Controversial umpiring decisions.

[thatswhatimtalkinabout]

First of all, this is not a thread to highlight a bad decision that happened to your club last week, year or decade. It is also not a forum to bag out certain umpires or umpiring standards in general. Quite simply, I have posted it to see what ideas are out there that might be of assistance to improving the standard of umpiring - you know, those 5% that they get wrong.

There can be no doubt that the game has sped up immeasurably since the introduction of 3 umpires. Many people suggest that we need more umpires to keep up with the pace of the game. Particularly with the hands in the back interpretation which has proven a disaster to police. I personally don't think that is the way to go as they will end up tripping over themselves.

My thoughts are, we have all this video technology available to us, we have an emergency umpire sitting in the stands - why not introduce an appeal system similar to tennis? Cricket and Rugby League have been brave enough to try and eliminate human error so why can't we?

My ideas is; similar to tennis, each team is granted 2 appeals per game if you get a free kick paid against you. If you think that free is wrong you can appeal to the umpire to go to the emergency umpire who has all the screens in front of him. Time on is called.

If the EU overturns the umpires decision a ball up is called. Appeal used.

If the EU confirms the decision, the free kick stands and a 50 metre penalty is added. Appeal used.

If the EU can not make a decision, the free kick stands and the appealing side keeps that appeal.

Would cost pretty much the cost of three lights on top of the EU's box and would not need to be as slow and contrived as cricket and RL's process.

Thoughts?

 

[Solstice Raver]

All that needs to happen is for the rules to be left alone for a minimum of 5 years. Let the players and the supporters adapt to them and there will be a hightened awareness amoungst the players and fans.

The hands in the back rule has got to go. I think there is a consensis on this one. Other than that, a direction needs to be taken that will educate the footy player and fan to understanding the rules. (This may also require certain excersises to assist people opening their other eye at times).

At the conclusion of a game the two Coaches, captains and "chief" umpire should sit down at the press confernece together and if decisions need to be explained they can be. The AFL need to let the umpires accept they do make mistakes, like every other professional on the ground.

I really have not had any issues with the umpiring decisions this year. Yes, there have been a few shockers this year but I can recall previous years being a lot worse. I don't think it is any coincedance that this year of footy is one other most hotly contested years in recent memory since the early 90's and with so many players and fans on edge more of the time, there will be more heat.

In summation:
- Moritorium on rule changes for 5 years
- Piss off "hands in the back" tiggy touch
- Amalgimate the press conferance and allow critisism (only then)

Yes/No?

 

[Roddy]

All that needs to happen is for the rules to be left alone for a minimum of 5 years. Let the players and the supporters adapt to them and there will be a hightened awareness amoungst the players and fans.

The hands in the back rule has got to go. I think there is a consensis on this one. Other than that, a direction needs to be taken that will educate the footy player and fan to understanding the rules. (This may also require certain excersises to assist people opening their other eye at times).

At the conclusion of a game the two Coaches, captains and "chief" umpire should sit down at the press confernece together and if decisions need to be explained they can be. The AFL need to let the umpires accept they do make mistakes, like every other professional on the ground.

I really have not had any issues with the umpiring decisions this year. Yes, there have been a few shockers this year but I can recall previous years being a lot worse. I don't think it is any coincedance that this year of footy is one other most hotly contested years in recent memory since the early 90's and with so many players and fans on edge more of the time, there will be more heat.

In summation:
- Moritorium on rule changes for 5 years
- Piss off "hands in the back" tiggy touch
- Amalgimate the press conferance and allow critisism (only then)

Yes/No?

I'll add 1 to that: Instruct the umps to pay the obvious frees, and then STFU and let the players play.

 

[exit]

I'll add 1 to that: Instruct the umps to pay the obvious frees, and then STFU and let the players play.

Agreed. Thats the one rule that needs to be rammed into their collective heads. Stop paying the soft ones and players will stop playing for frees. If a player ducks, it's not a free. If a player dives forward as soon as he is tackled, no free.
Why is it a deliberate out free (sometimes) when a player kicks the ball along the boundary line, but players deliberately step over the line all the time and never get pinged.
Let em play. Common sense.

 

[westdog54]

All that needs to happen is for the rules to be left alone for a minimum of 5 years. Let the players and the supporters adapt to them and there will be a hightened awareness amoungst the players and fans.

The hands in the back rule has got to go. I think there is a consensis on this one. Other than that, a direction needs to be taken that will educate the footy player and fan to understanding the rules. (This may also require certain excersises to assist people opening their other eye at times).

At the conclusion of a game the two Coaches, captains and "chief" umpire should sit down at the press confernece together and if decisions need to be explained they can be. The AFL need to let the umpires accept they do make mistakes, like every other professional on the ground.

I really have not had any issues with the umpiring decisions this year. Yes, there have been a few shockers this year but I can recall previous years being a lot worse. I don't think it is any coincedance that this year of footy is one other most hotly contested years in recent memory since the early 90's and with so many players and fans on edge more of the time, there will be more heat.

