Roast Interchange Error

[witsend]

The possible ramifications for Saturday's monumental error by the interchange mistake are profound. Fortunately for the AFL, the game was won by Geelong, and not lost by under 6 points. I venture to suggest that had that been the case GFC could well have mounted a legal challenge to the result.
This was not a "sliding-doors" error where one can't reasonably predivct what may or may not have happened post mistake, unlike the Hawkins '09 post-hit goal-umpiring error where any number of scenarios could have unfolded after the fact.
The truth is, because Hale kicked accurately and no play was effected either before or after the incorrectly awarded free kick, it should and ought be possible to simply remove the 6 points from the score and adjust it accordingly.
There have been times in the past when ladder positions have literally been decided by under a goal at year's end. It's not inconceivable that this COULD ipact on our ladder position.
Man up, AFL, and fix what you have already admitted was a colossal mistake!
Oh...and while you're at it, please ensure that umpire Schmidt is back to the VFL for at least a month for making hands down the WORST umpiring mistake in many a year!!!
Seriously, any umpire who can make that bizarre deliberate OOB's call call is not worthy of umpiring at the elite level for a long time.
Kelly was bumped off his line at point of contact, forcing the ball at least 10-20 meters closer to the boundary than he intended, and then the ball bounced 20 meters at a right angle towards the boundary!!!!

 

[LongBomb]

Agree it was a terrible, terrible mistake but no way known would the GFC mount a legal challenge.

 

[The rabbi]

ANY DECISION on changing the penalty for an interchange breach will not be made until post-season.
The AFL admitted on Monday the decision to award a free kick against Geelong for a breach in the last quarter of Saturday night's game against Hawthorn was an error, but the penalty would not be changed mid-season.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-08/interchange-penalty-wrong

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-08/interchange-penalty-wrong

I think it needs more than that. How on earth could it happen? What steps are being taken to make sure it never happens again?

As for the deliberate OOB, it's weird when you're at the ground and one of those comes up; it's like you're at a Colosseum and the umpire is waiting for a crowd reaction before deciding what to do. Somehow you can always tell when they're going to pay it: 'Watch this...he's going to pay it...he's going to pay it...he paid it! You're kidding!!'

 

[Turbocat]

Ive thought a phisical means of noting a player is off the ground might have been needed at one stage to prevent team errors, battons etc. but its a bit impractical. Perhaps a simple hand slap to indicate a interchange would ensure no perceived error.

But when they do change the system , the penalty should be gauged on transgression.
An inactive transgression like a slight step over the line should be a fine. Lets say $5000
An active transgression like a player running out on to ground and participating in play , should range from severe fine to loss of points. 19 players V 18 is cheating and should be treated as such.

 

[witsend]

Agree it was a terrible, terrible mistake but no way known would the GFC mount a legal challenge.

If it cost us a game and ladder position I reckon they would!!

 

[AM]

The AFL fessed-up and apologised. Shit happens! Let's hope it draws attention to the disproportionate penalty involved. A fine should be sufficient for that sort of infraction.

 

[Hoffy95]

I think it needs more than that. How on earth could it happen? What steps are being taken to make sure it never happens again?

This according to the article:

Following the mistake, AFL officials have been briefed to be absolutely certain a breach has occurred before calling for the game to be stopped and awarding a penalty.

Great initiative AFL. Let's make sure a breach has occured before we make a game changing decision. What was the brief before this then if it's only now they've been told to make sure they are right before making a call?

 

[dazbroncos]

I hate to sound like a smart arse here... ( surprising I know...) but does every player not have a GPS device on them....
Does a GPS device not TRACK the position of every players movements...

See where i'm going here.... Just suggesting that a GPS device responding to signal that "scans" every player on and off the ground with a 30cm tolerance each side of the boundary line at the interchange bench would do it....

And it can be real time.... thus monitored or checked by the flag ump....

GO Catters

 

[witsend]

I hate to sound like a smart arse here... ( surprising I know...) but does every player not have a GPS device on them....
Does a GPS device not TRACK the position of every players movements...

See where i'm going here.... Just suggesting that a GPS device responding to signal that "scans" every player on and off the ground with a 30cm tolerance each side of the boundary line at the interchange bench would do it....

And it can be real time.... thus monitored or checked by the flag ump....

GO Catters

That's too elegantly simple to be seriously considered ;-)

 

[Scottland2007]

I hate to sound like a smart arse here... ( surprising I know...) but does every player not have a GPS device on them....
Does a GPS device not TRACK the position of every players movements...

See where i'm going here.... Just suggesting that a GPS device responding to signal that "scans" every player on and off the ground with a 30cm tolerance each side of the boundary line at the interchange bench would do it....

And it can be real time.... thus monitored or checked by the flag ump....

GO Catters

brilliant.

