RESPECT in Aussie Rules

[footy55]

What is everyones thoughts on how an Aussie Rules umpire is respected compared to other codes such as Rugby League, Union and World Ball?

Do you think harsher penalties should be brought in on disrespectful players and officials?

[TigerCraig]

Less than Union & Cricket.

On par with League & Soccer.

Pick in which sports the refs/umps still have a beer with the players.

[bigpapagman]

What is everyones thoughts on how an Aussie Rules umpire is respected compared to other codes such as Rugby League, Union and World Ball?

Do you think harsher penalties should be brought in on disrespectful players and officials?


no, if they did the job properly, there wouldnt be a problem.

[westdog54]

What is everyones thoughts on how an Aussie Rules umpire is respected compared to other codes such as Rugby League, Union and World Ball?

Do you think harsher penalties should be brought in on disrespectful players and officials?
I think the respect scale would go something like:

Rugby -> Aussie Rules -> Rugby League -> Most World Football -> Italian World Football -> Spanish and Portugese World Football

Let me clarify that that is not a dig at Italians, Spanish or Portugese in general, but from what I observe of these leagues, the level of disrespect shown to officials is nothing short of reprehensible. Sights of officials being manhandled and verbally abused, whilst still not overly common, are far too frequent for my liking.

Probably the most disrespectful I've seen at international level is a Portugese player in the 2002 world cup, picking up the ball that th referee had placed on the penalty spot and placing it outside the 18 yard box, after arguing with the referee, along with half a dozen teammates, that the infringement was outside the box.

Personally I think that Rugby Union is the only code that gives its officials real power to deal with abuse and backchat. Referees will happily clarify a decision with the captain, but any abuse or backchat and the penalty is marched 10 metres further down the field. Repeat offenders are sin-binned sooner rather than later.

This is what we should be aiming at in the AFL. If a player giving away a free kick the umpire should:

Clarify the decision first to a player
Warn him to stop arguing
Pay a 50 metre penalty if he fails to stop,In my opinion anyway.

[footy55]

Clarify the decision first to a player
Warn him to stop arguing
Pay a 50 metre penalty if he fails to stop,In my opinion anyway.

Some may disagree with me. But thats what does happen!

[westdog54]

Some may disagree with me. But thats what does happen!
In reality they only get marched if the player swears at the umpire nowadays. In rugby union if any player other than the captain says something to the ref he gets marched 10 metres on the spot.

[mightymagpie1999]

What is everyones thoughts on how an Aussie Rules umpire is respected compared to other codes such as Rugby League, Union and World Ball?

Do you think harsher penalties should be brought in on disrespectful players and officials?

Players just get frustrated sometimes and i dont think any disrespect is intended by the player at the time its just heat of the moment and should be expected in Footy and other sports.

[TigerCraig]

The other thing in Union is that it is always "Skipper", "Number 6 Red" etc, not "Thommo", "Bucks", "Big Dick" etc as the AFL umpires go on with.

In the Crows/Bombers game there was a rubbish piece when Stuart Wenn (a great bloke who I used to work with) went on with "great tackle Johnno, but held to him, you're on fire mate" - what is with that ???????????

[westdog54]

The other thing in Union is that it is always "Skipper", "Number 6 Red" etc, not "Thommo", "Bucks", "Big Dick" etc as the AFL umpires go on with.

In the Crows/Bombers game there was a rubbish piece when Stuart Wenn (a great bloke who I used to work with) went on with "great tackle Johnno, but held to him, you're on fire mate" - what is with that ???????????
IMO that's a healthy thing for the game. It means that the referee goes out and demands respect from the players and isn't out there to be their mate.

[footy55]

The other thing in Union is that it is always "Skipper", "Number 6 Red" etc, not "Thommo", "Bucks", "Big Dick" etc as the AFL umpires go on with.

In the Crows/Bombers game there was a rubbish piece when Stuart Wenn (a great bloke who I used to work with) went on with "great tackle Johnno, but held to him, you're on fire mate" - what is with that ???????????

