Much of the talking point out of Round 7 has been the disappointing umpiring, with several missed or incorrect decisions plaguing the play over Anzac Day weekend.

From numerous howlers between Richmond and Melbourne to some wildly controversial decisions across Saturday’s schedule, the umpires certainly left their mark on a number of fixtures thus far.

Richmond’s clash with the Dees on Friday night was the most obvious of all, with Tigers coach Adem Yze visibly aggrieved by the lack of calls his side received over the course of the game.

Within their 54-point loss, Richmond was awarded just 13 free kicks to Melbourne’s 22, but the count was hardly the issue, with several missed calls and inconsistencies occurring as the game went on.

It’s those inconsistencies that has Fox Footy journalist Jon Ralph questioning how the umpiring unit can improve, and fast.

“It probably didn’t cost them the game, it was one of those ones where, when you’re in the premiership mix, you want to get those ones right,” Ralph told SEN’s Point of View.

“The umpiring was disgraceful. That’s the thing; how do we differentiate between good old-fashioned umpire bashing, and when the umpires have got to find a better way to do it, or they’ve got to be coached in a better way.

“There was probably seven or eight of the most obvious holding the ball decisions, throw decisions, missed holding the balls that you’ve ever seen.

“It clearly is able to be coached – we saw a knuckle down on that yesterday and they got most of those holding the ball decisions right, but then we’ve seen a couple of howlers again.

“The stand rule is really challenging - I think Damien Hardwick (Gold Coast coach) has it spot on, that he was absolutely baffled when he saw (Tom) Barrass take the mark, a couple of Gold Coast players on the mark, one of them chose to go back with their player and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan chose to stand.

“He was standing in the right spot, but the umpire said, ‘we wanted Jarrod Witts to stand’.

“Everything we’ve been told in those umpire briefings by the AFL is that if there are two players there on the mark, then they can decide which ones stand and which ones go back. That’s just a very easy call.

“The Ben Miller one was more challenging on Friday night. He wasn’t in the marking contest, and a player took the mark. He kept on going with his man, and it was decided that he should have stood.

“Those are the ones where you just think, you just have to have feel for the game. Either of those players can stand, or Ben Miller is not in the marking contest, so we allow him to go through.

“They are big decisions that – not for Richmond, but certainly for Gold Coast – it’s a critical point there. From then on, even with the Barrass goal, effectively they lose the game and drop their bundle. We’ve got to find a better way.

“There are some umpires who you’d think are quite happy to blow their whistle and others who would say, ‘let’s make sure we get this one right’. We’re probably in a cycle where we’ve got a lot of very old umpires and some young ones coming through.

“Without naming them, there’s a bit of a lack of depth, and there’s probably some umpires that are umpiring that probably shouldn’t be.”

Things only worsened for the umpires after a shocking call by the ARC during St Kilda's clash with West Coast.

Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall took a mark on the goal line, however, the goal umpire ruled it a St Kilda behind as the ball had crossed the back of the goal line before being controlled by Marshall.

The Eagles advanced the ball, however, 35 seconds of game time later, the ARC recalled the play, stating that the ball had not crossed the line and rewarding Marshall with the mark and goal.

"Have a look at the replay, you couldn’t tell me he marked that inside the play," Liam Pickering told the AFL Nation call.

"How have they come up with this! Have a look at this garbage! That is ridiculous!"

The Saints went on to kick four consecutive goals following the call.