AFL UMPIRES head coach Hayden Kennedy disputes the suggestion his charges lack a feel for the game in their decision-making.
The deliberate out-of-bounds rule is one instance where umpires are regularly criticised for not showing enough understanding of the penalised player's circumstances.
Channel Seven commentator Brian Taylor was in disbelief when Essendon's James Kelly was penalised against Carlton on the Sunday for an under pressure kick deep in defence that bounced out of bounds 50 metres away.
Kennedy told AFL.com.au's Whistleblowers program he didn't like assertions field umpires lacked empathy in their decision-making.
"I don't like that (school of thought)," Kennedy said.
"The whole idea about umpiring is to try and understand the circumstances.
"There's a rule book there we have to apply on each and every occasion, and the umpire (in the Kelly decision) applied the rule."
While he understands why people thought the Kelly decision was a close call, Kennedy said he was happy with the joint adjudication made by umpires Leigh Fisher and Scott Jeffery in wet conditions.
"I think there's enough (evidence) there to support the umpires with that decision," Kennedy said.
"We know the rule is that you need to show sufficient intent to keep the ball in play, and there appears to be no Essendon players in the vicinity.
"Certainly there's a mindset change (in wet weather games), but ultimately they still have to keep that same process of decision-making."
Other incidents discussed on the round three edition of Whistleblowers also include:
- A rushed behind incident involving Lion Dan McStay
- A free kick paid against Swan Dan Hannebery for contact below the knees on Magpie Scott Pendlebury
- And Kennedy ran the rule over a number of holding-the-ball decisions