I think an umpire saying "well done Johnno great tackle mate" is fair and it keeps the player calm when they hit the ground becuase some players like to go on with it a bit! Saying "your on fire mate" is too much IMO

[Minglis]

Good umpires should be invisible....

Yet you could be forgiven for thinking sometimes that AFL umpires really think we all paid our memberships to show up and watch them 18 times a year.

[borgsta2006]

Good umpires should be invisible....

Yet you could be forgiven for thinking sometimes that AFL umpires really think we all paid our memberships to show up and watch them 18 times a year.

Agreed.

I umpire Aussie Rules and whilst I know a lot of the players I try not to get involved in too much conversation with them except outside of the game.
After match functions really need to begin again for this sort of interaction to take place. This would remove the need for the umps to need to talk to players by first name nickname etc.
On another point, if the AFL umps should be invisible, why is it that all complaints and focus of team's losses seem to go against the umpiring? Don't need to comment on it if you want it to be invisible. Umpires are facilitators of the game, they do not need to be seen or heard as such, just follow the rules, control the game and you've done your job.
After match, enjoy a chat and a laugh and get to know some players but that's it.

[ubolt]

everyone says the umpire needs to be invisible, but if you look at umpires on game day, everyone knows who they are. (in AFL that is)

we know names, we know numbers.

The AFL Record prints it, the Television coverage shows their names, the scoreboard lists them, the numbers on their back show who they are, they are generally announced as they are walking out onto the ground at every game.

How can umpires stay invisible when we know all of them like our family?

If one makes a bad call we yell "damn Chamberlain" "McLaren, of course it's him" etc. etc. We know exactly who they are - they can't stay invisible. Simple as that.

[UpForGrabs]

I've said it before but I'll repeat it anyway.

I hate the culture surrounding umpires in our sport. From early age there's a perception that disrespect to the umpires isn't simply justified, it's required. The sad truth of the matter is that a group of umpires could go out this weekend and perfectly umpire one of the games. No mistakes, perfectly consistent and a faultless display, yet because of the culture concerning our behaviour to umpires they will still be booed off the ground by the majority of the crowd, not necessarily because they thought their performanced directly affected the result, but simply because that's what the majority of supporters think needs to be done.

It's one of the biggest blights on our game (IMHO).

Having said that, the umps better be on form this Sunday!!

[Jim Boy]

Its always going to be tough being an ump. Nobody likes decisions that don't go there way, especially when you consider the myriad of grey rules and it is all too easy to find a scpaegoat. The ump is also a good opportunity for players and supporters especially to vent for frustrations. This isn't acceptable from players but from supporters I'd argue it is a good thing. The great majority will get it out of their system and move on rather than pent it up. Umps have to have a certain thickness to their skin.

Certainly footy umps get better protection than soccer refs, where an incredible amount of carrying on is deon by players and managers.

[lion_gooner]

if aussie rules umps think they have it hard try and referreein european football especially the epl

the reason why umpires get such a bgging is becuse theres so much riding on games these days especially in european football where the difference between finishing 10 in the epl and finishing 9th is about 250,000 pounds

and especially in the champions league

[footy55]

everyone says the umpire needs to be invisible, but if you look at umpires on game day, everyone knows who they are. (in AFL that is)

we know names, we know numbers.

The AFL Record prints it, the Television coverage shows their names, the scoreboard lists them, the numbers on their back show who they are, they are generally announced as they are walking out onto the ground at every game.

How can umpires stay invisible when we know all of them like our family?

If one makes a bad call we yell "damn Chamberlain" "McLaren, of course it's him" etc. etc. We know exactly who they are - they can't stay invisible. Simple as that.

With todays rules and interpretations that are given to the umpires it is impossible to stay invisible!!
As well as knowing most of the old heads eg. McLaren, Goldspink, Allen etc.

[docker_azza]

Umpires need to be able to explain decisions not only to the players but to many of the uneducated spectators and officials.

They can't be unnoticed, otherwise people will get more frustrated with bad umpiring.

[ubolt]

problem is with that azza, is that spectators GENERALLY speaking are so "one-eyed" as such that they just don't care if an umpire has made the right decision or the wrong one. If it goes for their team they are happy: if it goes against their team they complain.

