Jeff Kennett 2022: Hawthorn president says he no longer understands AFL umpiring

According to Jeff Kennett, nobody understands what’s happening on the ground anymore – not the fans, players or umpires themselves. And he has a message for the AFL.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has given his support to the introduction of a 25m penalty, claiming umpiring was “wrecking the game”.

AFL great Kevin Sheedy first put the possibility of a 25m penalty on the agenda amid an explosion of 50m penalties this season.

The penalty furore was heightened at the weekend when the “arms up” adjudication delivered a handful of 50m penalties.

Kennett, who watched Monday’s clash between his beloved Hawks and Geelong in Darwin, said he was confused by the current umpiring.

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Jeff Kennett says it's time to bring in a 25m penalty.

“I do not any longer understand umpiring,” Kennett said.

“I don’t understand it, I think it is wrecking the game because not only do the viewers not understand what’s happening, the players don’t know what’s happening and the umpires are imparting different interpretations.

“I know the importance of umpiring and respecting the umpires, but they’ve got to be given clear instructions.

“The thing I hear most when you listen to a broadcast now is the word ‘stand’. It drives me insane. ‘Stand, stand, stand’.

“But now they’re taking waving of hands or winking or nodding, or looking at the replays as a penalty.

“I think that if we’re not careful, the way the 50m penalty is being paid at the moment — and I’m not blaming the umpires because they are themselves confused — I think games will be won or lost on the 50m.

“So, I would very much favour the 50m coming back to 25m, even if a decision is given that we can’t understand. At least, it reduces the risk of the game being decided on someone’s interpretation.”

Former Essendon Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy says it’s time to bring in 25m penalties.

Sheedy told the Herald Sun 10 days ago it was urgent that the 50m penalty should be reduced to 25m.

The former Essendon coach was a major reason why the 50m penalty was introduced in the late 1980s, because he used to instruct his players to delay the game, but he says the AFL has to act now.

AFL boss Brad Scott reiterated this week that player dissent will lead to the awarding of 50m penalties, which includes the now infamous “arms wave”.

Sheedy argued that 50m penalties were overkill.

“It’s like getting a $500 parking fine for being two minutes over the hour in a car park,” Sheedy said.

“It’s ridiculous. It’s overkill and you’re killing the spirit of the fan.

“I’m not telling the AFL how to do their job, I’m just saying listen to the people and I know the people hate 50m penalties.”

Football industry people this week said that while they supported the crackdown on abuse of umpires, the league’s demand for total intolerance would place more pressure on umpires at community levels.

Originally published as Jeff Kennett 2022: Hawthorn president says he no longer understands AFL umpiring