Umpiring 2025 Umpiring Trends

[western royboy]

That's probably the company line, but of course they do, you're kidding yourself thinking otherwise. Players have to play while the game's stopped too, but they all watch the replays on the scoreboard.

They don’t because then they start second guessing themselves.

Every decision is separate. The 2nd free kick is there because it is unnecessary and if you think that it’s worse than the first then…

 

[footy75]

Hopefully the umpires from Brisbane V Geelong never officiate again... absolutely clueless.

Credit to the umpires of the other three finals games. Did a fantastic job.

Great games due to great officiating. Great games wouldn't be great viewing without their professionalism.

 

[Mr Meow]

Rubbish.

The 3 Vic sides with a spot secured in finals received 15 of the +20 free kick counts in that first 1/3 of the season, without it, Hawks, who look like finishing 8th, likely wouldnt be in it and the other 2 wouldnt be top 4.
Squaring it up playing bottom 8 sides doesnt balance the advantage those 3 clubs received early that has artificially shaped the 8.

Umpiring results went 1-1-1 in week 1 of finals.

Non-Vics went 0-3.

The scary thing is Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn all probably should have won by 5 more goals. All took their foot off the gas at times.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Umpiring results went 1-1-1 in week 1 of finals.

Non-Vics went 0-3.

The scary thing is Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn all probably should have won by 5 more goals. All took their foot off the gas at times.

Incorrect.

Vics won 1 drew 2

Adel v Coll 15-15
Geel v Bris 19-19
GWS V Haw 21-17
Numbers taken ftom AFL's site.

So the weakest Vic team got the rub early for a 5 goal lead(9-4 at one point I believe).
Away from home, and got 6-1 in the last 5 mins from when scores were level.

Interestingly the AFL's Interstate baby also won the FK count 22-18 for a 1pt win, away from home.

The AFL did a solid job of not only balancing the lopsided top 8 Vic v Int deficiet, they swung it heavily in Vics favour at 3-3 with 2 hosting Prelims at home and the Interstate teams made up of 2 clubs in their first finals series in 8/15 yrs and a banged up Brisbane.

Might aswell save everyone the hasdle and play the Geel v Pies GF next week.

Back to boring as batshit pro Vic programming.

 

[Mr Meow]

Incorrect.

Vics won 1 drew 2

Adel v Coll 15-15
Geel v Bris 19-19
GWS V Haw 21-17
Numbers taken ftom AFL's site.

So the weakest Vic team got the rub early for a 5 goal lead(9-4 at one point I believe).
Away from home, and got 6-1 in the last 5 mins from when scores were level.

Interestingly the AFL's Interstate baby also won the FK count 22-18 for a 1pt win, away from home.

The AFL did a solid job of not only balancing the lopsided top 8 Vic v Int deficiet, they swung it heavily in Vics favour at 3-3 with 2 hosting Prelims at home and the Interstate teams made up of 2 clubs in their first finals series in 8/15 yrs and a banged up Brisbane.

Might aswell save everyone the hasdle and play the Geel v Pies GF next week.

Back to boring as batshit pro Vic programming.

So Vic's collectively won the free kick count by 4, and had a collective winning margin of 81 points.

Your project is fizzling out quickly. All we are left with are mentally weak non-Vics choking on the big stage again - mostly at home, too. A bit like the 2020 Covid finals series.

 

[Generalissimo]

they swung it heavily in Vics favour at 3-3 with 2 hosting Prelims at home and the Interstate teams made up of 2 clubs in their first finals series in 8/15 yrs and a banged up Brisbane.

That's stupid.

Collingwood get a home prelim because they finished higher on the ladder, and Geelong aren't playing a home prelim; they're playing at the MCG.

Gold Coast only made the finals because they've had a huge leg up from the AFL for over a decade. They've sucked up to now because they've squandered their draft picks and wasted their opportunities. It's not because the AFL are trying to keep them down.

The AFL also didn't injure Brisbane's players. Do you think Andrew Dillon has a Lachie Neale shaped voodoo doll in his office that he stabs needles into?

 

[PenfoldsFan]

So Vic's collectively won the free kick count by 4, and had a collective winning margin of 81 points.

Your project is fizzling out quickly. All we are left with are mentally weak non-Vics choking on the big stage again - mostly at home, too. A bit like the 2020 Covid finals series.

