Toast Umpiring

[rines]

Having watched 8/9 games in Round 1.. it struck me how LITTLE I noticed the umpiring.. far better imho. It was like they were umpiring in 'finals' mode, that is to let the play go as much as possible.

Personally I would like to see more holding the ball given, especially for not disposing of the ball correctly.. but I love that marking contests are generally being left alone..

With our subjective rules it is a tough gig.. but I like the direction we are heading.. let the boys play unless there is a real need to get involved.

I love the fact that umpiring has not played a factor in the deciding of ANY games in Round 1.. fantastic effort.

 

[Doss]

Good call.

The only one that really stuck out for me from our game against North was the free against Hardingham when Ambrose went back with the flight- that was soft as butter.

As you allude to, the less you notice the umpiring, generally the better it is. It means they're being neither overly officious nor overly lax, while also not being disproportionately hot on certain rules. Let's hope it's a trend for the year and beyond.

 

[Synth]

Agreed.

But people tent to notice the umpires more when the game's tight. And we didn't get many of those this round.

 

[Phone]

maybe the players just followed the rules

 

[rines]

Good call.

The only one that really stuck out for me from our game against North was the free against Hardingham when Ambrose went back with the flight- that was soft as butter.

As you allude to, the less you notice the umpiring, generally the better it is. It means they're being neither overly officious nor overly lax, while also not being disproportionately hot on certain rules. Let's hope it's a trend for the year and beyond.

I agree that was a dodgy call.. but there are going to be 'dodgy' ones in every game.. what I love is that there wasn't as much 'technical' stuff.. love the relaxing of the 'head high' crap that saw guys ducking their head (although Selwood still milked 10)..

Can't eliminate errors in umpiring.. but the less they are calling.. the less they can get wrong imho. Let us hope sanity is prevailing that the game is about the players.. not the umpires...!!

 

[VelvetSledge]

maybe the players just followed the rules

Now you're just being ridiculous

 

[yaco55]

I was expecting one shocking game by the umpires, like you get one shocking game each AFL round. It never happened !

 

[Howard Moon]

they seem to be letting the player being tackled try and struggle out of it forever! pretty hard to score a holding the ball or 'incorrect' disposal so far this year...

 

[Old Campaigner]

How long before start getting incoherent calls to talkback radio from 'Jeff from East Richmond' complaining about how fans want to see more umpiring and how the new interpretations are a disgrace?

 

[Whispering_Jack]

Least number of free kicks in the round since 2004. Great stuff.

Personally I would like to see more holding the ball given, especially for not disposing of the ball correctly.. but I love that marking contests are generally being left alone..

Unless it is thrown out or dropped while being tackled, it is not holding the ball. If the ball is knocked out by the player or his opponent then it is play on. There is no such rule as not disposing of the ball correctly, only holding the ball (if the player just drops it) and throwing would come into play.

 

[blitzer]

The umpiring always gets progressively worse as the year goes on. Enjoy it while it lasts. We will all be complaining about why they don't umpire the way they do in finals soon enough.

 

[efcboy]

I'd guess Wayne Campbell may have the same motto as myself and others. Just pay the obvious ones - if you're not sure let it go. Crowds are generally far happier to see the game flow with less free kicks. I'd rather miss a few free kicks here and there whilst reducing the amount of technical soft free kicks

 

[84859300]

The umpiring always gets progressively worse as the year goes on. Enjoy it while it lasts. We will all be complaining about why they don't umpire the way they do in finals soon enough.

I to feel that there will be a "rule of the round" that will bring us back down to earth......let's just enjoy it for now.

 

[Whispering_Jack]

I'd guess Wayne Campbell may have the same motto as myself and others. Just pay the obvious ones - if you're not sure let it go. Crowds are generally far happier to see the game flow with less free kicks. I'd rather miss a few free kicks here and there whilst reducing the amount of technical soft free kicks

Also, Mark Evans, the foot ops manager, is a boss! He is from club land and understands what the fans want. Instead of being an outside lawyer or AFL corporate bloke, he is a genuine operations bloke who understands the game. The move towards only paying the real obvious ones has been happening since his appointment at the start of last year.

