The change Leigh Matthews would make which could improve the umpiring in the AFL

Leigh Matthews thinks umpires bouncing the ball in the centre of the ground at the start of every quarter needs to go, and said “it’s only a matter of time” before the change is made.

It comes after the news of umpire “Razor” Ray Chamberlain announcing his retirement at the end of the season, who was given permission by the AFL to throw the ball up instead of bouncing it due to the stress on his back.

“If we want the umpires to be the best that they possibly can be, why do they need to have a skill to bounce the ball?” Matthews said on 3AW’s Wide World of Sports.

Press PLAY to hear his full comments 

Image (Chamberlain): Scott Barbour/Getty