First of all, I never mentioned the free kick counts since finals began, so im not really sure what your point is.

Secondly, nothing is 'fizzing out', there are as many games in the entire finals series as there is in any single H&A round and after the first 4 the Vic teams have once again taken an advantage and one that probably prevented a Vic team from elimination.
None of that, however, dismisses the obvious +20 count advantage the Vic clubs held after 9 rounds, the runs of consecutive free's paid to Vic clubs when under scoreboard pressure, or the +8 count they still hold with 5 games to play.

What we do have though, is a starting point at which future seasons can be compared against and I look forward to that.
The more you mock it, and me, the longer I'll continue to highlight it for whoever is interested.

The fact that you continue to comment on something you dont rate is telling though, and long may it continue.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

That's stupid.

Collingwood get a home prelim because they finished higher on the ladder, and Geelong aren't playing a home prelim; they're playing at the MCG.

Gold Coast only made the finals because they've had a huge leg up from the AFL for over a decade. They've sucked up to now because they've squandered their draft picks and wasted their opportunities. It's not because the AFL are trying to keep them down.

The AFL also didn't injure Brisbane's players. Do you think Andrew Dillon has a Lachie Neale shaped voodoo doll in his office that he stabs needles into?

Its not stupid at all.

As I said weeks ago, the 3 Vic teams who made finals all held unique advantages to get there, Pies with the MCG/number of home games, Geelong with an easy draw particularly in the back half, and Hawthorn who topped the free kick table.
The where, when and how, if you like.

The first 2, however, are deserved winners of their qualifying finals and now have a week off before hosting Prelims at home, or their 2nd home in Geelongs case, but home state none the less.
Then you have the team most kissed on the dick playing a side new to recent finals and a team thats in its first finals series up against a banged up reigning Premier thats come off a string of shortened preseasons as a result of their succes and showing signs of slowing down.

If the current state of play hasnt swung in favour of Vics, from the 5-3 outnumber and 2x away finals they faced in the first week, to holding a balanced, if not commanding position, then I dont know what would.

Its very convenient for a league, and supporter base in general, that lost its mind last time they were locked out of their GF, to be in such a position 12 months after once again finding itself watching on from the sidelines.

Is it manufactured, no one can say for sure.

 

[Mr Meow]

First of all, I never mentioned the free kick counts since finals began, so im not really sure what your point is.

Secondly, nothing is 'fizzing out', there are as many games in the entire finals series as there is in any single H&A round and after the first 4 the Vic teams have once again taken an advantage and one that probably prevented a Vic team from elimination.
None of that, however, dismisses the obvious +20 count advantage the Vic clubs held after 9 rounds, the runs of consecutive free's paid to Vic clubs when under scoreboard pressure, or the +8 count they still hold with 5 games to play.

What we do have though, is a starting point at which future seasons can be compared against and I look forward to that.
The more you mock it, and me, the longer I'll continue to highlight it for whoever is interested.

The fact that you continue to comment on something you dont rate is telling though, and long may it continue.

Please don't stop, that is the last thing I'm trying to get you to do. Each more desperate explanation is more hilarious than the last. Keep up the good work and don't be afraid to get even more creative with your theories: they are comedy gold.

 

[Generalissimo]

Is it manufactured, no one can say for sure.

I can say for sure: it's not.

 

[kickazz]

Hopefully the umpires from Brisbane V Geelong never officiate again... absolutely clueless.

Credit to the umpires of the other three finals games. Did a fantastic job.

Great games due to great officiating. Great games wouldn't be great viewing without their professionalism.

Rosebury had a good game

 

[PenfoldsFan]

I can say for sure: it's not.

Like I wasn't expecting a Vic club supporter to give that response.

Like fish in a barrel..

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Please don't stop, that is the last thing I'm trying to get you to do. Each more desperate explanation is more hilarious than the last. Keep up the good work and don't be afraid to get even more creative with your theories: they are comedy gold.

Great, I will.

 

[Mr Meow]

Great, I will.

Hey, big brain: look at that free kick count tonight. Didn't help the non Vic chokers in yet another home final.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Hey, big brain: look at that free kick count tonight. Didn't help the non Vic chokers in yet another home final.

Is that the home final where it was suddenly ok to arm chop the side with 3 tall forwards but non existant front on contact was a free 15m out for the other?

