General AFL thread 2016

[Confuscius]

The last 5 minutes of the first quarter was crazy. Adelaide were in complete control and hawks got a few frees consecutively plus a 50 to steady the ship heading into the break. That's what had me wondering.

Only saw the replay of the 50 once but the player never crossed the mark... and comparisons to cyril 50 penalty are off because cyril was warned a few times - the adelaide player was already running away before the hawks player was ready to use the ball.

And shiels just prior to that got a free for a shove to the chest? As I said adelaide were completely dominating proceedings few cheap ones and 50 to close the quarter out and surprise surprise momentum had completely swung to start the second.

 

[St Kilda Death]

Ok so just on the last 2 controversial calls.

Poops in the back (it was there, but personally i think it was soft and shouldn't be paid to a habitual diver/actor in the dying minutes, In front of goal, with game on the line.

And the HTB in the last seconds. Definitely there. Definitely should have blown the whistle.

Do we think both these desicions would have gone the other way if the game was in SA?

I cant say, but i think the umps are shit scared of a home crowd.

 

[Joffaboy]

I don't believe in conspiracy theories. But it does look pretty dodgy when the umps get the hawks over the line 2 weeks in a row..

So true. Everyone is talking about the frees.

Interesting they dont pay the most blatant one, Smith with prior opportunity then incorrect disposal wirh about 3 seconds to go in front of goal.
Appalling non decision.

 

[CHBench]

Adelaide's recruiting is impressive. They really should be nowhere near it after losing Tippet, Davis, Dangerfield & Gunston.
Betts, Jacobs, Jenkins, Lynch and Thompson started elsewhere but are their best players. Whilst Walker, Sloane, Lever were great speculative picks.

 

[Dopey BJ]

I honestly believe that a lot of the umps are really intimidated by Hodge, Mitchell and Lewis, watch a game and they don't shutup everytime a decision is made

 

[Rors]

I honestly believe that a lot of the umps are really intimidated by Hodge, Mitchell and Lewis, watch a game and they don't shutup everytime a decision is made

This is a huge factor. Every stoppage there is always one of them in the umpires face having a whinge about something

 

[Melksham2Siposs]

I honestly believe that a lot of the umps are really intimidated by Hodge, Mitchell and Lewis, watch a game and they don't shutup everytime a decision is made

Probably more on the money than some of the conspiracies being floated.

I reckon the AFL want the same team to win the flag 10 years straight so that the expansion clubs have a template to copy. The dictatorship will make sure Gold Coast win the next 10 straight, and then GWS, before the Kimberley Saints enter the competition.

 

[gringo2011]

Adelaide's recruiting is impressive. They really should be nowhere near it after losing Tippet, Davis, Dangerfield & Gunston.
Betts, Jacobs, Jenkins, Lynch and Thompson started elsewhere but are their best players. Whilst Walker, Sloane, Lever were great speculative picks.

Lever wasn't very speculative though, he was injured before he was drafted but was a slider like Jake Stringer. He was a potential number one pick that dropped due to the fact recruiters couldn't see much of him, he still went at 14. He was one I would have loved to land at the Saints. Good get for them still. I think Knightmare might have had him still going top 5 despite sitting out 2014.

 

[FlyingSledghamer]

I know it is hindsight talking but can someone explain to me how the hell Rory Atkins went through to pick 81 in the 2012 draft?
Seems unfathomable in this day and age. Weren't we in to left footers back then with Pelchen? With all due respect it is difficult to understand how Saunders was considered a better player. I know, I know - other clubs also passed him by as well.... But sheesh.

I think theres a small amount of natural elite talent at the top end. Then theres a few smokeys that slip through. Then the rest is dependant on injury and training.. Some coaches just know how to drag the best out of a player and others can cripple their development.

 

[Flandersss]

This game is fast becoming unwatchable.

Sad.

 

[cartel]

Thought that most of the calls were there, but they were soft. Hawks lucky again. Being 3-1 rather than 1-3 could mean top 4 vs not. Although Hawks could pretty much win it from anywhere in the top eight.

