“But I became aware of it in a conversation with the umpires department. They have really good transparency and they explained the level of communication.

“It really surprised me, but then they explained it was with breaks in play after goals mainly or at quarter-time.

“But reading that article, if it is accurate, then some of that advice happens during quarters which, I think, would surprise us all really.”

Lyon said the umpires’ situation was different to that of players and coaches.

“You’ve got to compare apples with apples, not apples with oranges,” Lyon said.

“It’s just different. It’s a tough job and I think anything we can do to help [we should do]. I think some transparency around it would probably help.

“It would be interesting what the umpires are saying. The game is precious. We all value it. The umpires are incredibly valued and under a lot of pressure.

“Speaking to McBurney gave me a lot of comfort, but that article raised some stuff that I didn’t understand, to be fair.”

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he supported anything that helped umpires in their difficult job, including in-game coaching.

“I probably have a bit of a different take on that,” Mitchell said.

“I think everyone recognises that umpiring is really difficult. So anything that makes their job easier is a positive. If they are talking to each other, if they are getting advice on different aspects of the game, if they feel that makes their job easier, I think they should be doing that.

“Anything that makes them adjudicate, anything that helps umpires with decision-making, and anything that helps them with clarity, I think is a good thing. That’s what we should be doing, giving them every chance to make the best decisions in live time. If we have that technology, I don’t know why you wouldn’t use it.”

with Jon Pierik

Bombers avoid virus catastrophe before trip

AAP
Brad Scott is hopeful Essendon have avoided catastrophe by implementing COVID-style protocols after a virus threw up an unexpected hurdle in the club’s preparation for the AFL clash with Gold Coast.

Scott is operating with drastically reduced staff numbers this week, but on Thursday insisted no players would be sidelined by the virus.

It comes as the Bombers (8-2-1) seek to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches in the meeting with the Suns at People First Stadium on Sunday.

“If there’s a silver lining out of the COVID era and hubs and protocols [it’s that] we’ve certainly enacted our protocols very quickly to minimise the risk,” Bombers coach Scott told reporters before training on Thursday.

“All our players are fine but we’ve got a skeleton staff because we’ve kept our staff away.

“Enacting the protocols was pretty quick and, touch wood, we’ve avoided catastrophe.”

Essendon players have operated in smaller group training sessions this week but were put through what appeared to be a standard main session at Tullamarine on Thursday.

“We’ve had a bit of a different week in terms of meetings and how we’ve structured that, but it’s actually been really impressive to watch our players adapt to different circumstances,” Scott said.

“It’s also a sign that our players want to do more, not less.”

Essendon’s hot first half of the season has lifted them into the top two for the first time this far into a campaign since 2013.

They sit second behind leaders Sydney, sparking Bombers supporters’ hopes the infamous finals win drought, which dates back to 2004, will come to an end this September.

But Scott won’t use the “F word” just yet.

“Not the one you’re thinking of,” he said.

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“It sounds boring, but all those things down the track will be the sum total of what we do between now and that point.

“We’re just focused on the process that we go through and that process has held us in good stead until this point in the year.

“The risk for us is we take our eyes off what’s important right now and start thinking or even imagining what is possible.”

Harrison Jones will return from a one-match suspension against Gold Coast, with Nate Caddy likely to be squeezed out despite an impressive debut in last round’s win over Richmond.

Nik Cox has also been given the all-clear despite being subbed out of the Tigers clash with a hamstring issue.

Scott said Essendon will take a conservative approach to Will Setterfield’s return from a hamstring injury and are likely to bring him back through the VFL this week, while defender Zach Reid needs more time to build fitness at the lower level.

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