AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia

AFL umpires have been in the news all season, and footy fans should prepare to see even more of them on the field in coming weeks.

THE AFL will again trial four field umpires during games over the next three weeks as it looks to get a clearer picture of whether the concept has long-term merit.

With 16 of the 18 clubs having byes in coming weeks, only six games will be played in rounds 11 and 13 while seven will be held in Round 12, making more senior umpires available for each match. The AFL trialled four umpires during the bye rounds last year and has also done so during pre-season matches. AFL umpiring head coach Hayden Kennedy said the AFL again wanted to see what impact an extra umpire had on premiership season matches. Once a one-man job, a second field umpire was introduced in 1976 while the current three umpire model has been in place since 1994. SCROLL THROUGH MONDAY’S FOOTY NEWS BELOW: READ: Mark Williams’ theory on ‘little Clarko’, MRP’s slap for punching, Paul Roos on contentious umpiring and Kevin Bartlett’s simple solution for the deliberate rushed behind.

Originally published as AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia