Dempsey's dangerous tackle the correct call, says umpires

[BF Tiger]

Terrible umpiring

 

[The 747]

Should have taken Gaff to suplex city

 

[hawks realist]

Perfect tackle.

Bad umpires

 

[Stopher]

Someone really had to ask Luke Ball what he, as an ex-player, would've done in the same situation as Dempsey.

What a ****ing sellout.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Nowt wrong wit' tackle - when i were 'lad my father would tackle me like that t' show luv

Try telling the kids of today that. And they won't believe you.

 

[nameless]

Terrible decision, really makes you wonder where the game is going when that gets called.

 

[Farm Boy]

The tackle is on its way out anyway. I am surprised the AFL haven't outlawed the tackle yet. Probably just waiting for an uproar, then we can all do away with the tackle and watch the game evolve to touch footy - where everyone is 'safe'.

 

[andrewb]

How many people would have complained that the umpire got it wrong if it wasn't paid?

Zero.

The call is incorrect.

Surprised he didn't get the standard red and black suspension to go with it.

 

[kranky al]

Dempsey had the viable alternative to simply let Andrew Gaff leap by unimpeded.

Great call AFL.

In fairness he could also have gone the extra mile and laid a shepherd

 

[Ry009]

Does Gaff actually jump into the tackle?

It looks like it to me, don't care why they say it was a shizen decision and is so typical of the umpire protection, the league can't say they got it wrong.

Yeah, looks to me like he was bracing for contact, regardless onus isn't on Dempsey whatsoever.

Amazingly shocking call, no idea why Ball would defend it, people would have no issue them saying it was a split second decision the umpire got wrong.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Isn't the whole reason for having ex players in these positions so that there's a modicum of sense?

Ball already talking like an AFL politician. What a twat. Clearly found a future AFL CEO here.

 

[muttley45]

Jordan Murdochs semi sling tackle on Andrew Swallow concussed him straight out of the game, and forced him to miss a week as well, but was adjudged ok by the whistleblowers, therefore, Dempsey unlucky.

 

[Elvis]

I just don't get why the AFL can't admit that they ****ed up?
It was a strange decision watching it live, but it's even stranger 4 days later with their response
This game is barely recognisable from what it was 10-15 years ago. I dread to think what it might look like in another 10 years

 

[Lensen]

So disappointing to see such a good footballer become a sycophant so quickly

 

[Stopher]

Yeah, looks to me like he was bracing for contact, regardless onus isn't on Dempsey whatsoever.

Amazingly shocking call, no idea why Ball would defend it, people would have no issue them saying it was a split second decision the umpire got wrong.

To me, the AFL backing the umpire in the cold light of day for such a shocking decision is far worse than the decision itself. Almost a little worrying for the overall direction of the game.

 

[Sherrinator]

Gaff left the ground to make contact with Dempsey's head with his hip!

Reckless, intentional, low impact

2 weeks!

 

[Jack Bradley]

**** you afl

 

[Furn2]

Yeah it's a good tackle

 

[Maddo11]

So what should he have done instead? Gone with Gaffs momentum and dropped him on his head instead?

I know 15 years ago he would have just laid him out with a shirt front..

You don't jump at a player trying to tackle you unless you are ready to get smashed.

 

[Scotland]

I thought it was fine.

If there is anything even close to resembling a 50/50 at Subiaco (like any venue where the home fans make up 95%+ of the crowd) the crowd will scream for it and I don't remember that happening on Thursday.

Had Dempsey lifted Gaff above the perpendicular and tipped him so he landed head first I'd have a different perspective but really he didn't do that. It looked like he was going to but you can see he sort of 'squashed' Gaff and the contact was torso to ground.

Play the **** on.

 

[YEMOC NAYR]

I thought dempsey did well not to crush Gaff. What a joke luke balls comment is.. sold out.

 

[Since 2001]

soon the afl will be touch. he was running towards dempsey and saw what was coming. was not vulnerable and exessive force is a ridiculous as you need to tackle hard when someone is running hard towards you.

**** OFF AFL

 

[Engimal v2]

A bad decision on the night and an even worse decision to defend it later.

If you were a junior coach and your player laid that tackle, you'd be pleased.

 

[citizen-erased]

This will sound like a whinge, but it's not. To be honest, I'm not surprised. We seem to have this knack to be on the end of stupid calls.
1st rushed behind - called against us. Similar calls unpunished.
Jetta - a week for staging. Can't remember if anyone else has ever gone
Do not know how many video reviews that aren't conclusive have overruled the goal umpire call
Zaka gets a week for the same thing everyone gets a fine for
And Dempsey isn't allowed to tackle someone who jumps into him.

Possibly I notice it more cos it's my team but I literally don't give a toss about the rules anymore. I can't make heads or tails of most calls. So it's best to ignore

 

[portly]

Possibly the most bizarre call and defense ever seen.

Up till now I have gone with the flow and supported umpires even with the occasional mistake, but how can the umpires and their officials possibly expect respect after this.

Take a grip Gill and do something.