CrowInFiji
Club Legend
- Sep 29, 2018
- 2,430
- 3,325
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Banned
- #1
This is being abysmally used for two reasons, one of which is where it ISN'T used and one where it IS being used.
1) Where it isn't being used.
In a marking contest a player will take a mark. At some point preceding, during or after the marking contest either the player who took the mark, or else a teammate of theirs, will be infringed in some way and the umpire will pay a mark. It is entirely unnecessary as long as the mark was completed. It can slow down the team with the ball if the marking player has to give it to a teammate and it just isn't in the spirit of advantage. As long as the team who would have got the kick has the kick then it is team advantage.
Solution: Marks supercede free kicks where the same team would benefit from either event. No whistle required.
Benefits:
Possibility of slowing of play avoided
Free kick count reduced
2) Where it is used - but just shockingly. This is even more important than number 1.
At present the umpire will blow their whistle and everyone will stop except a bloke who can play on and try to take advantage after which the umpire yells play on several seconds after the players have stopped except that this then creates a total disadvantage to the defending team. They have infringed the rules yes, but the punishment is to defend from the point of infringement, not 30m down the field where the ball rolled to incidentally where everyone has stopped because 'play to the whistle' and playing on when the free is against you literally risks a 50m penalty against.
The best use of advantage is found in the round ball game where the referee waits half a second to see how play will develop and whether there will be an advantage and will signal that advantage with a verbal call, not a game-stopping whistle. If the referee sees there is pressure and no clear advantage they whistle and call the free back.
We have it backwards, the whistle goes every time and then players have to guess whether there will be an advantage call or not, whereas with no initial whistle players will assume play on unless called back. A whistle means the play is called back regardless.
Solution: Umpires wait a second to see how play develops and if there is a clear advantage they verbally call as such but no whistle. If no clear advantage develops play is called back via whistle. A whistle means play is called back no matter what.
Benefits:
- Defending teams don't get a double disadvantage
- Advantage is still respected
- It's simply fairer
Possible Issues:
- Human error - umpire whistles where a clear advantage was developing and has to call play back. This is rare and improves with experience. Benefits outweigh the problems.
So who is with me? Who is ready to save the game?
1) Where it isn't being used.
In a marking contest a player will take a mark. At some point preceding, during or after the marking contest either the player who took the mark, or else a teammate of theirs, will be infringed in some way and the umpire will pay a mark. It is entirely unnecessary as long as the mark was completed. It can slow down the team with the ball if the marking player has to give it to a teammate and it just isn't in the spirit of advantage. As long as the team who would have got the kick has the kick then it is team advantage.
Solution: Marks supercede free kicks where the same team would benefit from either event. No whistle required.
Benefits:
Possibility of slowing of play avoided
Free kick count reduced
2) Where it is used - but just shockingly. This is even more important than number 1.
At present the umpire will blow their whistle and everyone will stop except a bloke who can play on and try to take advantage after which the umpire yells play on several seconds after the players have stopped except that this then creates a total disadvantage to the defending team. They have infringed the rules yes, but the punishment is to defend from the point of infringement, not 30m down the field where the ball rolled to incidentally where everyone has stopped because 'play to the whistle' and playing on when the free is against you literally risks a 50m penalty against.
The best use of advantage is found in the round ball game where the referee waits half a second to see how play will develop and whether there will be an advantage and will signal that advantage with a verbal call, not a game-stopping whistle. If the referee sees there is pressure and no clear advantage they whistle and call the free back.
We have it backwards, the whistle goes every time and then players have to guess whether there will be an advantage call or not, whereas with no initial whistle players will assume play on unless called back. A whistle means the play is called back regardless.
Solution: Umpires wait a second to see how play develops and if there is a clear advantage they verbally call as such but no whistle. If no clear advantage develops play is called back via whistle. A whistle means play is called back no matter what.
Benefits:
- Defending teams don't get a double disadvantage
- Advantage is still respected
- It's simply fairer
Possible Issues:
- Human error - umpire whistles where a clear advantage was developing and has to call play back. This is rare and improves with experience. Benefits outweigh the problems.
So who is with me? Who is ready to save the game?