What Kane Cornes wants to see from the umpires on Grand Final day

Put your whistle away!

That’s what Kane Cornes wants to see from the match day umpires in this Saturday’s 2024 AFL Grand Final between Sydney and Brisbane at the MCG.

Cornes feels that the Preliminary Finals were perhaps somewhat over-umpired due to the amount of free kicks paid across the two matches.

In Sydney’s win over Port Adelaide on Friday night there were 50 free kicks paid before an improved number of 39 were paid in Brisbane’s dramatic victory over Geelong on Saturday.

“I’ve got to give a brief clip and pull your socks up to the umpiring, particularly on Friday night,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“Just get out of the way, don’t insert yourself into the game. 50 free kicks, 50!

“The umpiring was much better on Saturday, albeit there we still some 50-50 ones. The free kick against Tom Stewart on Kai Lohmann was probably the worst free kick I’ve seen this year.”

Cornes firmly believes the free kick count in the decider will be significantly less than what was seen on the weekend.

“My question will be: What’s the over and under on free kicks paid on Grand Final day?,” he added.

“Because I’m telling you, as much as the umpires push back on this theory, they will put their whistles away. I’m suggesting the free kick count will be below 32.

“If you are in doubt and not sure, let the players play. It’s an obvious one, of course, pay it. But if there’s any doubt and if it’s a 50-50 tiggy-touchwood, watch them put their whistles away.

“Just like they did in the last quarter on Saturday night. It’s a far better spectacle when the umpires aren’t involved.”

In Collingwood’s triumph over the Lions in last year’s Grand Final there were 38 free kicks paid. Other recent free kick Grand Final tallies have been 35 in 2022, 32 in 2021, 27 in 2020 (shortened quarters), 33 in 2019 and 30 in 2018.

With that in mind Cornes predicted that the standard of umpiring will improve on Saturday because the match day officials will err on the side of caution.

“You watch, there’ll be nowhere near 50 free kicks in the Grand Final,” he added.

“As much as the umpires deny that they don’t put their whistle away in Grand Finals, they absolutely do.

“They need to stay out of it and just pay the obvious ones. The umpiring will be great this weekend for that reason.”

The umpiring team for the 2024 AFL Grand Final between Sydney and Brisbane will be named later this week.

Matt Stevic, Curtis Deboy, Andrew Stephens and Brendan Hosking were the field umpires for the Swans v Power clash in Sydney.

Nick Foot, Simon Meredith, Nathan Williamson and Craig Fleer umpired the Cats v Lions clash at the MCG.