The AFL has softened its interpretation of what constitutes dissent towards umpires, according to the Herald Sun’s Sam Landsberger.
It’s understood the move will now allow AFL players to express a level of emotion to decisions, providing they’re also able to demonstrate restraint.
The Herald Sun reports the new instruction to league umpires came last week. An incident involving Jordan De Goey was shown to the whistle-blowers where the Magpies star cost his side a 50-metre penalty and a goal in the final quarter of their loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 9, with that example now not warranting a 50-metre penalty under the new interpretations.
It led to a quieter weekend with dissent free kicks, with no players costing their side a 50-metre penalty from that rule during Round 12.
After announcing the new interpretation at the start of the year the league copped heat after Round 5 when a number of controversial free kicks were paid. At the time, AFL GM of football Brad Scott backed the umpires’ calls to award free kicks for whatever they judged to be dissent.
The AFL had made no official confirmation about changes to the dissent rule.
Two weeks ago the league appointed Lisa Lawry to the position of general manager umpiring within the football operations department, working under Andrew Dillon.