The AFL Umpiring Department will trial the use of four field umpires in Saturday’s Round 19 match between the Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast Suns, to be played at the Gabba. 

AFL National Umpiring Director Wayne Campbell said four umpires had been trialled during the pre-season in 12 matches as part of the NAB Cup, and the AFL now wanted to see what impact it may have in a premiership season match. 

Mr Campbell said the Umpiring Department, and the Football Operations Department headed by Mark Evans, was extremely keen to conduct a trial within the premiership season. 

“The umpiring department is keen to trial four umpires in a match to see how the umpires position themselves on the ground and particularly the impact on decisional accuracy. 

“We will be examining each umpire’s GPS results to see if we can gain an indication of whether the umpires can make decisions under less fatigue and are in better positions to make decisions,” Campbell said. 

Campbell said the department would also then consider further trials before the end of the premiership season. 

“We will look to keep the same four umpires together for a period of games to establish any learnings from previous games,” he said.