Conspiracy theories v sanity

[joe444]

Like other areas of life, conspiracy theorising seems to have hit insane levels within the AFL fan community. I'm tempted to blame it on social media echo chambers and, perhaps, some greater social malaise. The latter certainly seemed to be behind the NFL conspiracy theory that the competition was being rigged with the full complicity of Taylor Swift.

I find it all rather disheartening, and wonder if I'm on my own here.

 

[Kerleys Ghost]

You're one of them

 

[Dan26]

The one that seems to get a run most weeks is that the AFL has paid off the umpires to ensure "X" teams wins game. It's moronic, but there are fans who believe this crap.

 

[MisterMarcus]

The one that seems to get a run most weeks is that the AFL has paid off the umpires to ensure "X" teams wins game. It's moronic, but there are fans who believe this crap.

I guess one problem is that genuine criticism of umpires or decisions gets shut down and even penalised. A closely fought game where the free kick count is like 25-10, but nobody's allowed to discuss it? Then all of the "What have they got to hide??" types will come out of the woodwork.

 

[The Feeder Club]

The AFL have designed a compromised competition that is fertile ground for conspiracy theories, they're part of the problem.

They openly admit they are in the entertainment business and that commercial considerations partly determine fixturing.

Once you allow money to determine who plays who when and where, it's not too much of a stretch for people to think money determines who wins games.

It's all crazy of course but the season is so overtly compromised by design, the AFL can own it

 

[PenfoldsFan]

The one that seems to get a run most weeks is that the AFL has paid off the umpires to ensure "X" teams wins game. It's moronic, but there are fans who believe this crap.

Why would the AFL have to 'pay off the umpires' to ensure team 'x' wins?
The umpires are AFL employees, they can just give a directive and it'll be done.

I believe Laura Kane admitted the AFL had been monitoring scores and having umpires award frees to keep scores close, why is it such a stretch to believe that method could be used to manipulate results?

 

[Colonial]

 

[Dan26]

Why would the AFL have to 'pay off the umpires' to ensure team 'x' wins?
The umpires are AFL employees, they can just give a directive and it'll be done.

I believe Laura Kane admitted the AFL had been monitoring scores and having umpires award frees to keep scores close, why is it such a stretch to believe that method could be used to manipulate results?

Laura Kane admitted the umpiring was corrupt did she? Where did she say this? Prove it.

Are you a moon-landing denier too? Jesus Christ.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Like other areas of life, conspiracy theorising seems to have hit insane levels within the AFL fan community. I'm tempted to blame it on social media echo chambers and, perhaps, some greater social malaise. The latter certainly seemed to be behind the NFL conspiracy theory that the competition was being rigged with the full complicity of Taylor Swift.

I find it all rather disheartening, and wonder if I'm on my own here.

Hanlons Razor - never attribute to malice what can be assigned to incompetence

 

[Elixuh]

This thread will takeoff once the Richmond posters see it. They love this stuff.

 

[jakson68]

Why would the AFL have to 'pay off the umpires' to ensure team 'x' wins?
The umpires are AFL employees, they can just give a directive and it'll be done.

I believe Laura Kane admitted the AFL had been monitoring scores and having umpires award frees to keep scores close, why is it such a stretch to believe that method could be used to manipulate results?

Just wow.
I would guess you also "believe" that the 5G towers are out to get you.

 

[Corkintheocean]

The one that seems to get a run most weeks is that the AFL has paid off the umpires to ensure "X" teams wins game. It's moronic, but there are fans who believe this crap.

Nick Foot is 100% on the take.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Just wow.
I would guess you also "believe" that the 5G towers are out to get you.

Lol, at the close of play in round 9 Vic clubs had won 31 of 43 free kick counts against Interstate clubs and Vic clubs had won 21 of the games or ~50%.
Since then the almost 3:1 advantage Vics were getting has dried up and the count has tracked evenly and is currently 54-36, however, Vic teams have only won 17 games or ~33% of the 50 games since round 9.
Clearly the umpires were instructed to keep Vic clubs competetive early in the season and since it stopped they've plummetted to fill 6 of the bottom 7 and 7 of the bottom 10 spots on the ladder.

Its not a conspiracy, the numbers dont lie.

 

[Rich01]

Hanlons Razor - never attribute to malice what can be assigned to incompetence

This.
We give the AFL and its employees too much credit.

 

[Malifice]

I guess one problem is that genuine criticism of umpires or decisions gets shut down and even penalised.

Umpires make mistakes. Just like players. They're human.

Yet without fail, every single game day thread on here, devolves into whining about the umpires. It makes them a pain to read.

You know how when you're watching a game at a pub, and there is a loud flog whining about the umpires every few seconds, and you're sitting there trying hard not to punch him in the face, because he's ruining the game for everyone else?

That's every single game day thread.

 

[Cyclonus]

Droneball is real.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Umpires make mistakes. Just like players. They're human.

Yet without fail, every single game day thread on here, devolves into whining about the umpires. It makes them a pain to read.

