Perhaps. But on social media there are a couple of people who claimed to be near the incident saying he definitely used the word [censored], rhymes with boof. The guy seems like a bit of an attention seeking idiot. Who the f knows who's right??
I agree that the AFL under Gil have lost direction.
I think the AFL for years have let umpire abuse become increasingly acceptable.
I know a teenage girl who umpires in a local boys comp. She told me not a week goes by where she doesn't get verbally abused by spectators, sometime right in front of her face. I think she'll give it up.
The AFL has part time umpires, rules change every year, decision making is getting worse in a game where adjudication is near impossible, cameras and technology are letting the umpires down. And I'm guessing they are the lowest paid prominent employees in the AFL. What other professional sport in the world requires umpires to have a ball skill (centre bounce)? It's a difficult, unloved gig.
Who'd want to rise through the ranks to become a senior AFL umpire?
It will take a long time, but the AFL needs to create an environment where umpires are not the butt of every spectators anger. How they do this i dont know. Gil and his mob are paid handsomely to show leadership and develop the game. They should be capable of doing this. And having an umpires appreciation round is just pathetic lip service.