Razor Ray wants to keep prior opportunity

Ray Chamberlain is not a fan of removing prior opportunity.

Some in the AFL industry, including a number of coaches, want that component of holding the ball to be abolished.

But the veteran umpire, who will officiate his 300th match on Anzac Day, told 3AW Football it would result in far too many frees being paid.

He told Dwayne Russell there’s an experiment you can do to see how it would affect the game.

“I want you to sit in your lounge room, and blow a whistle every time a player gets tackled and doesn’t handball or kick it,” Chamberlain said.

“Get your missus to jot down how many free kicks that is, then let me know if you think that’s a good idea.”

Chamberlain also said former Docker and Kangaroo Peter Bell was a player who used to offer “straight-up feedback” of his umpiring.

Click PLAY for the full interview

Photo: Julian Smith / AAP