You know how when you're watching a game at a pub, and there is a loud flog whining about the umpires every few seconds, and you're sitting there trying hard not to punch him in the face, because he's ruining the game for everyone else?

That's every single game day thread.

I love the times where it only 5-10 minutes into the 1st quarter and apparently the umpires are favoring the opposition

 

[Humblebob]

Clearly the umpires were instructed to keep Vic clubs competetive early in the season

Its not a conspiracy

Old mate’s gone straight off the deep end.

 

[Carn The Berries]

Lol, at the close of play in round 9 Vic clubs had won 31 of 43 free kick counts against Interstate clubs and Vic clubs had won 21 of the games or ~50%.
Since then the almost 3:1 advantage Vics were getting has dried up and the count has tracked evenly and is currently 54-36, however, Vic teams have only won 17 games or ~33% of the 50 games since round 9.
Clearly the umpires were instructed to keep Vic clubs competetive early in the season and since it stopped they've plummetted to fill 6 of the bottom 7 and 7 of the bottom 10 spots on the ladder.

Its not a conspiracy, the numbers dont lie.

Might want to pour yourself another glass of Grange there...

 

[Dan26]

Lol, at the close of play in round 9 Vic clubs had won 31 of 43 free kick counts against Interstate clubs and Vic clubs had won 21 of the games or ~50%.
Since then the almost 3:1 advantage Vics were getting has dried up and the count has tracked evenly and is currently 54-36, however, Vic teams have only won 17 games or ~33% of the 50 games since round 9.
Clearly the umpires were instructed to keep Vic clubs competetive early in the season and since it stopped they've plummetted to fill 6 of the bottom 7 and 7 of the bottom 10 spots on the ladder.

Its not a conspiracy, the numbers dont lie.

Seriously, shut up.

 

[Dr Tigris]

The AFL create many situations that look like conspiracies - or as they'd put it - making the game better.

Aligned player compo is full of herbs and spices that often don't make sense. Clubs that have won a premiership tend to not get R1 compo and clubs that 'need' help do get over compensated. Conspiracy or ??

The rules are played with in such a way that it is confusing and it is easy to see conspiracies, where perhaps you should see stupidity, lack of clarity and complexity.

But the AFL has also explicitly done things that are biased against certain teams. In Richmond's era SHocking was head of footy and said that the stand rule was introduced to stop how Richmond created pressure, and the 666 was introduced to stop the extra man coming in off the back of the square (Tigers started that strategy and it was spreading, so more of a stylistic thing). OK, so on one hand a certain style of football was seen as the preferred by the AFL, so they tinkered to assist that style (AFLX). The problem is that the Tigers played the anti-AFLX style to greats success. So is that a conspiracy aimed at the dynasty team? Or, a well intentioned management of the game to produce a bruise free, kick mark style of play that is 'better?
(saying that, I hated AFLX and love the pressure style of game. Don't like kick mark style personally.)

There are other issues that are long term by club. But the AFL by playing games with the rules on and off the field creates the impression that they are dodgy. And that leads into conspiracies.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Seriously, shut up.

Why, you Vicco's are so easy to jag.

 

[The Casey Cat]

The one that seems to get a run most weeks is that the AFL has paid off the umpires to ensure "X" teams wins game. It's moronic, but there are fans who believe this crap.

Agree. Some may say it jokingly or whatever. But anyone that genuinely believes this (unfortunately seems the case for a lot too) is an absolute f#cken idiot. Plain and simple. That's not to say rules and interpretations aren't a mess with knee jerk and over reactions week to week. Or that other parts of the game haven't been terribly managed by AFL admin. They show utter ignorance and complete lack of common sense on way too much.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Agree. Some may say it jokingly or whatever. But anyone that genuinely believes this (unfortunately seems the case for a lot too) is an absolute f#cken idiot. Plain and simple. That's not to say rules and interpretations aren't a mess with knee jerk and over reactions week to week. Or that other parts of the game haven't been terribly managed by AFL admin. They show utter ignorance and complete lack of common sense on way too much.

Rubbish.

The ****ing idiot is the supporter who thinks they can suggest the umpiring/admin/rules are simply broken and thats why we see teams umpired differently.
The obvious advantage umpires were giving a particular set of clubs early in the season can hardly be considered random or a result of mismanagement, broken rules or poor umpiring when they can all be grouped by geography.

This thread is much like the Vicbias thread, full of Vic club supporters desperate to down play their league sanctioned advantages.

 

[iameviljez]

The one that seems to get a run most weeks is that the AFL has paid off the umpires to ensure "X" teams wins game. It's moronic, but there are fans who believe this crap.

Yep, exactly this - and it has been around since time immemorial as well, this is hardly a new thing.

If the AFL really had rigged results and umpiring, then, frankly, GWS and Gold Coast would have won a flag by now... certainly, the Gold Coast would not be the sort of basket case that is only now, in their 15th year, actually bound for the top half of the ladder.