 

[Astro35]

It's pretty clear the standard of umpiring has dropped significantly this year. Players seem to be adjudicated based on media profile and a predetermined game plan to target elements but ends up as guess work. There's no bias, just incompetency.

 

[Mr Meow]

Is that the home final where it was suddenly ok to arm chop the side with 3 tall forwards but non existant front on contact was a free 15m out for the other?

Yes the AFL plotted Adelaide and GWS' pathetic home final efforts, much like it did for Brisbane on the road. Look at all those strong non Vic teams eliminated by umpiring bias. Right?

 

[HairyO]

Hey, big brain: look at that free kick count tonight. Didn't help the non Vic chokers in yet another home final.

We flogged Adelaide all night and never looked close on free kicks.

Could have won by 10 goals. Should have too.

 

[eddiesmith]

We flogged Adelaide all night and never looked close on free kicks.

Could have won by 10 goals. Should have too.

Was about 9-9 when I stopped watching, obviously they felt Hawthorn was far enough in front they could penalise them for once.

 

[hawkman]

Was about 9-9 when I stopped watching, obviously they felt Hawthorn was far enough in front they could penalise them for once.

Was 12-8 at half time

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Yes the AFL plotted Adelaide and GWS' pathetic home final efforts, much like it did for Brisbane on the road. Look at all those strong non Vic teams eliminated by umpiring bias. Right?

No, no one said any of that, but you cant deny that allowing arm chops would impact a side that is spoken about all season for its marking forward strength.

And what kind of tin pot league changes how they adjudicate rules from final to final.

 

[Mr Meow]

No, no one said any of that, but you cant deny that allowing arm chops would impact a side that is spoken about all season for its marking forward strength.

And what kind of tin pot league changes how they adjudicate rules from final to final.

At least a non Vic side has to win a final today. The conspiracy well is running dry as the cream rises to the top.

 

[hawkman]

Disgraceful that Brisbane can dominate the stats but still lose the free kick by 6. Thought that was only allowed to happen to Vic teams

 

[PenfoldsFan]

So on AFL360 tonight Razor Ray was asked if the Umpires study how teams play in preparation for the upcoming finals, using Brisbanes chip mark style as an example and if they'd be focussing on the 15m rule to which Ray agreed.

Now correct me if im wrong, but not paying marks to Brisbanes style where the distance is marginal would invite pressure on the ball carrier and lead to more turnovers, the achiles of that game style.

Earlier in the show they highlighted some Umpiring decisions from the Crows/Hawks game, one of which was a spoil which Ray claimed wasn't an arm chop as Umpired because the spoiler made contact with the ball, only the footage showed it didnt, not conclusive enough in realtime to say anyway.

So knowing Adelaides attack goes through their '3 headed monster' marking forwards, and arm chops weren't being paid as was highlighted by the commentators on the night, it makes you wonder how much of Hawthorns pressure and turnover was a byproduct of selective Umpiring having studied Adelaides game style that Razor confirms is a thing Umpires study.

Im not saying it would impact the result, but it could definitely impact a teams ability to score or in Brisbanes case, transition the ball from defence.

Will be interesting to see how many marginal 15m kick/marks get called play on Saturday night.

 

[RCAB]

So on AFL360 tonight Razor Ray was asked if the Umpires study how teams play in preparation for the upcoming finals, using Brisbanes chip mark style as an example and if they'd be focussing on the 15m rule to which Ray agreed.

Now correct me if im wrong, but not paying marks to Brisbanes style where the distance is marginal would invite pressure on the ball carrier and lead to more turnovers, the achiles of that game style.

Earlier in the show they highlighted some Umpiring decisions from the Crows/Hawks game, one of which was a spoil which Ray claimed wasn't an arm chop as Umpired because the spoiler made contact with the ball, only the footage showed it didnt, not conclusive enough in realtime to say anyway.

So knowing Adelaides attack goes through their '3 headed monster' marking forwards, and arm chops weren't being paid as was highlighted by the commentators on the night, it makes you wonder how much of Hawthorns pressure and turnover was a byproduct of selective Umpiring having studied Adelaides game style that Razor confirms is a thing Umpires study.

Im not saying it would impact the result, but it could definitely impact a teams ability to score or in Brisbanes case, transition the ball from defence.

Will be interesting to see how many marginal 15m kick/marks get called play on Saturday night.

Do you understand what confirmation bias is?