In summation:
- Moritorium on rule changes for 5 years
- Piss off "hands in the back" tiggy touch
- Amalgimate the press conferance and allow critisism (only then)

Yes/No?

The bolded part is the only part I'll disagree with, two coaches and an umpire at a press conference is completely unnecessary in my view.

The rest is pretty much on the money.

 

[Exe Gesis]

The obvious answer is "less rules".

The less rules there are, the less decisions that can be made, therefore minimizing wrong/controversial decisions.

This isn't a smart-ass answer by the way. But genuine. Go thru the rule book with a fine-tooth comb and eradicate completely a lot of rules, some even really old.

Like...no pushing in the back rule, can tackle below the knees, etc.

 

[Lion El'Johnson]

Horrible idea. Would slow the game down too much. Also, who makes the appeal? If its the person who the free was against he would be under far too much pressure, especially if 50m was added. He'd face criticism from players and coaches. Nobody would appeal.

 

[thatswhatimtalkinabout]

Top shelf. I hope to never see anyone say an umpire has cost them a match again then.

 

[JoondalupJ]

First of all, this is not a thread to highlight a bad decision that happened to your club last week, year or decade. It is also not a forum to bag out certain umpires or umpiring standards in general. Quite simply, I have posted it to see what ideas are out there that might be of assistance to improving the standard of umpiring - you know, those 5% that they get wrong.

There can be no doubt that the game has sped up immeasurably since the introduction of 3 umpires. Many people suggest that we need more umpires to keep up with the pace of the game. Particularly with the hands in the back interpretation which has proven a disaster to police. I personally don't think that is the way to go as they will end up tripping over themselves.

My thoughts are, we have all this video technology available to us, we have an emergency umpire sitting in the stands - why not introduce an appeal system similar to tennis? Cricket and Rugby League have been brave enough to try and eliminate human error so why can't we?

My ideas is; similar to tennis, each team is granted 2 appeals per game if you get a free kick paid against you. If you think that free is wrong you can appeal to the umpire to go to the emergency umpire who has all the screens in front of him. Time on is called.

If the EU overturns the umpires decision a ball up is called. Appeal used.

If the EU confirms the decision, the free kick stands and a 50 metre penalty is added. Appeal used.

If the EU can not make a decision, the free kick stands and the appealing side keeps that appeal.

Would cost pretty much the cost of three lights on top of the EU's box and would not need to be as slow and contrived as cricket and RL's process.

Thoughts?

I think our game has become so complicated with rules and rule changes and split-second decision making, for Umpires, that it really is on the brink of collapsing publicly, I know for most of us it is all we have so we follow it, because we loved it, and maybe played it once.

What I think too, is the fact that it is so commercialised and the commentators so Americanised, with different comments that sound like they are out of Rugby or Gridiron.
I think the latest disaster or revelation is this new (notice the word,NEW is a very old word in the AFL NOW, EVERYTHING IS NEW... TOO NEW) rule of standing the mark, will either create a faster game , that is fine for the team with the ball, and a disaster especially for the team without the pill that's not right up to scratch form wise or a lower team, I can see wins and scores rising , but I can see massacres as in the past.
The AFL has an obsession with speed of the game and yet they expect players to take the collision chances , which happen dozens of times a match and all they can do is give umpires the capacity to keep calling over the shoulder frees which in fact do not protect players from terrible collisions when blokes are challenging each other and who is the bravest, no one pulls up in this game, at AFL senior level , , but that is part of the game, yes no?
The point being some of these finger tip touches on the shoulder, are game wreckers or game changes, they can destroy any momentum .

Now anyone tell me that standing the mark properly and being allowed to move when a player plays on is worth , if he is not allowed to move and does , A 50 METRE PENALTY?
For heavens sake, the torment and frustration will be terrible. Some rules will put my TV to switch off as it has beenover the last few years.

I think this Hocking Fellow under Gil, has been given a brief that he has got totally stuck into and goes hell bent on his instructions in his brief , to make changes and trial and change and confuse, and he has forgotten what Australian Rules Football is.

The game should never have been messed with, but it has been and I felt it removing itself from lots of the public, way before COVID.
what should happen now is Gold Coast Should be demolished and set up in Tasmania, and GWS should perhaps merge with Footscry or North Melbourne, that would save money give tassie it ultimatum that it wants a team in 5 years.

Why not move the failures, with how the destruction of real Australian Rules Football when it was a slower more skilfull tough game.
It will begin to lose followers the stalwart followers of past eras will be gone the youngsters will accept it having never seen real good football where ALL ON THE GROUND ARE ACTUALLY FOOTBALLERS NOT simply fast runners.

That will be the game gone, as a unique sport, its not just old fellas like me , my sons 3 of them, barely follow the game now.

This new rule? I hope if it pans out like I said , that it will be able to be changed in the season.

But Gil Mc Glachlans term as Emperor, has been full of some good and some bloody bad fiddling.
AFL's new name AUTOCRATIC FOOTBALL LEAGUE!