 

[sverik25]

Thought that most of the calls were there, but they were soft. Hawks lucky again. Being 3-1 rather than 1-3 could mean top 4 vs not. Although Hawks could pretty much win it from anywhere in the top eight.

Actually an even bigger difference: 4-1 vs 1-4

So frustrating as a neutral to see them pinching these games where they probably don't deserve to and regardless of whether they're playing well or not their season is now set up perfectly.

 

[dct66]

I was there last night and I didn't think the umpiring was any worse than any other day. They are inconsistent and they make mistakes every game, there is no conspiracy. It was a very lopsided crowd. There were a reasonable number of Adelaide supporters there but they were mostly at the Ponsford End. So the rest of the ground was overwhelmingly Hawthorn and they went crazy even time there was half a free kick to the Hawks. The umpires are human, they react to the crowd whether they admit it or not. It is the same in Adelaide and Perth because they manically support their team and they're educated football followers so they know how to influence the umpires. Sydney and Queensland crowds have no clue so they don't have the same effect.

 

[sauce_head]

I honestly believe that a lot of the umps are really intimidated by Hodge, Mitchell and Lewis, watch a game and they don't shutup everytime a decision is made

Hodge makes the calls for the umpires. Even when he elbows saints players in the head the reaction of commentators is to say the player is diving, then shut up upon witnessing the replay.

Not to mention he drink drives and just says it was an accident and everybody is like, yeah, he didn't mean it just forget about it.

It's. Amazing.

 

[sauce_head]

If not a conspiracy, they have strong confirmation bias, favoring the team they think is better. a professional organisation would recognise it and fix it

This is probably it. Like Michael Jordan being allowed to take three steps and land before he shoots. Explains why we always get the least frees year after year given our reputation as historic losers.

 

[cartel]

Hodge is a GOOD BLOKE though.

 

[Hayes4PM]

Hodge is a GOOD BLOKE though.

When he's not drink driving and elbowing people in the face

 

[atlaser]

Maybe it's the lack of sleep... but I'm genuinely starting to wonder if the AFL is bent...

Wonder? Absolutely crook and always has been.

 

[Barrels]

Wonder? Absolutely crook and always has been.

I don't think that's so really; heavily weighted toward the rich 'power' clubs, unconsciously or otherwise, sure, but truly bent? No.

I think the impact of gambling has a lot to do with it.

 

[Nutsngum]

When he's not drink driving and elbowing people in the face

Dont forget breaking spines againt posts.

 

[atlaser]

I don't think that's so really; heavily weighted toward the rich 'power' clubs, unconsciously or otherwise, sure, but truly bent? No.

I think the impact of gambling has a lot to do with it.

Don't agree. It's not in the afls interest to have all of the dirty shit underneath the glamorous façade revealed. It's a multibillion dollar industry. It's simply more profitable to have an extraordinary spectacle supported in secret by doping and coverups than a mediocre competition that's clean. That's just the world we live in. I'm not having a go at you, but I think that the belief that the shit at essendon or collingwood (for example ) is an aberration is really naive.

 

[gringo2011]

Hodge makes the calls for the umpires. Even when he elbows saints players in the head the reaction of commentators is to say the player is diving, then shut up upon witnessing the replay.

Not to mention he drink drives and just says it was an accident and everybody is like, yeah, he didn't mean it just forget about it.

It's. Amazing.

I don't know how the Hawks seem to be able to keep the media on side. Clarkson assaulted a fan and it was the fans fault, the Hawks drug saga including the leaked reports and I know someone who was crashed into by Buddy while he was speeding and she is permanently disabled from it. It never made the papers or news. If that was us we would look like we crushed baby kittens for fun.

 

[joop]

Tom Lynch is that good it's not even funny.

 

[Highlander35]

2 METER PETER! 2 METER PETER! 2 METER PETER!

 

[Glen Buterol]

2 METER PETER! 2 METER PETER! 2 METER PETER!

Beautiful set shot for goal. Reminds me of Kosi lining up.