Sydney coach John Longmire has revealed he spoke to AFL headquarters about the umpires in the wake of the Swans’ Grand Final loss to the Dogs and says the game's officials need to spend more time practising to keep pace with increasing demands.
An AFL review of umpiring in last year's Grand Final, found the performance to be below the standard expected of the game's best umpires.
Longmire would not be drawn into specifics of his discussions with the AFL but he is adamant that umpires need more training.
He said it was logical
"[The industry] should be putting more resources into our umpires and they should be spending more time practising their craft," Longmire said.
"[It's] such an important part of the game that we have to give it the value it deserves, not just [let] no one talk about it. Let's give it resources," Longmire told AFL.com.au.
It is understood umpires are looking at ways to create more time to train and this has been on the agenda during the CBA discussions with umpires
However, there is ongoing debate as to whether making them full-time is the right way to go.
During a recent trip to Europe, 32 AFL umpires, coaching and support staff met with officials from the English Premier League, tennis, rugby union and cricket and discussed the pros and cons of full-time umpires.
Umpires currently spend two sessions a week on umpiring and two sessions on conditioning and have 120 club visits a year but what is best is still being discussed. There is recognition that umpiring would improve if they spent more time on their craft.
Longmire agrees, saying more time practising is essential if umpires are to keep pace with the game's increasing demands.
"It's such a complicated game. It's such a difficult game to umpire, really hard.”
On Tuesday, Longmire reinforced his views on Melbourne radio station SEN but still would not reveal the issues he had with the Grand Final officials.
"It was just a general inquiry," he said.
"I think in a general sense, put the grand final to one side, we need to put more resources into the umpiring."
Longmire: Umpiring resources must improve
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire is adamant that more time spent practising the craft is essential if umpires are to keep pace with the game's increasing demands.
