AFL ruck stars call on the AFL to retain ruck ‘art’ but bounce future remains clouded

SOME of the game’s best tap ruckmen are calling for the tradition bounce to survive but umpires’ association CEO Peter Howe says it is inevitable it will soon be eradicated.

Max Gawn in action for Melbourne.

SOME of football’s best tap ruckman fear the art of ruck work is about to be killed off and replaced with a basketball tip-off.

But the AFL has been warned even if it retains the bounce at next week’s commission meeting it will only be a stay of execution.

AFL umpires association boss Peter Howe said the lack of junior umpires bouncing the ball means the AFL will inevitably end the tradition within two years.

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The AFL Commission will next week consider the future of the bounce amid fierce opposition to the practice from AFL umpires.

It will cap a turbulent period for the AFL’s officials after umpires boss Peter Schwab was this week moved on by new football boss Steve Hocking.

Schwab was hired by the AFL only last December after it poached him from Brisbane, where he was the list manager of the battling club.

Nathan Vardy and Max Gawn jump for the ball.

Tom Bellchambers and Jordan Roughead compete. Picture: Michael Klein

Hocking will now play a part in a review of umpiring that comes as the umpires and league draw close to a new CBA agreement that will involve better pay and conditions.

Umpires with three years experience earn a $60,000 base and $1800 per game, meaning many earn around $100,000 a season.

A new six-year agreement will come after the two parties rolled over the previous agreement as they tried to broker a new pay deal.

Howe said with competitions like this TAC Cup this year no longer asking umpires to bounce the ball the writing was on the wall for the bounce.

“If the bounce remained we would need to chat with the AFL about the impact on health and wellbeing of umpires,” he said.

“I they had a whole range of options to put into place to mitigate the potential cause of injury we would need to talk through those.

“Anybody who looks at this space knows the group of umpires coming through in every community football competition in Australia don’t bounce.

“If they don’t make a decision (to get rid of the bounce) we are only 12 or 24 months away from being in a position where we don’t have a choice.”

Umpires are opposed to the bounce on health and safety grounds.

Former ruck stars Corey McKernan and Jeff White were brilliant exponents of the centre square tap.

They said a throw-up after every goal and quarter-time break would be a huge step backwards.

“Just leave it as it is. It’s part of the game,” North Melbourne premiership star McKernan said.

“You know when you are an umpire bouncing is part of the game. It’s like saying you want to play footy but can’t kick.

“Imagine trying to combat Aaron Sandilands when he knows every single ball will get thrown up. For mine it’s a great part of the game.”

Former Melbourne star White used to scout the specific umpires in the pre-match warm-up because he knew how each one bounced the ball.

“One bounced it higher, one bounced it shorter, and you had to adjust to each one.

“It became an art. There was a science to it. If you throw it up it’s all easy. Plain and simple it’s the person who jumps highest.

“It’s like a basketball tip off. From a point of view you had to adjust and get your angles right and know what your opponent’s strength was.

“If the ball bounced back towards you, you had to protect yourself. I hope it stays.”