Roast Umpiring Thread

[PNess]

Is there any possible chance the AFL could apply a set of "interpretations" once a year and STICK BY THEM. I'm sick of seeing a "clamp down on this" week or a "red hot on that" round. Does anybody really know the correct interpretation of the Holding The Ball rule as it's applied today?

A Hawthorn player was on his back trying to knock the ball on with several opposition players keeping it there. Pinged.
Players from both sides were gang tackled standing up with no prior opportunity to dispose of the ball. Pinged.
Having had prior opportunity, several Carlton players graduated from the Geelong School of Incorrect Disposal. Not pinged.
Gilham gets shoved in the back - not pinged and play on (thankfully)
Buddy shoves in the side - pinged

It really is a lottery these days with players, commentators, spectators and coaches totally baffled. Other football codes and sports in general must really be laughing. In most cases the AFL will make unwarranted knee-jerk changes to a situation only to have it understandably create a bigger problem. e.g :

Buddy's Bump - it's still not clear when you can bump and where and how many weeks you may or not miss. The AFL wants you to play the game at full speed but you are judged, juried and executed in super slow motion.
FAIL

Holding The Ball - now you don't actually have to be in possession to get penalised, just be the last one to touch it. Excuse my ignorance but to dispose of a ball you first have to take possession of it. Vlad doesn't seem to like you doing that, it's bad for ratings. You have to knock it on. Pick it up at your peril.
Guess what boys? The packs are bigger and uglier than ever now. FAIL

Hands In The Back - yeah, that one's working a treat. You can knock a guys tooth out, KO him by jumping into him at full pace but resting that little pinky on a forwards back with zero force is going to destroy the fabric of this game and damage that spearhead irrepairably. Wasn't broken, didn't need fixing, nobody asked for it. FAIL

50m penalties - there is a massive difference between a player deliberately encroaching the mark and he who gets caught up in the speed of the moment and doesn't move away in a millisecond. If an umpire can't differentiate he shouldn't be out there. Once again AFL, if you want to speed the game up, cut the players some slack.

Unfortunately the AFL really have an overinflated ego and think the game is so popular because they're making it so.

Think again, Oh Mighty Ones.

It's popular because of Hawthorn and Collingwood and Foot-a-scray and Buddy and Riewoldt and Ablett. It will survive the test of time and will continue to draw crowds in spite of Vlad and Co, not because of them. It would just be nice if the AFL could let the umpires adjudicate to a simple, standard, COMMONSENSE set of rules instead of the over-officiated melodramatic spectacle we see today. I'm sure the umpires would appreciate it. My ticker, my hair and my plasma might stand a chance of making it through the weekend.

I share your rage!

The idea of a weekly compilation sent to the umpires is great. Give them a chance to explain it. Then if they make the same incorrect decision the next week it looks pretty silly if they've already acknowledged making the error.

It's a shame clubs can't take their own cameras in (we got done for this). I suspect the AFL likes to have control of all footage for reasons other than commercial ones.

Interesting that you pointed out the holding the ball decisions and the ball spilling free in tackles. Hodge against Essendon legitimately had the ball knocked out in a half tackle by Hille. He was pinged directly in front of goal. Don't recall the umps puttin their hands up on that one.

 

[The Kipster]

Possibly the worst idea ever (ever).

I repeat - possibly the worst idea ever! In fact, bordering on insane.

Worst idea ever....

Ladies and Gentlemen,

May I present 'GOD'.......yes, the big man, the king kahuna, the poo-bah, the main man...listen to him as he speaks the gospel according to the keyboard, no mere mortal can refute his ideals

 

[CanonNo1]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

May I present 'GOD'.......yes, the big man, the king kahuna, the poo-bah, the main man...listen to him as he speaks the gospel according to the keyboard, no mere mortal can refute his ideals

Well if your idea had any logic or sense it may be worthwhile but, unfortuantely it has none.

To clarify, you are suggesting the club spend their time (and money) going through footage of games, cutting out specific contests, make a DVD and then 'release' to the media.

a) What would that achieve?
b) Surely the time would be better spent trying to win a game football?

 

[Hawkamania!]

I do think that the club needs to make a DVD of Buddy and Riewoldt and their respective treatment by umpires.

Release it to the media.

Hands in the back, hands in the side, chopping the arms, scragging, being bumped.

If the video shows that one player is clearly favoured more often than the other then it needs to be brought up on a weekly basis.

I think this is a good idea. Although, I would advise that one of our BF video experts put it together and we make it go viral online.

 

[Brishawk]

Well if your idea had any logic or sense it may be worthwhile but, unfortuantely it has none.

To clarify, you are suggesting the club spend their time (and money) going through footage of games, cutting out specific contests, make a DVD and then 'release' to the media.

a) What would that achieve?
b) Surely the time would be better spent trying to win a game football?

Swans presented one to the AFL regarding Barry Hall. Also, we used one in a tribunal case relating to Shane Crawford's attempt to spoil which got him off a suspension. We should present a video of free kicks against buddy (or not paid to buddy) to the AFL. If going through the correct channels does not work, then I believe the media are now ready to take on the story with several commentators remarking on the treatment of Buddy by the men with the whistles.

