State of Umpiring [merged]

[Tigermonk]

l'm afraid to say that football is becoming a all time low with supporters as the AFL is changing the rules of the game every year & this putting alot more preasure on the umpires.
But in saying that there are 3 umpires out on that ground & they are getting the basic rules wrong! yes basic rules for holding the ball, dropping the ball, incorrect disposal, holding the man,
The AFL has made the game too fast for the umpires & a perfect example is the Garry Ablett handball which was a handball ruled as incorrect disposal.
Its about time the supporters started to picket the AFL doorstep & protest about the changing of rules constantly & leaving the game alone
make a sign & show it at the game,  how you hate the AFL changing the rules & changing the game before its too late because many supporters are blaming the umpires.
All umpires make mistakes ues but these rule changes are made for no good reasons
Changing our game is changing the way the public enjoy it. l'm starting to not enjoy the game l'm watching compared to when l was younger the game was the best thing going round
Its time the supporters protested to the AFL to show them that we are the paying public & without our continue support the AFL would be still the enjoyable VFL & State of Origin would be still the biggest game apart from the Grand Final
Only downturn to what l said above is that l'm all for the AFL exspansion but since Demetriou & Anderson got onboard they turned it to $$$$$$ & greed.  its simply not family football anymore. The present AFL $$$$ guys are in damage control & the umpiring & rules clearly show that

[Smokey]

Good post TM - I agree 100%, although I think the 'greed' thing started before Demetriou and co - they have just taken it to new levels.

[mat073]

That one against Jackson was complete bs, he was halfyway in the tackle when disposal was made.  Nothing in Jacksons tackle at all, stop stuffing with the game leave the rules alone, all it does is leave crappy rules and crappier interpretation. 

I agree totally Chuck-There was nothing wrong with Jacksons tackle.Mind blowing decision.

[2JD]

l'm afraid to say that football is becoming a all time low with supporters as the AFL is changing the rules of the game every year & this putting alot more preasure on the umpires.
But in saying that there are 3 umpires out on that ground & they are getting the basic rules wrong! yes basic rules for holding the ball, dropping the ball, incorrect disposal, holding the man,
The AFL has made the game too fast for the umpires & a perfect example is the Garry Ablett handball which was a handball ruled as incorrect disposal.
Its about time the supporters started to picket the AFL doorstep & protest about the changing of rules constantly & leaving the game alone
make a sign & show it at the game,  how you hate the AFL changing the rules & changing the game before its too late because many supporters are blaming the umpires.
All umpires make mistakes ues but these rule changes are made for no good reasons
Changing our game is changing the way the public enjoy it. l'm starting to not enjoy the game l'm watching compared to when l was younger the game was the best thing going round
Its time the supporters protested to the AFL to show them that we are the paying public & without our continue support the AFL would be still the enjoyable VFL & State of Origin would be still the biggest game apart from the Grand Final
Only downturn to what l said above is that l'm all for the AFL exspansion but since Demetriou & Anderson got onboard they turned it to $$$$$$ & greed.  its simply not family football anymore. The present AFL $$$$ guys are in damage control & the umpiring & rules clearly show that

Great post TM, I hate the AFL with the same passion I love the tigers. And same as you, I dont enjoy watching the game so much anymore, the new rules have crucified it and leaving a game you feel frustrated and angry and totally powerless to change anything

[Tigermonk]

l have not come across one football fan who is happy with the rule changes of the game & the interpretation of the rules.
Spectators are so confused with the holding the ball rule & we see indecretions every week & thats with 3 field umpires.
The AFL is never going to do anything & continue to change the game if us the supporters dont let them know how we all feel.
l'm totally disgusted in the interpretation of the rules.
The rules need to be clarified & the umpires need to be taught how to umpire the bloody game properly.

[Go Richo 12]

As Sam Newman used to say the umpires are there to enforce the rules, not interpret them!These new rules needed another NAB Cup to trial them out!

[mightytiges]

The holding the ball rule looks like it has changed from the games I've seen this year. They're cracking down on prior opportunity. Mind you they usually go overboard in the early rounds before settling down with a more lenient attitude. The umps are also confusing themselves with this new holding on after the ball rule. It's meant to be paid for when there are two clear distinct separate actions; not for when a player goes through with a tackle   .

