A HORSHAM District Football Netball League investigation into an on-field incident has sparked debate about the use of video recording at football games.
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Pimpinio player Daniel Baker was hospitalised with neck fractures following a clash with a Harrow-Balmoral player at the weekend and will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
AFL Wimmera Mallee general manager Stephen McQueen said the league decided to investigate the incident without an official request from Pimpinio.
A free kick was paid to Baker but no report was made against the Harrow-Balmoral player and Tigers coach Mathew Everett said the umpire's view of the incident might have been obscured.
It has raised the issue of whether football games should be recorded to aid umpires and ensure players can be reported for incidents umpires miss.
Wimmera Football Umpires Association president Kingsley Dalgleish was a goal umpire at the match between Pimpinio and Harrow-Balmoral but could not comment on the incident because of the investigation.
He said there was merit in the idea of recording games, but it was a matter for clubs to decide.
"Taping games is always an option if clubs want to go down the investigation path," he said.
"Some clubs already video their matches from a coaching perspective, but also if they have questions for umpires regarding decisions."
Wimmera Football League umpires director Anthony Croke said he endorsed using footage of games to train umpires and review particular incidents.
"It would be fantastic if clubs were prepared to film games and send a USB to us afterwards, then we'd be able to have a look at it," he said.
Wimmera league chief commissioner Greg Schultz said filming games was a club decision.
"The commission doesn't have the money to video every game," he said.
"But if the clubs can pay $700 to $800 to a player each week then surely they can pay someone $150 to film the games."
A Wimmera club already filming its matches is Minyip-Murtoa.
The Burras use video primarily for tactics, but provided footage to Ararat earlier this year after an on-field incident.
Burras president Andy Delahunty said he was happy to give footage to umpires if it was requested.
AFL Victoria Country's Bruce Petering also questioned the cost of recording games, but said it had worked well in other areas of the state.
"From what I know it works well in Geelong and they have a few people sitting down and looking at it," he said.
"Maybe its time we had an investigation and looked into it at a local level.”