By removing the centre bounce from the apex of footy, the AFL has prioritised umpires over certain types of ruck and also removed one of the game’s unique, quaint traditions.

It is a reform that has been mooted for decades , and which finally happened once Greg Swann took over as head of football at the AFL and pushed through a change that no longer animated football people to the point that they would man the barricades against it.

Scrapping the bounce can be likened to replacing the monarchy with a republic, in that those who’ve pushed for the change argue that it is a minimal one that we will barely notice.

The clear winners are the umpiring fraternity and sisterhood, who will be judged purely on the content of their decision-making rather than the quality of their bouncing.

The

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