State of Umpiring [merged]

[Lozza]

Umpire 32 is the worst in the comp, a known Richmond hater and a disgrace to the AFL

That's Jacob Mollison.

Muppet of gargantuan proportions.

[one-eyed]

'Have some common sense': Dimma slams studs-up rule

AFL.com.au
Riley Beveridge
Aug 18, 2019 4:45PM

THE FIRST 'studs-up' free kick paid against Jack Riewoldt on Sunday left him seething.

The second left both Riewoldt and his coach Damien Hardwick with a look of confusion.

Now, Hardwick has called upon the AFL to rethink the merit of what he believes was a "reactive" decision in introducing the controversial rule for the 2019 season.

Riewoldt gave up two contentious free kicks during Sunday's dramatic six-point victory over West Coast when he planted his studs into the backs of opponents in marking contests.

One came at a critical moment of the game, with the Tigers clinging to a narrow lead in the dying stages of a thrilling wet weather contest between two premiership hopefuls.

According to Hardwick, such an action was not reflective of why the rule was introduced.

"I don't think that's what the rule was brought in for," Hardwick said.

"If you don't want high marks in the game, come on … I don't think it's a good look.

"At the end of the day, the rule was brought in for the guy who kicks someone in the head. The last time I looked, that player's head wasn't on his hamstring.

"Have some common sense."

Hardwick also suggested the AFL reconsiders whether the rule is necessary going forward.

"I didn't know why we needed the rule in the first place, to be perfectly honest … we seem to have a very reactive nature at stages," Hardwick said.

"The game of AFL is so tough on these blokes. Don't give them so many rules."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-08-18/have-some-common-sense-dimma-slams-studsup-rule

[one-eyed]

#FreeKickEagles 

[Chuck17]

Every week I think I’ve seen the worst umpiring display ever but from the depths they produce a display like this

[Francois Jackson]

Today was the worst for the year

Not so much in general play but such pathetic decisions that determine games

Jack
That Rioli free

Incredible

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

And yet, some of the whinging on social media suggests we were gifted the game 

[Owl]

The Lynch mark where he didn't blow the whistle until he was tackled and forced to play on then called play on and it wasn't to advantage...lol wanker

[YellowandBlackBlood]

I thought the Willie Rioli one in the last was the worst.....

[one-eyed]

‘Our game is stuffed’: Fury over studs up frees

Jon Ralph and Al Paton
Herald Sun
18 Aug 2019

Wayne Carey said “our game is stuffed” if the AFL approved the studs-up decisions.

Riewoldt was going back to prepare for a shot at goal from 30m out when the umpire took the footy from his arms, prompting the two-time Coleman Medallist to declare: “You’re joking!” as the MCG erupted in boos.

“I was in the meeting when they came up with that rule and that’s not what it was designed for,” Eddie McGuire said on Fox Footy.

Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw said on 3AW: “That was one of the worst calls I’ve seen, and the AFL say that was the right decision.”

Richmond champion Matthew Richardson backed Shaw, labelling the decision a “joke”.

If that wasn’t enough, Riewoldt’s head was spinning after he was penalised a second time for the same offence in the final quarter of the Tigers’ nailbiting win.

The rule sparked controversy earlier in the season when Collingwood’s Howe was denied a spectacular grab after putting his boot into the back of Melbourne’s Tom McDonald.

The second-quarter decision seemed to spark the Tigers into action as they responded with the next two goals in a gripping top-four contest.

    Surely common sense prevails in the studs up rule. 🤦🏼‍♂️

    You’re allowed to protect space, understandably if it’s malicious & deliberately aimed at an opponent then blow the whistle...
    — Mitch Robinson (@MitchRobinson05) August 18, 2019

    The decision by the umpire that paid the kick out decision against Jack Riewoldt was just horrible. @AFL leave the game alone ! #afltigerseagles
    — Brant Softley (@BigsofoBrant) August 18, 2019

    All because of you Toby Greene.
    — Dull Jack Riewoldt (@DullJackR8) August 18, 2019

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/umpire-penalises-jack-riewoldt-for-studs-up-in-marking-contest/news-story/9bc9be24c98d0283558c1caf2e776e9c

[one-eyed]

STUDS UP

Jon Ralph
Herald-Sun
18 Aug 2019

The intent of the Toby Greene studs up rule was to prevent players being seriously injured by a foot full of studs in their face.

Jack Riewoldt’s overturned marks, as he twice shunted Tom Barrass slightly forward in marking contests, should be allowed in football.

Regardless of what the umpiring department says on Monday.

It ticked off Jeremy Howe’s studs-up mark on Tom McDonald so it will surely back in Sunday’s decision.

But Howe and Jack Riewoldt are two of the AFL’s great aerialists who don’t try to use their feet in studs-up challenges even if it has happened to both once this year.

In a game full of low scoring, defensive battles to disincentivise star players flying at the ball seems crazy.

Source: Herald-Sun

[YellowandBlackBlood]

So I guess the mark of the year should have been a free kick to Max Gawn.....




Edit: Altered image size. OE.

[one-eyed]

From the Robbo's 'Dislikes':

DISLIKES 1 STUDS UP

The first free kick paid against Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt can’t be right.

He jumped to mark and his extended leg and foot made connection with the upper leg of his opponent. That surely is not why the rule was introduced. The second free kick against Riewoldt was closer to what the AFL wants out of the game. The contact from the studs was higher, although nowhere near the head.

But don’t blame the umpires, blame the rule makers. Could you imagine the crowd reaction if Riewoldt marked in the goalsquare on GF day, the Tigers down by five points with 30 seconds to play, and the umpire paid a free kick against him. Oh boy!

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/the-tackle-mark-robinsons-likes-and-dislikes-from-round-22/news-story/b60f668e7dfa6ebccb547a575fce393b

[one-eyed]

Rule change stunner: AFL relaxes interpretation to studs-up rule

Mitch Cleary
afl.com.au
Aug 19, 2019 6:15PM

THE AFL has made a stunning interpretation change to the studs-up rule less than 24 hours after it was blasted by Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.

Tigers forward Jack Riewoldt was penalised twice for using his studs in a marking contest during Sunday's win over West Coast.

While the AFL said both decisions were correct, they have made an immediate change to the interpretation of the rule ahead of round 23.

"The studs up rule was brought in to ensure players did not employ their studs in marking contests in a manner likely to cause injury," AFL General Manager Football Operations Steve Hocking said on Monday.

"Although the two incidents from the Richmond v West Coast Eagles match were adjudicated according to the current interpretation, the AFL acknowledges there is a need to adjust the interpretation of rough conduct free kicks relating to the use of studs in marking contests and will make this change effective immediately."

The initial change was implemented after Greater Western Sydney forward Toby Greene repeatedly used his studs in marking contests during the 2018 finals campaign.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-08-19/rule-change-stunner-afl-relaxes-interpretation-to-studsup-rule

[YellowandBlackBlood]

The AFL is such an amateur organisation.....

[Chuck17]

Not good enough, stuffers need to admit they were wrong and apologize