State of Umpiring [merged]

[Diocletian]

Yes marm....

[Knighter]

Caroline Wilson criticises Richmond coach Damien Hardwick over ‘mean-spirited’ umpiring complaint

By WWOS staff
16 August 2017

Footy Classified’s Caroline Wilson has ripped into coach Damien Hardwick’s "mean-spirited" claim that AFL umpires favoured Geelong in Richmond’s Round 21 loss.

The free kick count was 28-17 in favour of the Cats, which Hardwick pointed out as part of the “significant home ground advantage” Geelong held when playing at Simonds Stadium.

“The home crowd gets behind them, have a look at the free kick count,” Hardwick said.

“They’re an outstanding side, but they’re an outstanding side plus when it comes to playing here.”

Though Hardwick didn’t blame the 80-66 defeat solely on the skewed free kick count, Wilson hit out at the coach’s unnecessary shot at the umpires.

“Damien, what were you thinking?” Wilson said on the ‘Caro’s Arrow’ segment on Nine’s Footy Classified.

“Who do you coaches actually talk to when you speak like that at post match press conferences? To your players? To your supporters? Maybe it’s political? Maybe you’re sending a message to the umpires? Are you worried the same thing will happen against Fremantle at Subiaco next week? Or at the Adelaide Oval during the finals?”

Coming into the game against Geelong, the Tigers were brimming with confidence having soundly beaten Hawthorn 93-64 the previous week.  Wilson thought Hardwick’s complaints were a disappointing turn.

“In the context of what was a great week and a great build up for the Richmond Football Club it just seemed a little unsporting, a little negative, irrelevant and dare I say it Damien, mean-spirited,” Wilson said.

However fellow Footy Classified panellist and Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd appreciated Hardwick’s honesty.

“I agreed with him,” the 2000 AFL Premiership winner said.

“I thought Geelong got the rub of the green early and Damien Hardwick was just being honest.”

http://wwos.nine.com.au/2017/08/15/15/14/caroline-wilson-criticises-richmond-coach-damien-hardwick-umpires

Get stuffed Caro.  The comment was long overdue and I expected you to get that before most others!

[Slipper]

I watched Buddy Franklin's running goal against Adelaide last night totally incredulous.

I count 2 bounces and a drop of the footy with him running from just on the defensive side of the wing (I am being charitable) right around the left hand boundary to about 40m from goal in the pocket. In a straight line that would have to be 100m. When he dropped the ball he probably fumbles it about 20m. So in a straight line, he probably ran with the footy 80m. But then he didn't run in a straight line, he curved around the boundary, so add that 20m back on, give or take a little.

No free kick, but a fantastic highlight that the media and Swans fans will talk about for ages. But the fact is, anyone can have a highlight moment if they are allowed to play outside the rules of the game.

I'd be dirty if I was a Crows fan. But I am sick of this as a footy fan.

How could the umpires miss such a flagrant breach of the rules. When you watch it, gut instinct tells you he runs too far when he slots the goal, let along earlier in the piece.

And the AFL's immediate response to it via Twitter "This was Buddy amazing! #AFLCrowsSwans". Yeah, good work morons.

[Owl]

Adelaide were robbed because of that 50m penalty against Eddie, the Sydney player clearly tried to handball but the ump didn't call play on and pinged him for tackling.  Cost them the game as it resulted in a goal.  I reckon that was the Grandfinal preview by the way.  They both look amazing and balanced across all positions.

[🏅Dooks]

For mine the Betts incident is enough.

Complaining about umpires has in the past largely been a seen as a discussion undertaken by the fringe sooks in the footy community but theres been so many poor decisions this year and unbalanced decision making its become a front and centre issue.

Something needs to be done otherwise the integrity of the game will be damaged.

[Slipper]

Something needs to be done otherwise the integrity of the game will be damaged.

Already there I reckon. There is not a sport in the world that calls itself professional that is so poorly officiated.

And it just seems to get worse and worse.

[Slipper]

Complaining about umpires has in the past largely been a seen as a discussion undertaken by the fringe sooks in the footy community but theres been so many poor decisions this year and unbalanced decision making its become a front and centre issue.

I hate it when we, as Tigers fans, complain about the umpiring after a loss. It smacks of sour grapes. I truly believe that anytime when want to blame the umpiring, we need to look at our own team's performance and think that we should not have been in a position for the umpires to influence the result.

But yep, the umpiring isn't a fringe issue any longer. For me it is smack bang in the middle. But the AFL just don't get it. When I or anyone else, as a footy fans, can't sit down to watch a game without the umpiring become a major bone of contention, then there is something fundamentally wrong.

And this isn't the umpires fault. The constant changing of rule interpretations must be a nightmare for them as well as the players.

I am really starting to feel like AFL is just some sort of contrived money making venture at the same level as the WWE/WWF wrestling.

[Diocletian]

THe AFL not changing the stuffing rules and interpretations every five minutes would be a good start....

[dwaino]

That, and when so many of the rules are 'interprations', having multiple umpires means you get multiple interpretations and inconsistent, subjective officiating. I don't have any solutions and understand many umpires are needed to properly officiate a game this fast and size, but it's clearly a problem. Sure soccer has its fair share of incorrect decisions too but with only a single ref you only get a single interpration of rules and it's generally more consistent. How we achieve this on our game I have no idea and more umpires certainly isn't the solution.

There is one conspiracy theory I somewhat buy into though, and that's the umpires are instructed to keep it exciting. Too many games that are close do the trailing team get the benefit of 50/50 free kicks and too often are the star players get let off so they are exciting to watch.

[JP Tiger]

Buddy running too far was a clear cut decision, but no umpire alive would ever call it!  You can't go robbing the game & the media of a highlight reel!  Fifteen metres is rubbery at best when a star player is heading towards goal ... just ask Jake Neald ...
Let's face it, no device has ever been invented that can measure out fifteen metres!
So Dusty - just run as far as you like & drill a freak goal, then run around like an idiot kissing your guns & thumping your chest!  Nobody will dare take the goal off you!  No umpire or tape measure will dare get in the way of a great show ... 
Surely it will work for us too?      
But if a blurry finger bends back two degrees in a pack as a snap shot goes through against an AFL backed team you can expect the video man to spot it & save the day by changing the result ...   

[WilliamPowell]

For mine the Betts incident is enough.

Complaining about umpires has in the past largely been a seen as a discussion undertaken by the fringe sooks in the footy community but theres been so many poor decisions this year and unbalanced decision making its become a front and centre issue.

Something needs to be done otherwise the integrity of the game will be damaged.

Too late, it's already damaged

The fact that ever week the footy world seems to spend more time discussing umpires, rule interpretations, rule of the week etc says to me the damage has been done.

I hate blaming umpires for teams losing but that call agaonst Betts was just so blatantly wrong. No ifs, buts or maybes.

The thing is that this is only game one of the round and there are 2 decisions that will talked about for the entire weeknd.. 8 games to go how many more will there be

The game is damaged because IMO We should be talking about the great players, plays and games not the ineptitude of the umpiring fraternity

[Hard Roar Tiger]

THe AFL not changing the stuffing rules and interpretations every five minutes would be a good start....

That's the real issue. Can't physically be possible to adjudicate the game with the weekly changes in the rules (or interpretation as they conveniently call it)

[Owl]

The problem imo is they keep trying to tinker with poo to curb this or that behavior.  What they cannot seem to get through their thick stuffing skulls is that players and coaches will always adapt to the rules to exploit to best possible advantage.  Find a happy medium and leave it.

[Yeahright]

Having a say already

[dwaino]

Should complain more often