Why Leigh Matthews is pessimistic about umpiring in 2025

Leigh Matthew’s has broken down the current state of umpiring a quarter of the way into season 2025.

The AFL Hall of Fame legend thinks coaches will continue to push rewarding the tackler, penalising those who get first possession.

“You’ve got to push the bloke in the back to the next suburb for it to be a free kick,” Matthews said on 3AW Football.

Press PLAY to listen to Lethal’s full review with Caroline Wilson and Tim Lane

“This one, where the arm is pinned and the ball is in the free hand, I don’t know how you get a legal disposal.

“Whoever brought that rule in has never played footy.”

Image: Dylan Burns/Getty