 

[GeelongFTW]

After the OOB mistake I was like " worst afl made mistake evaaaa!!!!!!!!" Nek minnit.....

 

[GeelongFTW]

But srsrly if an goal umpire got sacked 4 this ( watch vid ) why shouldn't the official that made the interchange infrigment mistake be too? I mean how hard is it to count?

 

[winty]

I've said it before on other boards, but the penalty for interchange infringements is ridiculously severe. To put it into context, all that happened when Solomon caved in Ling's cheekbone was a simple free kick. If you step 10cm over the line before a teammate comes off the ground, you cost your team possession of the ball plus a 50m penalty.

Makes sense right?

 

[Senatorguesty]

I've said it before on other boards, but the penalty for interchange infringements is ridiculously severe. To put it into context, all that happened when Solomon caved in Ling's cheekbone was a simple free kick. If you step 10cm over the line before a teammate comes off the ground, you cost your team possession of the ball plus a 50m penalty.

Makes sense right?

The penalty was designed for a genuine 18v19 mistake.
Unfortunately it JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN so we get gifted goals for a player putting a toe over the line.
Absolute disgrace but as usual the AFL will do NOTHING to prevent it costing someone a game/final.

 

[FredLeDeux]

The penalty was designed for a genuine 18v19 mistake.
Unfortunately it JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN so we get gifted goals for a player putting a toe over the line.
Absolute disgrace but as usual the AFL will do NOTHING to prevent it costing someone a game/final.

That's the point, really, there needs to be a simple gradation of penalties - a fine for technical ones up to the current for ones where the 19th man involves himself or interferes with play.

 

[Senatorguesty]

That's the point, really, there needs to be a simple gradation of penalties - a fine for technical ones up to the current for ones where the 19th man involves himself or interferes with play.

I think its quite simple, a mistake results in a free kick, no 50 metre crap.
A genuine 19v18 situation results in a severe fine and lose of the 4 points.
Cheating is cheating.
Give a team a goal because a player took a step over the line before instantly coming back is just stupid.

 

[FredLeDeux]

I think its quite simple, a mistake results in a free kick, no 50 metre crap.
A genuine 19v18 situation results in a severe fine and lose of the 4 points.
Cheating is cheating.
Give a team a goal because a player took a step over the line before instantly coming back is just stupid.

Yes, pople can argue about the actual penalties, but I think everyone would agree that there needs to be a scale from minor to major infringements.

 

[Senatorguesty]

Yes, pople can argue about the actual penalties, but I think everyone would agree that there needs to be a scale from minor to major infringements.

100% agree.
The AFL wont change it though.
I love the Cats, I love the sport of Aussie Rules.
I hate the AFL.

 

[AM]

There should only be fine when there are minor infractions of the interchange rule.

There are provisions in the rules to deal with the circumstance where players exceed the permitted number on the field in a way that has the potential to manifestly affect the result of a game which involve a player count, a free kick to the opposing team, a fifty metre penalty, and the offending team losing all the points scored to that time.

All that is required is a clear distinction between minor infractions and those likely to manifestly advantage a team by exceeding the permitted number on the field.

A simple way of controlling the interchange rule would be for players to touch hands when interchanging. It happens in other sports and is effective.

 

[manboob]

I hate to sound like a smart arse here... ( surprising I know...) but does every player not have a GPS device on them....
Does a GPS device not TRACK the position of every players movements...

See where i'm going here.... Just suggesting that a GPS device responding to signal that "scans" every player on and off the ground with a 30cm tolerance each side of the boundary line at the interchange bench would do it....

And it can be real time.... thus monitored or checked by the flag ump....

GO Catters

I know instead of having 10 dudes ****ing it up on the boundary line. Even if for some reason the GPS isn't accurate enough there are a million ways of doing it :barcodes, magnets, microchips you name it.

 

[supahoops]

Ought to take as long as they need using video, then alert the umpires that a free kick will be paid at the next centre square ball up.

Get it right AND lessen the penalty.

When interchange capping comes in things should get a whole lot easier..

 

[OldStyle2007]

The strangest thing was that Ling was onto it straight away as an error. Then when the channel 7 cameras cut to the umpires bench the fools were all sitting there grinning like Cheshire's - even when the game was in the balance and it should have been obvious they had potentially changed the result of the game.

 

[supahoops]

The strangest thing was that Ling was onto it straight away as an error. Then when the channel 7 cameras cut to the umpires bench the fools were all sitting there grinning like Cheshire's - even when the game was in the balance and it should have been obvious they had potentially changed the result of the game.

Yeah lingy was switched on, the muppets doing commentary didn't even think to question it.

 

[Shell]

Yeah lingy was switched on, the muppets doing commentary didn't even think to question it.

I havent seen the game at all yet.

Let me guess, was BT in the commentary box by any chance?