Negating Naitanui

[Enviable Tradition]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/81201/default.aspx

WEST COAST coach John Worsfold has sought answers from AFL umpires manager Jeff Gieschen over negating tactics used against young ruckman Nic Naitanui.

The Eagles believe Naitanui is having his run blocked at centre square bounces with the issue coming to a head against Port Adelaide in round 16.

"There's no doubt against (Brendon) Lade and (Dean) Brogan on the weekend they really worked hard to take his run away – fair to say that the umpires have admitted as much," Worsfold said from Subiaco Oval on Wednesday.

At the game on the weekend I actually thought the same thing. Our ruckmen were running/jumping past the ball at the centre bounces to block his run. With the modern rules and interpretations this is usually not allowed.

Having siad that I would love it to be interpreted that way every game. There should be a place in the game for the big bodied ruckman and there is nothing better than seeing an old dinosaur vs a young springheel and to see the tactics at play as the youngster tries to use his leap and the elder statesman uses his guile. Unfortunately these intriguing encounters are being lost because the rules committee favors pure athleticism.

 

[Eddie Dingle]

The kid was out rucked and so he should have been. Umpires haven't been backwards in paying frees against Brogan and Lade before so I'm fairly confident that if frees were there they would have been paid.

A boy rucking against seasoned veterans should be beaten what doesn't Woosha get about that?

 

[Macca19]

The tactics we used helped us win the game. One of the ruckmen would hold Naitanui whilst the other would come over the top with an easy hitout.

 

[Portology]

The kid was out rucked and so he should have been. Umpires haven't been backwards in paying frees against Brogan and Lade before so I'm fairly confident that if frees were there they would have been paid.

A boy rucking against seasoned veterans should be beaten what doesn't Woosha get about that?

Missing the point I think.

It's about getting into the umpires' and Sandilands's heads for *this* week.

Spectacular leap on the kid and that's going to bring people through the gate which is good for everyone. I don't watch basketball so my brain isn't used to someone that big leaping like that - I keep expecting something bad to happen when he lands from that high up. Either that or he will accidentally knee someone right in the head while trying for a legitimate spoil

 

[Ford Fairlane]

When the governing body invents a rule to negate Naitanui - then Worsfold can complain.

 

[Eddie Dingle]

Missing the point I think.

It's about getting into the umpires' and Sandilands's heads for *this* week.

Spectacular leap on the kid and that's going to bring people through the gate which is good for everyone. I don't watch basketball so my brain isn't used to someone that big leaping like that - I keep expecting something bad to happen when he lands from that high up. Either that or he will accidentally knee someone right in the head while trying for a legitimate spoil

No I get the point (and I think Sandilands is still out) but a kid that age will and should get smashed in the ruck.

Ahh Ford, remembering the Primus rule.......

 

[Forzaport]

The tactics we used helped us win the game. One of the ruckmen would hold Naitanui whilst the other would come over the top with an easy hitout.

I think this is a tactic we've been using all year. Quite often i've seen both lade and broges go for the same contest this year.

 

[morell]

I think this is a tactic we've been using all year. Quite often i've seen both lade and broges go for the same contest this year.

Not just this year.

We've been doing it for yonks.

 

[wapower]

The AFL can suffer in their jocks. Those w***ers took away from Matthew Primus what made him so effective in ruck duals because he was so dominant.

 

[Si_Fly]

Onya Worsfold. The umps will be watching Brogan and Lade very closely this week because on his whinging. I bet they have a few extra frees paid against them.

 

[Toots Hibbert]

I thought he did pretty well at the centre bounces for a first year player. He also did a nice handball give in the second half to set one of his team mates up for a goal. I was pretty impressed with him. Worth Pick Two imo.

 

[bzparkes]

Didn't watch the game so can't comment but did watch the Melbourne game and it was quite annoying to see Naitanui blatantly shepherded out of nearly every ruck contest with not a single free paid.

Umps can only pay what they see though and if you can get away with it, you may as well do it.

 

[Pinepower]

Onya Worsfold. The umps will be watching Brogan and Lade very closely this week because on his whinging. I bet they have a few extra frees paid against them.

