Analysis 2026 umpiring in games involving 1 Victorian team vs. 1 Non Victorian team

[Fud#3]

I am currently undertaking some post-grad studies in psychology and we are currently doing units on statistics and meta-analysis....if anyone wants to sponsor a future PhD project, I would love to look at unconscious bias and whether there are any statistical trends etc.

I dont think there are conscious bias (I think it would be very rare), but I definitely think there is an unconscious bias that might arise as a result of media and the surrounding environment/echo chambers etc.

Its been proven that surrounding yourself amongst certain media can alter your beliefs, so why wouldnt it apply in some parts here. I dont think other professional leagues have the geographical focus that AFL does and this would create the right environment for Vic-bias medi chamber.....anyway, I should get back to my stats assignment, but its an interesting thought.

How much are you looking for...maybe the AFC can sponsor it! Now that would elicit be an interesting response from the AFL.

I'd be interested to know if geography has an impact and the amount of time umpires are at the training of Vic based teams compared with non-Vic teams.

Are there opportunities for Vic clubs to get the umps down to training and ask questions, play out scenarios and for umpires to be aware what players are trying to do / not do on the ground.

 

[Fud#3]

Hey, we just got another AFL apology for a critical umpiring decision that went against us again...instead of one per year, we are getting 1 per week now

All you can do is laugh, the AFL is so comical and blatantly incompetent.

Other leagues around the world would laugh at the Dillon lead amateur hour.

 

[Crow till I die]

All you can do is laugh, the AFL is so comical and blatantly incompetent.

Other leagues around the world would laugh at the Dillon lead amateur hour.

I just want to be on the right end of a terrible decision instead of EVERY TIME being the side that gets shafted by it..i am completely fed up with it

 

[Southerntakeover]

All you can do is laugh, the AFL is so comical and blatantly incompetent.

Other leagues around the world would laugh at the Dillon lead amateur hour.

For some reason I thought this would be about the holding the ball that led to their second to last goal.

 

[BunjiMC]

At least the media are starting to highlight the difference.

This can only be a good thing......surely.

 

[Scorpus]

Can add this to the list of suspicious events including

Troy Pannell in the Bulldogs game, later charged with fraud and contempt of court

The Brownlow betting scandal, with umpire Michael Pell charged with fraud along with several other men

The conflict of interest having current AFL umpire Nick Foot employed at Sportsbet

 

[Fud#3]

For some reason I thought this would be about the holding the ball that led to their second to last goal.

Me too...but no

 

[ams4crows]

For some reason I thought this would be about the holding the ball that led to their second to last goal.

The Jager Omera throw in the 2nd quarter that the whole crowd yelled throw that also led to a goal.

 

[MarcusP2]

Hey, we just got another AFL apology for a critical umpiring decision that went against us again...instead of one per year, we are getting 1 per week now

I mean this had no effect on the game. It would've been a warning and we lost the clearance anyway.

 

[Crow till I die]

I mean this had no effect on the game. It would've been a warning and we lost the clearance anyway.

I think its actually irrelevant that it had no impact. What it is is just another umpiring call that was wrong that went against us and it was significant enough for the AFL to issue another apoligy to us. You't think by now the umpires would be gun shy in screwing us considering how many times the league has had to apologise.

What really looks bad is that multiple players flagged it as did the boundary umpire and all the central umpire did was shrug and allow play in direct contravention of the protocols.

 

[daniel_4tw]

I think its actually irrelevant that it had no impact. What it is is just another umpiring call that was wrong that went against us and it was significant enough for the AFL to issue another apoligy to us. You't think by now the umpires would be gun shy in screwing us considering how many times the league has had to apologise.

What really looks bad is that multiple players flagged it as did the boundary umpire and all the central umpire did was shrug and allow play in direct contravention of the protocols.

The problem is even when the players flag the umpire, the crows players get ignored and umpires don’t stop for a second (this one, Geelong incorrect OOBs, Keays goal). The umpires don’t pause and confer. They just ignore the whinging Crows. Meanwhile, Collingwood and Geelong get to umpire themselves with frees and 50s and umpires go along with it. You know we’d give away 50s if we did the same thing.

There is serious unconscious bias given the amount of times it happens. The AFL failing to acknowledge it is a real problem so nothing has changed in a very long time.

 

[FR0GGY]

Hey, we just got another AFL apology for a critical umpiring decision that went against us again...instead of one per year, we are getting 1 per week now

Training to count to 6 and to use their mics with each other.

 

[BunjiMC]

Training to count to 6 and to use their mics with each other.

Or ....hear me out...just blow their ****ing whistle....

 

[BRL121]

I've also noticed this year a plethora of very delayed whistles from outside, after the controlling umpire fails to blow.
While that's OK to overturn an obvious error, a lot of these are the outside ump falling for the ducking campaigners, when the controller correctly ignores the antics.

To my memory, these very delayed whistles are much more prevalent this year.

