Former AFL umpire Shane McInerney says player dissent is not 'innocent' and is aimed at undermining officials

The record holder for the most AFL games officiated has backed the league's crackdown on dissent, arguing that complaints and gestures from players seek to gain an advantage.

The issue of umpire abuse came under the microscope during round 5 when players were penalised for visibly expressing frustration over umpires' decisions, including for basic appeals with outstretched arms.

Shane McInerney, who umpired 502 AFL games between 1994 and 2019, said players were trying to undermine umpires.

«Actions like pointing at the scoreboard, asking the umpire to go and have a look at the replay, it's just theatrics,» McInerney said.

«They are theatrics that seek to undermine the authority and respect that the umpire has in his role to make sure that the game is officiated in a fair and equal manner.»

On Tuesday, AFL football operations manager Brad Scott doubled down on the AFL's hardline stance on dissent.

«You don't get excuses because it's an emotional game so we should condone bad behaviour,» Scott said.

«And to be honest the game's condoned it for decades and we're really clear that we're not, there's no acceptable level of dissent.»

Ahead of this season, the AFL warned clubs and players that rules on umpire abuse would be tightened, as it sought to set an example for the community level.

The AFL estimates there are about 6,000 fewer local umpires than there should be, with a rise in abuse seen as a contributing factor.

«It's well understood that the behaviour seen at the elite level cascades down to the community and junior club level,» McInerney said.

«The real story here is around the crisis in trying to attract and retain umpires to service the game at the local levels, which at the moment are probably, conservatively, about 6,000