AFL UMPIRE Ray Chamberlain believes the bounce should be scrapped, saying he is aware of whistleblowers who have taken medication to treat anxiety related to bouncing the ball.
The future of the centre bounce, which has been debated by the Laws of the Game Committee this year, will be considered at a Commission meeting next week before the NAB AFL Draft.
The game's umpires have voiced their opinion that the traditional practice should be abolished, outlining their concerns for the health and wellbeing as well as recruitment and retention of umpires.
"I know it causes guys, not just myself, extraordinary levels of anxiety when really they should be focusing on their job at hand," Chamberlain told Sportsday Radio.
"I've got no doubt it would be a really positive move for umpiring and, I think as a result, the game in general (to scrap the bounce).
"Where it causes the most grief is in your preparation before a game. You should be focusing on the things that matter.
"But I've known of guys taking medication to help with their anxiety in relation to it … that's really unhealthy."
Chamberlain, who has umpired 264 games in 13 seasons at the top level, described the centre bounce as his "kryptonite" and said he would welcome its removal.
AFL Umpires Association chief Peter Howe believes the centre bounce will be dead within two years, regardless of the Commission's decision, because junior umpires are no longer required to bounce the ball.
The TAC Cup under-18 competition removed the bounce this year and Howe believes it's only a matter of time before the AFL follows suit.
Bye-bye bounce: Tradition set to disappear
The issue has divided AFL greats, with champion Essendon big man Simon Madden in favour of scrapping the bounce, while North Melbourne premiership player Corey McKernan and former Melbourne star Jeff White want to keep it.
The AFL coaches' survey in August revealed that 15 of the 18 coaches also wanted to get rid of the bounce.
Chamberlain also said he was in favour of having four umpires on the ground, saying it would lead to less fatigue, better decision-making and umpires staying in the game longer.
