By RUSSELL BENNETT
“IT’S a sad day for country footy.”
They’re the thoughts of one long-serving Garfield identity who is bewildered by an incident that led to hard-bodied utility Rory Hower being sent from the field early in the third quarter of Saturday’s game between the Stars and the Cats.
Hower was reported for striking Neerim South opponent Rob Gillespie, but not by the umpires officiating the game. Instead, it was the EDFL’s operations manager Ian Glen – an onlooker – who made the call.
“The board of management has the authority to delegate people in that situation,” Glen told the Gazette.
“One umpire saw the intent and the aftermath, but was blocked for the actual incident.
“The goal umpire saw the incident, but couldn’t pick the number of the player involved.
“The problem is that the clubs don’t understand that others (in addition to the umpires) are authorised (to make a report).”
Indeed, rule 19.1.3 of the Laws of Australian Football 2015 – under the ‘reporting players and officials section’ – states: “In addition to an umpire, a controlling body may authorise a person or persons to report any player or official who commits or engages in conduct which may constitute a reportable offence. Any person so authorised shall have the same powers and duties as imposed upon an umpire under this law 19”.
While some were confused as to the timing of Hower’s send-off, given that the incident actually took place in the second quarter, Glen said: “You wait until the next break in play before speaking with the umpires.
“I went and quizzed the two umpires on what they saw before the third quarter started.
“The process is to let the players walk on to the field for the second half (first).
“This was an isolated incident, but it’s something that needed to be brought up.
“I know it’s not going to be a popular call and Garfield has every right to defend it. Rory isn’t automatically guilty just because I’ve done what I have.”
Glen strongly refuted claims by some that he’d been drinking before getting involved.
The Garfield identity who spoke with the Gazette, but wished to remain nameless, said occurrences like Saturday’s undermine the umpires, adding that “if it was really a reportable offence, why was there no remonstration at all from the Neerim South players?”
The Gazette understands that Hower will contest the matter at the tribunal (scheduled for last night, Tuesday, at 7pm), despite the prospect of receiving a heftier ban.
Gippsland Umpires Association president Chris Behrendorff said the league brought up the prospect at its last board of management meeting of non-umpires being able to make reports.
“They said they would do that if they needed to,” he said.
“As an off-field person, you’d want to make sure your call was dead-right. You’d have to be very careful.”
Behrendorff wasn’t at Neerim’s clash with Garfield and as of Monday night hadn’t yet spoken to the umpires involved.
But he said he could understand the EDFL’s stance.
“They’re really trying to clean up their league,” he said.
“There were two incidents last year that some board of management members saw but the umpires didn’t.
“When there’s an investigation into these matters it can be very time-consuming and costly. This takes the investigation costs away from the league itself.”
Behrendorff was quick to point out that these types of matters would always been extremely subjective, adding: “While there’s interpretation there’s always going to be a difference of opinion”.