 

[FR0GGY]

I also heard on the radio tonight someone claiming battle had a shot for goal after the siren yesterday and by his reaction it went through, yet they haven’t put it down as a goal and a win by 7pts.
Are hawthorn non Victorian?

 

[daniel_4tw]

I also heard on the radio tonight someone claiming battle had a shot for goal after the siren yesterday and by his reaction it went through, yet they haven’t put it down as a goal and a win by 7pts.
Are hawthorn non Victorian?

They were playing Geelong. That's the trump card this season.

 

[DJ75]

The problem is even when the players flag the umpire, the crows players get ignored and umpires don’t stop for a second (this one, Geelong incorrect OOBs, Keays goal). The umpires don’t pause and confer. They just ignore the whinging Crows. Meanwhile, Collingwood and Geelong get to umpire themselves with frees and 50s and umpires go along with it. You know we’d give away 50s if we did the same thing.

There is serious unconscious bias given the amount of times it happens. The AFL failing to acknowledge it is a real problem so nothing has changed in a very long time.

We get umpired differently to any other team. It's never been as blatant as it is this year.
In the first 2 games we were called for 3 below the knee free kicks. I haven't seen a single other one called in any other game.

I hate the VFL.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I've also noticed this year a plethora of very delayed whistles from outside, after the controlling umpire fails to blow.
While that's OK to overturn an obvious error, a lot of these are the outside ump falling for the ducking campaigners, when the controller correctly ignores the antics.

To my memory, these very delayed whistles are much more prevalent this year.

Yep I noticed this

Actually seemed a deliberate choice to me... which is stunning.

Like the umpire checking with square leg to see if a catch carried. Umpiring by committee.

 

[jackster83]

Yep I noticed this

Actually seemed a deliberate choice to me... which is stunning.

Like the umpire checking with square leg to see if a catch carried. Umpiring by committee.

Or it's a voice in their earpiece telling them to blow the whistle.

 

[SugarShane]

I also heard on the radio tonight someone claiming battle had a shot for goal after the siren yesterday and by his reaction it went through, yet they haven’t put it down as a goal and a win by 7pts.
Are hawthorn non Victorian?

The mark for the free kick was 65m out. I believe the umpires can call time if they think it's unrealistic to have a shot.

 

[FR0GGY]

The mark for the free kick was 65m out. I believe the umpires can call time if they think it's unrealistic to have a shot.

From the sounds of it, it bounced and rolled through so they probably ruled that the players thought the game had finished and would have stopped it had they waited.
Probably shouldn’t be up to the umpires though to judge if it’s realistic.

 

[SugarShane]

From the sounds of it, it bounced and rolled through so they probably ruled that the players thought the game had finished and would have stopped it had they waited.
Probably shouldn’t be up to the umpires though to judge if it’s realistic.

Yeah I agree. Often at a quarter break you'll see a player mark that far out and the umps will call for the ball immediately as the player stands there with puppy dog eyes like "Let me at least try the barrel." Should be encouraged.

 

[BunjiMC]

Free Kick Differential Ladder​

Games: Victorian vs Non-Victorian teams

Rank	Team	Differential
1	Geelong	+33
2	Hawthorn	+19
3	Bulldogs	+15
4	Richmond	+7
5	St Kilda	+5
6	Carlton	+4
7	Essendon	+4
8	Collingwood	+3
9	Melbourne	+3
10	North Melbourne	+1
11	West Coast	-1
12	Fremantle	-2
13	Brisbane	-4
14	Sydney	-15
15	Adelaide	-16
16	Gold Coast	-16
17	Port Adelaide	-17
18	GWS	-23

 

[Fud#3]

I've also noticed this year a plethora of very delayed whistles from outside, after the controlling umpire fails to blow.
While that's OK to overturn an obvious error, a lot of these are the outside ump falling for the ducking campaigners, when the controller correctly ignores the antics.

To my memory, these very delayed whistles are much more prevalent this year.

I'd like to hear from the AFL why in this instance is the free kick the right decision, not the wrong one.

They may argue a free wasn't missed due to the line of sight, but when the two umpires see the same thing, and they have a different opinion, why is play on always the wrong call? It's not like the umps talk to each other about what they both saw

 

[ams4crows]

Free Kick Differential Ladder​

Games: Victorian vs Non-Victorian teams

Rank	Team	Differential
1	Geelong	+33
2	Hawthorn	+19
3	Bulldogs	+15
4	Richmond	+7
5	St Kilda	+5
6	Carlton	+4
7	Essendon	+4
8	Collingwood	+3
9	Melbourne	+3
10	North Melbourne	+1
11	West Coast	-1
12	Fremantle	-2
13	Brisbane	-4
14	Sydney	-15
15	Adelaide	-16
16	Gold Coast	-16
17	Port Adelaide	-17
18	GWS	-23

Could not make it more obvious if they tried.