I've seen blatant hands in the backs this season, (in AFL, and local levels) that are as blatant as can be (under these new rules: ie. Push in the Back > High-Flying Mark) and spectators will go off their tree at the umpires because it went against their team. Spectators don't care (generally speaking of course) because they can't see it any other way. Players are a different story though.

[mulhollanddrive]

When i played soccer and football at school level i never once heard the umpires talk so much as they do in the AFL. They only spoke when they gave decisions or whenever neccesary.

I think once you get so much communication from one side (the umpires) it gives a licence to players to think they can verbal umpires because they listen to it all game.

If you dont allow players to verbal, or encourage it, then they will get on with the game more often. Blow the whistle, "free kick Hawthorn push in the back against Lloyd", dont talk til you pay the next decision.

[TFLUA-Tiger]

Not sure if that can work Mulholland.

As an umpire it is an essential part of the job to be able to talk to the players and clarify any questions they may have about our decisions. Umpires are people too, and to a certain extent, it is important that we are seen that way.

[TigerCraig]

When i played soccer and football at school level i never once heard the umpires talk so much as they do in the AFL. They only spoke when they gave decisions or whenever neccesary.

I think once you get so much communication from one side (the umpires) it gives a licence to players to think they can verbal umpires because they listen to it all game.

If you dont allow players to verbal, or encourage it, then they will get on with the game more often. Blow the whistle, "free kick Hawthorn push in the back against Lloyd", dont talk til you pay the next decision.

Agree 100%. Too much chit chat and it just becomes white noise. Blow the whistle, briefly state the reason for the decision, and get on with play.

[ubolt]

I think you'll find they try to do that guys:

but you get some players who want to ask every question ever known to man once the free kick and explanation has been given.

What? Why? Where? How? Was it me? Who did that?

does an umpire just ignore him completely? he's a no win situation in that regard: players will abuse them or players will tell the world that they never communicate anymore.

[TigerFan]

I think an umpire saying "well done Johnno great tackle mate" is fair and it keeps the player calm when they hit the ground becuase some players like to go on with it a bit! Saying "your on fire mate" is too much IMO

nah, we're more inclined to refer to players as 'f...ing c...ts' at our association, aren't we Nick?

[flyinghi64]

This disrespect comes mainly from two things.

1- The umpires are untouchable on and off the field. People can say anything about the players they want including calling them druggies, cheats and paedophiles and get away with it:confused:. You say anything about an umpire, no matter how true and accurate it is, and you risk fines and possible suspension or further punishment.:mad:

2- They are inconsistent week to week and during games. How often have you heard " If that's how the ump sees it that's fine as long as they are consistent " Don't get me started on rule intereprtations.

If we had a fair and consistant umpiring fraternity who were judged on their performances week to week and made accountable for blatant bad decisions things would be better.;)

Hey if you want to see some disrespect to umps/refs check out a bit of American baseball.

[TigerCraig]

If the umpires want to be media personalities, get them on The Footy Show doing the old "Whats Your Decision". Let them be hammered and have to justify their calls.

[dazzaforgazza]

What is everyones thoughts on how an Aussie Rules umpire is respected compared to other codes such as Rugby League, Union and World Ball?More like protected

[footy55]

nah, we're more inclined to refer to players as 'f...ing c...ts' at our association, aren't we Nick?
Naa only some let the game down there Matthew .. I believe respect works both ways but obviously reffering to players like that in that manner isn't the way to deal with it ... if anything thats how we should refer to certain goal umpires:rolleyes:

[mightymagpie1999]

Naa only some let the game down there Matthew .. I believe respect works both ways but obviously reffering to players like that in that manner isn't the way to deal with it ... if anything thats how we should refer to certain goal umpires:rolleyes:

Respect does work both ways and umpires must get to a point where they get sick of taking abuse from players. Tigerfan you spend nearly half your time on here bagging your own assosiation yet you still stay there any umpire (or should i say try to umpire). No wonder from all reports everybody hates you up there at the domain