick on score review and on it goes...
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) May 22, 2022
King was strong on the fact that he does not blame the umpires, more so those above them, but believes the officiators need to have more tolerance to allow the game to “flow”.
“Confusion is the core of it. We’re assessing every contest within an inch of its life,” King began on SEN’s Whateley.
“The whistle doesn’t need to blow that regularly, that’s the core of the problem.
“If you can just withstand a little bit of tolerance the game flows, the game moves on, the game has lost flow because the bloody whistle keeps getting blown.
“It was a disaster yesterday (Sunday).
“Of the nine games I watched this week, there was more whistle-blowing this week than I’ve heard for a long time.
“But in 50/50 (calls), they’ve gone towards (the notion to) absolutely make a decision.
“Have some tolerance, let the game flow. The players will sort it out, I think we’ve just gone too far with being over officious.
“That’s something we can change.”
Crowds are down in 2022, a fact that can be put down to numerous causes including COVID and ticketing complications.
However, umpiring is another that has been blamed in recent weeks, and King agreed that it was a factor.
The North Melbourne champion recalled a situation involving Chad Warner in Sydney’s clash with Carlton on Friday night in stating how mistakes are getting compounded by the umpires and turning fans away.
Umpire paid 50 against Chad Warner for dissent.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 20, 2022
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/YBcX92dual
“The fans are angry, and in the end, it’s their game. The media can say what they like… but our opinion has no more weight than the fan, and they are talking, they’re talking by not going to the footy,” he continued.
“It’s a factor (in smaller crowds).
“It’s not the mistake, it’s a secondary mistake. Chad Warner bounces the ball, runs eight metres and the umpire calls too far.
“Already there’s anger… so that’s one umpiring error that becomes a 50-metre penalty and a goal off the back of the umpire making one error, compounding into two errors and a goal.”
King continued: “That is not our game… I’m angry about it because I want our game back.
“I love footy, but this is annoying me.
“I’m not into umpire bashing, I’m not. They’ve got the toughest job in the caper.
“I don’t think they’re getting any favours from above is my point.
“If it’s on a knife’s edge, I think they’re blowing the whistle more than ever.
“I just want the game to be decided by the players, get some flow back in the game.”
North Melbourne coach David Noble is another who was dissatisfied with the umpiring this weekend, saying he will seek clarification from the AFL over a call in the Roos’ loss to Melbourne.