Well, almost any. . .

You’ve got to love Jeff Gieschen. Well, if you’re a blogger, you have to. He just gives us material pretty much every week of the year. And this week he has dribbled a doosy into his bib.

 

“ ‘What I do know is we are up for any initiative which can improve the level of accuracy of what we do or can improve the coaching of our umpires,’ Gieschen said.”

 

Now, it might surprise some readers to know that the goal umpires are trialling spectacle frames with TV cameras in them to help judge goal line scoring decisions in tonight’s pre-season game at Docklands. The sting in the tail? Foxtel are funding the fancy specs.

 

In recent weeks, The Giesch has been telling us that the AFL could “nail” goal line video referral, but this trial of tricky specs suggests they know their system is fatally flawed and are looking for an out.

 

So, in Giesch-speak, “up for any initiative which can improve accuracy” has a silent codicil — “as long as we don’t have to pay for it.”

 

Now to this latest whizzbangery, the spectacular specs. We saw some footage of them taken from a cricket broadcast and we can’t say we’re all that confident that they’ll be of much use at an AFL goal line. IF the umpire holds his head perfectly steady, there may be a usable image, but the resolution didn’t seem to be anything to write home about.

 

If, as is more likely, the umpire is moving, then the lack of a stable platform for the camera renders the image all but unwatchable. Certainly it’ll be of problematic effectiveness in assuring improved accuracy in scoring decisions.

 

There’s a reason TV cameras are positioned on big heavy tripods. There’s a reason that the TV cameras taken out on the field are mounted on large steady-cam frames. Why the AFL doesn’t just shell out the readies for goal post cameras isn’t clear. Perhaps it would eat into Vlad’s bonus?

 

More fiddling while Rome burns!