Kennedy/Campbell responding to contentious umpiring decisions

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Aug 17, 2006
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No doubt I'm biased, but I just think it's putting petrol on the fire to answer one query about a single umpiring decision in a game where 46 free kicks were paid. I think everyone's happy with the spirit of glasnost that has occasionally been embraced by the umpiring department, but if you're going to do it, do it properly. Release a statement, MRP-style that includes every contentious decision/non-decision and whether it was warranted or not.

Making a statement about a single free kick, just because it occurred late in the game seems a bit like a coach hanging a player out to dry in the post-match press conference because he missed a set shot on the siren that could have won the game.
 

ManInWhite

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Apr 6, 2009
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The problem is that if Kennedy is asked point blank "was it a free", he either has to say "yes" and lose all cred because it was a rubbish free or say "no" like he did. Other option is to say "no comment" but that will only start conspiracy theories.
 
Aug 17, 2006
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The problem is that if Kennedy is asked point blank "was it a free", he either has to say "yes" and lose all cred because it was a rubbish free or say "no" like he did. Other option is to say "no comment" but that will only start conspiracy theories.

That's fine. But why not just release a statement, like the MRP does? If something is released every Monday, the media wouldn't bother asking the questions until then.
 

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Jul 19, 2006
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That's fine. But why not just release a statement, like the MRP does? If something is released every Monday, the media wouldn't bother asking the questions until then.
Friday night game and non-officiating umpire making a BS call forced his hand I reckon.

Agree that they could be be opening a Pandora's box, though.

When it's all said and done it changes SFA, so why say anything?
 

Theo X

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Jan 18, 2009
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How come there was no public apology and 'we were wrong' for all the shockers we copped at the Adelaide oval this year?
 
Jul 12, 2008
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agree, i don't see what these clarifications achieve (now or previously when it's happened in the past). coming out and saying 'we dun goofed' is a waste of time. work on improving the umpiring instead of having to come out and make these statements. we already know umpires make mistakes.
 
Sep 11, 2008
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Friday night game and non-officiating umpire making a BS call forced his hand I reckon.

Agree that they could be be opening a Pandora's box, though.

When it's all said and done it changes SFA, so why say anything?

They said something very similar after the Cats vs Freo. From memory Freo should have got 4 more free kicks, and cats got one too many and you are right it changes SFA.

I would rather they admit they were wrong then put their head in the sand, at least this way they have a chance to improve.
 
Aug 17, 2006
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it is handy as a rebuttal to the 'silly people who say "nah, might have been soft, but was there, every day of the week"

Not if they only bother analysing one decision/non-decision out of about 70-odd. It's knee-jerk stuff.

The last time Geelong played Carlton and a few controversial umpire calls were made late, Sam Edmund (I think it was) got Wayne Campbell to give an assessment of:
  • A dodgy bounce in the second quarter that wasn't recalled, leading to a Geelong takeaway and a walked-in goal from Josh Walker
  • Nigel Lappin's close proximity to (and allegations of blocking) Mitch Robinson in the dying stages
  • An apparent high contact free that was not given to Troy Menzel
  • An umpire calling play on for Tom Hawkins taking more than his allotted 30 seconds to begin his approach to have a shot, when he was halfway through his approach.
Why couldn't Kennedy or Campbell do that for every game?
 
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