Umpiring 2026 Umpiring trends

[ReturningHawk]

I was quite vocal at the game about the BS umpiring of the Showdown in our favour.
I literally said it in the matchday thread that it united both sets of fans which is quite a feat in itself.

"Quite vocal", but not moved enough to criticise it in any of your usual lurking spots about umpiring, or to get to the bottom of it.

Please keep up or dont engage me, I have no time for last weeks news.

You post a set of statistics about 4-5 times per week that nobody reacts to. I'm not worried about wasting your time.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

"Quite vocal", but not moved enough to criticise it in any of your usual lurking spots about umpiring, or to get to the bottom of it.

You post a set of statistics about 4-5 times per week that nobody reacts to. I'm not worried about wasting your time.

Takes 10 seconds.

 

[ReturningHawk]

Takes 10 seconds.

Imagine if you took another 10 seconds to think about whether anybody cared?

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Imagine if you took another 10 seconds to think about whether anybody cared?

I started the thread, it brings you here, thats enough.

The question is, why do you care so much for something nobody else cares about?

Are you lonely?

 

[ReturningHawk]

I started the thread, it brings you here, thats enough.

The question is, why do you care so much for something nobody else cares about?

Are you lonely?

You aren’t in a strong position to be asking that question

 

[PenfoldsFan]

33-3-14

+113

See you next week ReturningHawk

 

[Generalissimo]

You aren’t in a strong position to be asking that question

Penfolds is sad because non-Victorian sides won the free kick tally this week.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Penfolds is sad because non-Victorian sides won the free kick tally this week.

Penfolds is sad because RH is so lonely, they hang.around commenting in threads they profess to not care about.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

33-3-15

+109

 

[ReturningHawk]

33-3-15

+109

Riveting

 

[Generalissimo]

Non-Victorian sides have won both the free kick counts so far this week. Penfolds is inconsolable.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

33-3-16

+99

 

[Mr Meow]

33-3-16

+99

17-2-15 to Vics since March 29th. We're right back to it being boring after an exciting start.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Non-Victorian sides have won both the free kick counts so far this week. Penfolds is inconsolable.

Not at all.

As we saw in 2025 the numbers are almost tracking identically and the margin will no doubt narrow further as the season progresses.

The question is, why are we seeing this trend emerge if Umpiring decisions are meant to be unbiased?

 

[PenfoldsFan]

17-2-15 to Vics since March 29th. We're right back to it being boring after an exciting start.

I guess Vic football is in need of an exciting start or the ladder would look even more concerning.

1/5 (+21) of the total free kick diffrerential for a combined 18pt win against Freo and Adelaide is the difference between 3rd and 8th for Geelong alone.

 

[Mr Meow]

I guess Vic football is in need of an exciting start or the ladder would look even more concerning.

1/5 (+21) of the total free kick diffrerential for a combined 18pt win against Freo and Adelaide is the difference between 3rd and 8th for Geelong alone.

Victorians hate other Victorian sides doing well. You never seem to understand this concept.

As for AFL house, they're more concerned with growing the game. Their wet dream is the next 20 flags being divided by the NSW and QL teams.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Victorians hate other Victorian sides doing well. You never seem to understand this concept.

As for AFL house, they're more concerned with growing the game. Their wet dream is the next 20 flags being divided by the NSW and QL teams.

And?

AFL house doesn't care if Geelong fans enjoy sharing finals spots with Hawthorn fans, AFL house is only interested in Geelong and Hawthorn fans sharing finals spots.

If AFL house cared so much for the Northern clubs, 3 of the 4 wouldnt be in the bottom 6 of the free kick ladder.

 

[Mr Meow]

And?

AFL house doesn't care if Geelong fans enjoy sharing finals spots with Hawthorn fans, AFL house is only interested in Geelong and Hawthorn fans sharing finals spots.

If AFL house cared so much for the Northern clubs, 3 of the 4 wouldnt be in the bottom 6 of the free kick ladder.

Take it up with AFL house. You keep saying it's sad for Victorians or Victorian football, but we have no alliance. Every team hates the others the same way Port and Crows supporters do. That's the bit I'm challenging. You genuinely think that Victorians hate non Vic sides and have a weird bond with other Victorian teams.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Take it up with AFL house. You keep saying it's sad for Victorians or Victorian football, but we have no alliance. Every team hates the others the same way Port and Crows supporters do. That's the bit I'm challenging. You genuinely think that Victorians hate non Vic sides and have a weird bond with other Victorian teams.

No, I said Victorian football.
I never mentioned 'alliances' amongst the respective supporter bases.

The rest of your ramblings are in your head.

 

[Mr Meow]

No, I said Victorian football.
I never mentioned 'alliances' amongst the respective supporter bases.

The rest of your ramblings are in your head.

So when you say Vic football needs something...you mean minus any of the people in Victoria.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

So when you say Vic football needs something...you mean minus any of the people in Victoria.

No, I mean Vic football in general.
Has nothing to do with how fans feel about one another.
Its about the quality, or lack thereof, of the collective that they require an 'exciting' start to be competetive.

 

[Mr Meow]

No, I mean Vic football in general.
Has nothing to do with how fans feel about one another.
Its about the quality, or lack thereof, of the collective that they require an 'exciting' start to be competetive.

Why does it matter if Brisbane, Sydney and Gold Coast share the next 30 flags? Your logic seems to be "it matters because they are trying to stop them getting flags via early season umpiring bias that then levels out for months at a time after the conclusion of March".

 

[Lockyer24]

West Coast at home are the biggest cheating club of all time and it’s going to take many years for any club to get near them.

Interstate fans truly are freaks.

But I will agree one thing, Geelong and Bulldogs are looked after like no other down here and clearly have many fans in the umpiring fraternity

 

[PenfoldsFan]

Why does it matter if Brisbane, Sydney and Gold Coast share the next 30 flags? Your logic seems to be "it matters because they are trying to stop them getting flags via early season umpiring bias that then levels out for months at a time after the conclusion of March".

It doesn't matter to me at all.

I've never suggested the umpiring trend is designed to stifle Interstate clubs.
I suggested the umpiring trend is designed to artificially boost Vic ladder position.
The AFL cant survive if you all desert like the Tiger army have.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

34-3-16

+104