AFL umpiring: Ray Chamberlain dropped for the rest of finals
Ray Chamberlain is yet to be given a reason for why he was dropped for the AFL preliminary finals. However, he believes it was not ‘directly’ related to his bouncing issues called out during the post season.
AFL
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Dumped AFL umpire Ray Chamberlain says he will work hard to further improve his bouncing over the off season but does not believe that was the only reason he was overlooked to blow the whistle in a preliminary final this weekend.
The polarising Chamberlain, known as ‘Razor Ray’, was told on Monday afternoon that he would not be selected as one of the six preliminary final field umpires after officiating qualifying and semi-finals over the past fortnight.
One of the competition’s most experienced umpires, Chamberlain has officiated 18 games this season and 331 across his career.
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However, his bouncing of the ball has come under fire in recent weeks and was called out by Geelong coach Chris Scott in the first week of finals.
While Chamberlain said he had not yet been given a reason for why he was dropped, he did not believe it was “directly” related to his bouncing.
“I think we do have a tendency to catastrophise certain things,” Chamberlain said on SEN radio.
“I’m not just talking about umpiring or bouncing or a free kick here or there. I think just in general, that’s the news cycle and the speed and social media and twitter. I think we get to 11/10 real quick on just about every issue you can think of.
“Career-wise I probably go at about 80 percent contestability with bouncing. It’s not my one-wood. Season 2020, I’ve gone at 92 per cent, so above where I normally sit. So I don’t think necessarily that’s my straw (that broke the camel’s back).”
Chamberlain will have his season exit meeting on Friday where he said he would be given greater clarity on what he needs to work on.
“That will all be made really clear and you get your clarity then and you go away and you can either get bitter or you can get better,” he said.
“I’ll go away and I’ll have stuff to work on and I’ll absolutely throw myself into that because I really love the game and I really love the group that I’m blessed to be a part of.”
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Chamberlain said suggestions he should leave the centre bouncing to other umpires and focus on his own strengths around the ground were off the mark.
“This isn’t just kick-to-kick down at the park. This is the AFL,” he said.
“There are requirements that are there and we all want to be a part of it and ultimately we’ve got a group of 34 and there will be three left on Grand Final day and it’s the guys and girls that are doing the whole job the best.”
Originally published as AFL umpiring: Ray Chamberlain dropped for the rest of finals