Australians: When did AFL goal judges change?

The Game Room
1

One of our Canadian sports networks needed filler some years ago. So they showed Australian Rules Football. I got into it (it is an exciting game!); and when I was in Australia some years after that, I actually attended AFL games. I was always in Perth, so the West Coast Eagles were my team (still are, actually). I enjoyed going to Eagles games in Perth. This would have been the 1990s, for reference.

The goal judges (not sure what else to call them) always wore a white hat and a white lab coat and black tie. So when I caught an AFL game on TV recently (Richmond v. Adelaide), I was surprised to see that the goal judges were no longer in white lab coats and hats and ties. They were in–well, something that was obviously official, but not like I was used to seeing.

My question: when did AFL officials change from the white lab coats? And why?

2

I don’t know either, but I noticed that also the last time I watched Australian Rules Football. It really pissed me off to see them dressed like slobs.

3

Believe the change came in 2007 coinciding, perhaps co-incidental, with the change in TV broadcaster from Channel 7 who’d had the gig for 45 years to a Nine/Ten/Foxtel combination.

4

Dressed like slobs? Hyperbole at its worst. Here are some actual examples

5

This has been a real tragedy. Can’t call them white maggots anymore. :frowning:

6

First of all what a great game! Go Tiges!!

But yes it was 2007.