 

[Brishawk]

I also noticed last night on one week at a time that a couple of examples of unsociable play on the umpires DVD were Hawthorn players (two out of three from memory). Should the AFL remove team colours from the umpire DVD? Colour is a primary element of memory and it could be that having Hawthorn jumpers in too many examples makes an umpire recall the interpretation more readily and so weights the decision against us. Any one seen the video in full and can make a comment?

 

[PNess]

Well if your idea had any logic or sense it may be worthwhile but, unfortuantely it has none.

To clarify, you are suggesting the club spend their time (and money) going through footage of games, cutting out specific contests, make a DVD and then 'release' to the media.

a) What would that achieve?
b) Surely the time would be better spent trying to win a game football?

a) Ummm...highlight areas where Buddy is being unfairly treated. Free kicks he should be getting, ones being paid against him that shouldn't be. You've seen them, right? Or are you too busy cheering the umps?

b) They have a video department that analyses everything. They put together video packages for players to watch. And highlighting areas where the umpires are wrong and trying to solve the problem will help us win games. Buddy was cheated of 2-3 goals on the weekend.

So, mate, I think you might need to look up the work 'logic' as I think you're the only one in this thread who has failed to apply it.

 

[MightyHawks]

Possibly the worst idea ever (ever). Wasting our resources making a DVD and releasing it to the media in order to make the AFL and umpires 'look bad'? I repeat - possibly the worst idea ever! In fact, bordering on insane.

It's like the little kid who doesn't get to play in the lunchtime football match going to cry to the principle - is that what we are resorting to? F$$k me ... and to think we won by 50 points ... we are still whining about the umpires?

I'd much rather us spending the time tyring to win games of football!

Worst idea ever....

According to you it would be "worst episode ever"... you probably are the comic book guy...

Well if your idea had any logic or sense it may be worthwhile but, unfortuantely it has none.

To clarify, you are suggesting the club spend their time (and money) going through footage of games, cutting out specific contests, make a DVD and then 'release' to the media.

a) What would that achieve?
b) Surely the time would be better spent trying to win a game football?

Swans presented one to the AFL regarding Barry Hall. Also, we used one in a tribunal case relating to Shane Crawford's attempt to spoil which got him off a suspension. We should present a video of free kicks against buddy (or not paid to buddy) to the AFL. If going through the correct channels does not work, then I believe the media are now ready to take on the story with several commentators remarking on the treatment of Buddy by the men with the whistles.

a) Ummm...highlight areas where Buddy is being unfairly treated. Free kicks he should be getting, ones being paid against him that shouldn't be. You've seen them, right? Or are you too busy cheering the umps?

b) They have a video department that analyses everything. They put together video packages for players to watch. And highlighting areas where the umpires are wrong and trying to solve the problem will help us win games. Buddy was cheated of 2-3 goals on the weekend.

So, mate, I think you might need to look up the work 'logic' as I think you're the only one in this thread who has failed to apply it.

There we go it is a good idea...

It's so bloody obvious that Buddy and Bazza are being treated differently than the Big Sook that we just need to bring it up all the time.

What I'd like to see before the Hawks vs. Dogs match is for Clarko in his weekly press conference to tell the media that Gilham is going to scrag Barry Hall and chop his arms because the umpires never pay it when people do that to Barry...

Of course Rocket at his press conference will tell everyone that Lake is going to push Buddy in the back and chop his arms etc because you can get away with doing that to Buddy...

Both clubs could do each other a big favour on this issue...

 

[CanonNo1]

a) Ummm...highlight areas where Buddy is being unfairly treated. Free kicks he should be getting, ones being paid against him that shouldn't be. You've seen them, right? Or are you too busy cheering the umps?

b) They have a video department that analyses everything. They put together video packages for players to watch. And highlighting areas where the umpires are wrong and trying to solve the problem will help us win games. Buddy was cheated of 2-3 goals on the weekend.

So, mate, I think you might need to look up the work 'logic' as I think you're the only one in this thread who has failed to apply it.

I've never heard of any supporter suggesting their club waste time making DVD's of decisions and leaking it to the Media - please correct me if i'm wrong.

If it was such a 'great' worthwhile idea - why haven't the club done it before? In fact ... why don't all clubs do it?

A club going through the right channels and discussing the matter privately with the AFL - fine. The club making DVD's and releasing to the media and asking the AFL/Umpires to 'explain' - childish.

 

[HAWKS HEROES]

Is that suzi ??

 

[EVERYHAWKUNITE]

Well if your idea had any logic or sense it may be worthwhile but, unfortuantely it has none.

To clarify, you are suggesting the club spend their time (and money) going through footage of games, cutting out specific contests, make a DVD and then 'release' to the media.

a) What would that achieve?
b) Surely the time would be better spent trying to win a game of football?[/quote]

dramatisations of previous events would only serve to bore and rile those who frequent the halls of power.

Just do as it says and give the other stuff a rest. It would bore and rile the other teams if we won more games in any case.