There are too many rules and too many rule changes and interpretations for the umps to keep up with. The game has sped up too as TM said which makes it even harder for the umps. The blame though goes to the top = Adrian Anderson and Jeff Geischen. If I had my way I'd scrap every rule change over the past 5 years (except for the centre circle rule which protects ruckmen from PCL injuries and charging into a player's head whose body is over the ball) and for the umps to be instructed to pay only blatant frees rather than ticky-touchwood ones from incidental contact especially off the ball when it has no effect on the flow of the game. I'd take the mics off the umps as well.  They should be sight unseen lol.

[Mr Magic]

I'd take the mics off the umps as well. 

'It's on the DVD'

The McGuane/Jackson decisions were stoopidity of the highest level.

effing Anderson.

[Smokey]

Unfortunately, the umpire was going by the letter of the rule book. The free kick was paid as it should have been. The issue is that just another bloody rule change has again highlighted the folly of knee-jerk reactions to isolated incidents on the field. Time wasting after kicking a goal hasn't been an issue for 30 years (well, never that I can remember to be honest) yet we have this utterly ridiculous and over the top rule introduced to counter it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it is as apt now as it ever was but the leading lights at AFL House seem determined to put their stamp on the 'current game' regardless of the cost. And they're stuffing it up. A free kick on the goal line for an action out of play, that has no impact on any player or official or game time? Get real. Fine him if you need to be seen to be doing something but don't penalise the team when it doesn't affect the game.

[Mr Magic]

FFS common sense should just have prevailed where McGuane punched the ball away.

Time wasting?
Just get another one out of the bag you nuffies!!

Agree with Brown, it a stupid rule for rules sake.

[wayne]

I actually don't mind the time wasting rule, but the penalty is too harsh.

Free kick from the centre circle would be suffice. If you do it on the wing after the ball has gone out of bounds you don't get a free shot at goal.

I don't want to see it taken away, i'd hate to be sitting in the crowd and have a sherrin knock out my front teeth after a player punches the ball into the crowd.

[mightytiges]

I actually don't mind the time wasting rule, but the penalty is too harsh.

Free kick from the centre circle would be suffice. If you do it on the wing after the ball has gone out of bounds you don't get a free shot at goal.

There's no longer just one footy so the rule is out of date. I don't mind the free from the centre idea though. At least that diminishes the harshness of the current penalty.

What's time wasting now is cheer squads throwing a second ball out on the ground as an opposition player is about to take the kick-in. You see that happen all the time even though they said they would crack down on it.

Then there's the clown of an umpire in the Swans-Hawks game who told Mattner to get another ball out of the bag because he picked up the one he had before the goal was signalled. What difference is what footy you have ???.

I don't want to see it taken away, i'd hate to be sitting in the crowd and have a sherrin knock out my front teeth after a player punches the ball into the crowd.

Pies cheer squad won't have to worry about that 

[one-eyed]

Jeff Gieschen says 50m penalty that hurt Tigers was incorrect
Mark Stevens | April 08, 2009

THE AFL umpiring department has conceded Richmond copped a raw deal with the contentious 50m penalty against Daniel Jackson on Saturday.

Jackson was penalised under the new rule designed to deter players from slinging an opponent to the ground after he disposes of the ball. The penalty cost the Tigers a goal.

But after viewing all footage, including from behind the goals, AFL umpiring boss Jeff Gieschen has confirmed the tackle on Geelong's Joel Corey should have been penalised by a free kick only.

Gieschen also confirmed a 50m penalty against Sydney forward Barry Hall on Saturday night under the same rule was also wrong.

After two rounds, the umpires have paid 14 50m penalties under the "sling" rule, with three deemed incorrect.

The Jackson decision brought the rule sharply into focus because Richmond had momentum in the third quarter and the resulting goal to Corey was a savage blow.

Gieschen confirmed he had spoken to Richmond coach Terry Wallace on the issue on Sunday and again on Monday.

"I guess Richmond would certainly feel aggrieved that the 50m penalty was applied," Gieschen said.

"It is not a free kick and 50 because it wasn't a tackle or sling to the ground after he got rid of the ball.

"It was a secondary action. It should have been a free kick where Jackson and Corey were or where the ball was, whatever was the greatest advantage to Geelong.

"Most people thought the decision was for the initial tackle. It wasn't for that.

"The tackle was fine, Corey got rid of the ball and the umpire called play-on.

