‘Very difficult’: AFL umpire breaks down holding the ball process

Eight-year AFL umpire Nathan Williamson says it’s “very difficult” for a whistleblower to judge prior opportunity in the modern game at the top level.

Fans and commentators last round were left perplexed by several holding the ball non-calls, particularly in the Showdown and the Richmond-Fremantle clash.

Williamson, who’s umpired 170 games – including eight finals – across the past eight seasons, on Wednesday night explained the speedy flowchart process all officiators must consider when adjudicating holding the ball incidents.

Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Asked on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 how difficult it is for umpires to assess prior opportunity amid ample congestion and tackling, Williamson said: “It is very difficult. There’s a lot of things to consider in our game full stop, but when it comes to holding the ball, there’s a lot of things to take in before you can make a decision – and you have to make your decision in a split-second.

“As they’ve got possession of the ball, we need to work out: Have they had prior? Or have they not had prior opportunity?

“For prior opportunity, our ‘cues’ we talk about are: Balance and steady, we talk about a fend – so if a player fends, that’s their prior – if they lift up that’s prior, if they go to handball or kick then decide not to – that can be quick, but it’s consider prior opportunity.

“Then we need to work out whether they’ve been tackled legally.”

Williamson then broke down the different process umpires must consider when a player is tackled with no prior opportunity.

“If a player is tackled immediately after getting possession of the football, the umpire needs to work out … is (the ball) knocked out in the tackle? So if it’s knocked out in the tackle, it’s play on,” Williamson said.

“If it’s not knocked out in the tackle when the player has still got possession, we need to allow that player an opportunity to show a ‘genuine attempt’ to dispose (of the ball).

“So where people may get a little frustrated is when a player makes a reasonable attempt, doesn’t connect and it just drops out. But what we’re looking for – and all the player has to do – is make a genuine attempt. And if they hit it or not, it’s play on.”

Williamson was appearing on AFL 360 during Community Umpiring Week, which highlights the contribution and role umpires play in Australian football.

There are currently more than 17,000 registered community umpires across Australia. Some of them will accompany AFL whistleblowers out to the middle across Round 9, while 80 AFL-listed officiators will attend community umpiring training this week.

“It’s a great opportunity to raise awareness and appreciation for umpires. They do a magnificent job, particularly at community level,” Williamson said.

“We need more of them, we need to create environments that are safe and comfortable and enjoyable for people to take up umpiring – and more importantly stay there – because across our game, the demands of umpires and games keep growing, so it’s really important we provide that environment so they can service the game.”