 

[efcboy]

I to feel that there will be a "rule of the round" that will bring us back down to earth......let's just enjoy it for now.

The rule of the round was a gieschen thing. I'm hopeful Campbell is brighter than that

 

[Squeaky]

Also, Mark Evans, the foot ops manager, is a boss! He is from club land and understands what the fans want. Instead of being an outside lawyer or AFL corporate bloke, he is a genuine operations bloke who understands the game. The move towards only paying the real obvious ones has been happening since his appointment at the start of last year.

Agreed.
It certainly looks to be less of an 'intrusion' on the game which is a nice direction.
I agree though that some incorrect disposal needs to be paid - Yes Scott Thompson (Adel) I'm looking at you!

 

[jmoo wan]

Having watched 8/9 games in Round 1.. it struck me how LITTLE I noticed the umpiring.. far better imho. It was like they were umpiring in 'finals' mode, that is to let the play go as much as possible.

Personally I would like to see more holding the ball given, especially for not disposing of the ball correctly.. but I love that marking contests are generally being left alone..

With our subjective rules it is a tough gig.. but I like the direction we are heading.. let the boys play unless there is a real need to get involved.

I love the fact that umpiring has not played a factor in the deciding of ANY games in Round 1.. fantastic effort.

agree with everything you said, but did you have to mention ****ing Little?

 

[Stopher]

As Sam Newman has said many times before, people care a lot less about the ones that aren't paid as opposed to the ones that are. No tiggy touchwoods.

 

[rines]

Least number of free kicks in the round since 2004. Great stuff.



Unless it is thrown out or dropped while being tackled, it is not holding the ball. If the ball is knocked out by the player or his opponent then it is play on. There is no such rule as not disposing of the ball correctly, only holding the ball (if the player just drops it) and throwing would come into play.

I never said there was a rule "not disposing of the ball correctly"... I said I wish MORE HOLDING THE BALL DECISIONS WOULD BE GIVEN... especially when the player does not dispose of the ball correctly. For example when the player 'hands' it to the guy next to him in a rolling maul scenario.. or literally drops the ball when he feels contact.

 

[rines]

As Sam Newman has said many times before, people care a lot less about the ones that aren't paid as opposed to the ones that are. No tiggy touchwoods.

Agree.. just want the obvious or clear ones paid.. if you have to watch three replays and two different angles.. then play on...

 

[Whispering_Jack]

I never said there was a rule "not disposing of the ball correctly"... I said I wish MORE HOLDING THE BALL DECISIONS WOULD BE GIVEN... especially when the player does not dispose of the ball correctly. For example when the player 'hands' it to the guy next to him in a rolling maul scenario.. or literally drops the ball when he feels contact.

Fair call.

 

[Amen Corner]

Less is more when it comes to umpiring IMO. As a player, I hated the technical free kicks, incidental crap should be let go and we're seeing that in round one. The same things that irked me as a player, irk me as a spectator. Don't over complicate the game. Nice work by the umps, Wayne Campbell & Hayden Kennedy.

 

[Knighta21]

Well... lasted about 1 round. They're ****ing hot on holding the ball tonight

 

[Stopher]

In light of the Newcastle player in the NRL seemingly contributing to his own serious injury, this thing about barging in with your head is going to need a hard look at by the players themselves. Umpires are rightly trying to not get sucked in to protecting players who don't give a toss about protecting themselves.

 

[rines]

Well... lasted about 1 round. They're ******* hot on holding the ball tonight

I thought the umpiring was good.. until the last qtr..

And I like that a few more got pinged for Holding the ball.. can't just drop it on the deck and stick your arms out... need to dispose of it correctly..