 

[Scribe]

OK, I'm putting my hand up in support of CanonNo1.

I would support the notion of the club leaking a video to the media outlining areas where the 24 (~$100K per year) panel umpires have been infuriatingly inconsistent in awarding free kicks against Buddy once the club manages to leak videos of Buddy (now ~$700K) and Roughies (now ~$400K) infuriatingly inconsistent goal kicking and demonstrates measurable improvement in their conversion rate following the release of same videos.

I can't believe we have our best win for over a year and all you muppets can do is jump on board and whinge about umpiring.

FFS - get a life will ya?

 

[CanonNo1]

OK, I'm putting my hand up in support of CanonNo1.

I would support the notion of the club leaking a video to the media outlining areas where the 24 (~$100K per year) panel umpires have been infuriatingly inconsistent in awarding free kicks against Buddy once the club manages to leak videos of Buddy (now ~$700K) and Roughies (now ~$400K) infuriatingly inconsistent goal kicking and demonstrates measurable improvement in their conversion rate following the release of same videos.

I can't believe we have our best win for over a year and all you muppets can do is jump on board and whinge about umpiring.

FFS - get a life will ya?

Those agreeing with sending 'dvd's' to the media would have you believe that your comparison in illogical. We should not expect our players to kick goals or improve or be close to perfect. Umpires on the hand are not allowed to make mistakes ... no!

But finally, someone with some semblance of sense. We win by 50 points and our supporters want to leak DVD's to the media of so called 'inconsistent' umpiring because Buddy could have kicked 2/3 more goals (interesting given he kicked 5-4 so really he would have had to have another 6 shots on goal to be sure of another 2/3).

Anyway .... good luck to whoever is making the DVD. I look forward to the media release

 

[westaussie76]

If anyone watched one week at a time on Monday the answer was there. At the start of the season the AFL released a DVD to show the players and coaches what was not going to be acceptable this year with regards to niggling, elbowing incidents off the ball or around the packs, both examples shown in the DVD were of Hawthorn players, Bateman and Taylor doing the wrong thing, making an example of them. I guess is could of been any team in the end but would love to see the whole DVD, my guess is the Hawks would feature predominantly throughout!

All in all we must just get on with it, control what we can control and play our game and if we turn up for the rest of the year like we did on Sunday then we have a good chance to make the eight, CARN HAWKS!!!

 

[Brishawk]

Those agreeing with sending 'dvd's' to the media would have you believe that your comparison in illogical. We should not expect our players to kick goals or improve or be close to perfect. Umpires on the hand are not allowed to make mistakes ... no!

But finally, someone with some semblance of sense. We win by 50 points and our supporters want to leak DVD's to the media of so called 'inconsistent' umpiring because Buddy could have kicked 2/3 more goals (interesting given he kicked 5-4 so really he would have had to have another 6 shots on goal to be sure of another 2/3).

Anyway .... good luck to whoever is making the DVD. I look forward to the media release

You are talking like we could only do one of these. I think there are plenty of threads with calls to improve the kicking of our players. No one would say buddy and rough should not work on their kicking.

Unless you expect a negative outcome, why would you not explore every option in seeking an advantage (or the reduction of a disadvantage)?

 

[PNess]

The umpires aren't making 'mistakes', they are treating certain players differently to others.

Of course we want them to make the correct decisions all the time, but no one on this thread is asking for that, it's not realistic.

They are asking for Buddy to be treated like anyone else. He misses out on frees that others get and he gets pinged for things that he shouldn't. It's gotten so bad that commentators are broadcasting it.

There is a problem and many people want to find a solution for it. A couple of you are happy to be complacent and assume the attitude of helplessness and acceptance.

Let's not upset the apple cart, it's just not right. Obey the powers that be, how dare anyone question them!

Scribe, I'm not sure who you are to tell people to 'Get a life'.

 

[Maybloomer]

I can't believe we have our best win for over a year and all you muppets can do is jump on board and whinge about umpiring.

We had our best win for the year because we took a good long hard look at ourselves, analysed our performances, saw areas for improvement and worked damn hard to make it happen. On the day we worked as a team for the good of the game, regardless of who our opponent was or in which position they played. We treated players with the respect and attention their contribution to the game deserved. When we made mistakes they were highlighted, discussed and critiqued in the media, by the coaches (publicly if necessary), the players and, of course, these forums. We learnt from those mistakes and endeavoured not to repeat them.

The day we apply the same paragraph to umpires is the day this muppet will stop whinging. Well, maybe.........

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

I thought that the game was actually fairly well umpired. There were some shockers but they seemed to go both ways.

My issue is with the seperate set of rules Franklin clearly has. The double standards are astonishing. Someone at the club needs to write to Geishan.

 

[HAWKS HEROES]

I thought that the game was actually fairly well umpired. There were some shockers but they seemed to go both ways.

My issue is with the seperate set of rules Franklin clearly has. The double standards are astonishing. Someone at the club needs to write to Geishan.

yes same i thought it was not too bad and what you said about the set of rules for buddy is what annoys me too and why i say they should send a video to the AFL