Senior umpires feel they have been let down by the AFL because of the league's refusal to speak up in support of the beleaguered profession after a series of contentious on field decisions on Anzac Day.

It's the second time this season the AFL has been silent in the wake of umpire criticism, and officiators believe the league has backflipped on their promise to defend umpires publicly.

Simmering tensions reached tipping point on the weekend when the AFL decided to steer clear of publicly supporting the controversial Anzac Day performance from the umpires, which eventuated in the umpires organising their own media.

Essendon fans voice their displeasure during the Anzac Day match against Collingwood. Credit:Wayne Ludbey

One of the most senior, respected officiators in the game, Shaun Ryan, then did two radio interviews on Saturday, in which he declared the five most polarising decisions in the final quarter of Essendon v Collingwood were "all correct".