That is what I said elsewhere on another board.

Also shows that Naitanui does not know his game yet. This is what West Coast and him have to figure out how to negate the other teams rucks.

 

[bodazoka]

The kid was out rucked and so he should have been. Umpires haven't been backwards in paying frees against Brogan and Lade before so I'm fairly confident that if frees were there they would have been paid.

A boy rucking against seasoned veterans should be beaten what doesn't Woosha get about that?

The head of the umpires did admit that they should of been free kicks though... Umpires do miss allot sometimes, just seems that they missed a couple of frees here they should of paid.

Umpiring has been shocking in allot of games lately (and I dont mean just the games involving WC).

 

[bodazoka]

Onya Worsfold. The umps will be watching Brogan and Lade very closely this week because on his whinging. I bet they have a few extra frees paid against them.

If they do have free kicks paid against them, wouldnt those free kicks be warrented in the first place though?

 

[Forzaport]

I thought he did pretty well at the centre bounces for a first year player. He also did a nice handball give in the second half to set one of his team mates up for a goal. I was pretty impressed with him. Worth Pick Two imo.

Just need to teach him to kick the freaking ball!

 

[Portia]

Ruckmen have been jumping early since the year dot. Suddenly its not ok because a potential marquee player doesn't know how to cope with it?

 

[ExpectToWin]

Onya Worsfold. The umps will be watching Brogan and Lade very closely this week because on his whinging. I bet they have a few extra frees paid against them.

Dear Woosha,

I noticed while watching your boys playing against Port last weekend that Brogan and Lade were both going up against Nic Nat effectively putting on a block. The umpires obviously allowed them to get away with this which in my humble opinion is a tad unfair.

I am very surprised that you have not mentioned this yet via the media as it is not good for the game if up an coming player with the talent of Nic Nat is not going to be able to put his best attributes on display thus affecting the results in a negative way for your team.

In closing I would like to say good luck with your game this week against Freo.

Regards

Neil Craig

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Onya Worsfold. The umps will be watching Brogan and Lade very closely this week because on his whinging. I bet they have a few extra frees paid against them.

This is the annoying thing, there is no inconsistency which is kind of what I was getting at. Many of the shepherds on the weekend have been payed as free kicks earlier in the year. How many times have we seen Brogan give away a free for shepherding in a ruck contest this year.

FWIW I think the interpretation on the weekend is the one they should keep. It allows the bigger bodied ruckman a chance to compete against the skinny young guys with the big leap which makes for a much more intriguing contest and game.

Whichever interpretation they decide to go with they should stick with it so that everyone could adapt and avoid teh confusion.

 

[SYDpower]

OK, lets get this right.
The whinging is to do with centre bounces, not the round the ground stuff where we are outsmarting the apponent using 2 ruckmen.

If the kid had any brains which I am sure he does, then he just needs to work it out! Instead of whinging!

We have had one ruckman already that had the rules changes (Primus), so the rest of the competition just have to shut the f** up & work out new tactics without trying to have rule changes!

 

[FishingRick04]

Let's face the facts, the AFL continually changes the rules to help weaker players.

 

[Power King]

Naitanui got beaten, and so he should have been.

Great leap though and you can see he's gonna be a gun.

Saw one of the hitouts he did straight to his teammate where he seemed to jump 67m in the air - awesome.

 

[bzparkes]

Let's face the facts, the AFL continually changes the rules to help weaker players.

They're not proposing changing the rules at all, what they said was there were a few frees that were there that weren't paid. Fair enough, whatever, doesn't affect the game result. What Worsfold is merely saying is that he wants his player to have a fair run at the ball in future and if the frees are there, then they should be paid.

End of story.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

They're not proposing changing the rules at all, what they said was there were a few frees that were there that weren't paid. Fair enough, whatever, doesn't affect the game result. What Worsfold is merely saying is that he wants his player to have a fair run at the ball in future and if the frees are there, then they should be paid.

End of story.

Doesnt change the fact that it is a shit rule brought in to curtail the ultimate big bodied ruckman (Primus) and advantage the younger athletic ruckman.

 

[Northalives]

What's the odds that the umpires crucify our ruckmen this weekend ?