Having watching the Crows V GWS match this arvo and the Port V Ess game just now, they clearly highlighted an aspect of the game that has slumped to all-time lows and it all involves when a player gets tackled with the ball.
First of all, the tackles don't even have to stick at times to be rewarded, they can knock an arm or brush them, as long as the ball is dislodged from the player it counts. This is a rubbish interpretation and is a blight on the game. Either you lay a strong tackle and pin the guy or its paly on, if you knock an arm it is not a bloody tackle !!
Secondly, if a player does get stuck in a good tackle, he then must dispose of the ball either by hand or by foot yet the umpires allow the player to hold on to it indefinitely and then a ball-up is called. How about rewarding the player who is in fact applying a decent tackle as opposed to the above example where they reward a s**t one ?? I am sick to death of seeing players not even punching the ball in an attempt to dispose of it and the umpires refuse to penalise them.
The other issue is that players do not dispose of the ball, they let it go and/or plainly drop it. This again is a free kick to the tackler but the umpires don't want to pay it. A one-handed handpass is a throw and that seems to be marginally called these days.
By the way, what is the minimum distance the ball has to travel to be a legitimate kick these days because they seem to be getting shorter and shorter ??
Overall, the umpires fraternity need to get out the Viagra eyedrops, stand in front of the mirror and take a long hard look at themselves.
First of all, the tackles don't even have to stick at times to be rewarded, they can knock an arm or brush them, as long as the ball is dislodged from the player it counts. This is a rubbish interpretation and is a blight on the game. Either you lay a strong tackle and pin the guy or its paly on, if you knock an arm it is not a bloody tackle !!
Secondly, if a player does get stuck in a good tackle, he then must dispose of the ball either by hand or by foot yet the umpires allow the player to hold on to it indefinitely and then a ball-up is called. How about rewarding the player who is in fact applying a decent tackle as opposed to the above example where they reward a s**t one ?? I am sick to death of seeing players not even punching the ball in an attempt to dispose of it and the umpires refuse to penalise them.
The other issue is that players do not dispose of the ball, they let it go and/or plainly drop it. This again is a free kick to the tackler but the umpires don't want to pay it. A one-handed handpass is a throw and that seems to be marginally called these days.
By the way, what is the minimum distance the ball has to travel to be a legitimate kick these days because they seem to be getting shorter and shorter ??
Overall, the umpires fraternity need to get out the Viagra eyedrops, stand in front of the mirror and take a long hard look at themselves.
