Recent content by Delair

If the umpiring was consistent, a failed kick shouldn't be holding the ball, because there's no prior and a reasonable attempt at disposal. But you're right that there's every chance they would pay it, and this is the problem with holding the ball, and AFL in general... NO CONSISTENCY!

Not sure I follow you?

I think he was giving that example to prove that the system wouldn't work, not genuinely suggesting it. Anyway, when I umpired for many years, there was two factors which would sway the 50 decision 1. Were they abusing me, or abusing my decision? There is a little bit of leniency if the abuse...

I'm not quite following your scenarios, but generally speaking, if play has come to a temporary halt, you will not be allowed to play on from in front of the mark. You will have to go back behind the mark and take your kick.

Just give it a crack mate, what's the worst that can happen? Not hard to find a club that's short on players and won't be too fussy about form/fitness/experience. You only live once and we tend to regret the things we don't do.

Not true. Unless there has been prior opportunity, a "reasonable attempt" to kick or handball is good enough. Rule has been this way for a long time.

I'd disagree that it was a stupid rule. Holding a player who has been awarded a mark or free kick is nothing more than time wasting to allow your team mates to drop back and man up. Why should that be allowed?

The stronger teams have possession more often. Other than holding the ball, most free kicks are paid to the team with the ball. Simple as that.

I'll restate my post from a while back. Anyone hating on the Asics heel going to state their tertiary qualification which makes their views authoritative on this topic?

Anyone remember the day that a young Buddy Franklin left Ben Cousins gasping for air with a big bump, only to get piledriven into the MCG turf by Beau Waters and Chad Fletcher shortly afterwards? Buddy hurt his shoulder quite badly in that tackle if I remember correctly, and theres no doubt the...

I've played soccer as a goalkeeper these last few years (so not much running but plenty of stress and pressure) and I've had matches where I've felt exhausted and heavy legged by half time. The effects of in-game stress and anxiety on your body should not be underestimated. If you find yourself...

Some interesting arguments for and against the Asics raised heel in this thread. I have no doubt they consulted with physiotherapists, biomechanists, podiatrists etc when designing the feature. Would be curious to know if any of the people speaking out against it here hold similar...

I stand corrected on the chin vs back of head. Been a while since I saw the incident. Not buying it for one second that it was incidental to the spoil though. He jumps with his arm straight out and fully extended to try and make the spoil, when he realises hes been beaten to the ball he pulls it...

"In play"is a loose term. The football may have been in close proximity to him, but it never has been and never will be part of the play to deliberately raise your elbow and crunch another player in the back of the head with it. Was not incidental to the play or a simple case of poor timing or...

Definitely. A lot of it comes down the laws and how vaguely they are written. For example prior opportunity, ask 10 players how many seconds or steps is prior opportunity, you'll get 10 different answers. Ask 10 cricketers what a leg side wide is, they will all point at the white line on the crease.