Moyston-Willaura Football Club is set to install cameras at its football games next year following concerns about an increase in violent incidents on the football field.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The move comes after a petition circulating on social media received more than 100 signatures to seek action from the Mininera and District Football League regarding violence during games.
Pumas coach Matt Burmeister said he had seen an increase in these incidents during the 2017 season.
“I have seen it get noticeably worse this year,” he said.
“Players are getting hit in the head and being taken out of the game, whether that is by knees or elbows or other means.”
Burmeister said there are many elements involved but that the rules need to be better enforced.
“I do not think there has been adequate protection of players from the umpires during games,” he said.
“We are getting conflicting messages from the umpires when they come into the rooms before games to say it will not be tolerated but then players get away with it
“I understand the umpires have a very difficult job and it is probably more so to do with the leagues and the way umpires are asked to deal with these situations that needs to change.”
League chairman John Box said the issue was something the league was working hard to stamp out.
“I am more disappointed in the petition but as league president I think I have been upfront with all the clubs and quite happy to help out in any way,” he said.
“Maybe people should realise how much work the league has done to try and squash it out.
“I have spoken to umpires and raised concerns and it pisses me off that people do not approach the board with their concerns before they go and create these petitions.
“I am one of these blokes that want to do the best for the league and do not want it getting a bad reputation and I do not think the Mininera league is a violent league.”
AFL Western District senior operations manager Brad Pole said there was a process for clubs to go through if they believe the umpires have missed an incident.
“If the club feels the umpire has missed something, they can contact the league to instigate an investigation,” he said.
“They can put in writing what the allegation is along with a $500 fee and independent investigators will assess it.”