"About three seconds after the ball had left Corey's hands, you hear the whistle go again.

"Other footage behind the goals showed Jackson on top of Corey pinning him to the ground, not letting him go. As it is a secondary action, a free kick only should have been paid."

Richmond has conceded five goals from 50m penalties this year, more than any other club.

Despite the 50m penalties under the new rule, the 50m penalty rate has not risen after two rounds. At this stage last year the umps had paid 53 - 45 for general offences and eight for abuse. This year, they have paid 53 - 49 general and four for abuse.

Gieschen backed the decision to penalise Tiger Luke McGuane for time-wasting when he punched the ball away after Cameron Mooney had kicked a goal, costing another third-quarter goal.

HEAVY PENALTY

Goals conceded from 50m penalties

Richmond 5

Fremantle 3

Collingwood 2

Sydney 2

Hawthorn 2

West Coast 1

Brisbane Lions 1

Melbourne 1

Western Bulldogs 1

Adelaide 1

All other clubs 0

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25305871-19742,00.html

[WilliamPowell]

Jeff Gieschen says 50m penalty that hurt Tigers was incorrect
Mark Stevens | April 08, 2009

THE AFL umpiring department has conceded Richmond copped a raw deal with the contentious 50m penalty against Daniel Jackson on Saturday.

Jackson was penalised under the new rule designed to deter players from slinging an opponent to the ground after he disposes of the ball. The penalty cost the Tigers a goal.

But after viewing all footage, including from behind the goals, AFL umpiring boss Jeff Gieschen has confirmed the tackle on Geelong's Joel Corey should have been penalised by a free kick only.

What the..... it deserved a free kick? Why? It should have been play on 

[Francois Jackson]

Jeff Gieschen says 50m penalty that hurt Tigers was incorrect
Mark Stevens | April 08, 2009

THE AFL umpiring department has conceded Richmond copped a raw deal with the contentious 50m penalty against Daniel Jackson on Saturday.

Jackson was penalised under the new rule designed to deter players from slinging an opponent to the ground after he disposes of the ball. The penalty cost the Tigers a goal.

But after viewing all footage, including from behind the goals, AFL umpiring boss Jeff Gieschen has confirmed the tackle on Geelong's Joel Corey should have been penalised by a free kick only.

Gieschen also confirmed a 50m penalty against Sydney forward Barry Hall on Saturday night under the same rule was also wrong.

After two rounds, the umpires have paid 14 50m penalties under the "sling" rule, with three deemed incorrect.

The Jackson decision brought the rule sharply into focus because Richmond had momentum in the third quarter and the resulting goal to Corey was a savage blow.

Gieschen confirmed he had spoken to Richmond coach Terry Wallace on the issue on Sunday and again on Monday.

"I guess Richmond would certainly feel aggrieved that the 50m penalty was applied," Gieschen said.

"It is not a free kick and 50 because it wasn't a tackle or sling to the ground after he got rid of the ball.

"It was a secondary action. It should have been a free kick where Jackson and Corey were or where the ball was, whatever was the greatest advantage to Geelong.

"Most people thought the decision was for the initial tackle. It wasn't for that.

"The tackle was fine, Corey got rid of the ball and the umpire called play-on.

"About three seconds after the ball had left Corey's hands, you hear the whistle go again.

"Other footage behind the goals showed Jackson on top of Corey pinning him to the ground, not letting him go. As it is a secondary action, a free kick only should have been paid."

Richmond has conceded five goals from 50m penalties this year, more than any other club.

Despite the 50m penalties under the new rule, the 50m penalty rate has not risen after two rounds. At this stage last year the umps had paid 53 - 45 for general offences and eight for abuse. This year, they have paid 53 - 49 general and four for abuse.

Gieschen backed the decision to penalise Tiger Luke McGuane for time-wasting when he punched the ball away after Cameron Mooney had kicked a goal, costing another third-quarter goal.

HEAVY PENALTY

Goals conceded from 50m penalties

Richmond 5

Fremantle 3

Collingwood 2

Sydney 2

Hawthorn 2

West Coast 1

Brisbane Lions 1

Melbourne 1

Western Bulldogs 1

Adelaide 1

All other clubs 0

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25305871-19742,00.html

the Geesh has as much of an idea about running the rules committee as he did as coach of our club.

absolutely NFI