Umpires

[huge]

[I don't know about anyone else, but I can't stand to look at the picture of Leo's mark b/c Keneally has a hold of Sampi's jumper, and I feel almost sick thinking of what might have been if a free kick was paid. LRT's admission/boast that he 'shepherded' out a couple of Weagles players makes it even worse!

If you look properly, it was a clenched fist. Keneallly was trying to punch the ball away.

[Xie Shan]

Don't feel sick thinking abou what would have happened if the umps had paid a holding free at the end - consensus was reached on Bigfooty (now that's odd!) that it would have taken the bravest (or most biased??!!) umpire in the world to pay a free kick there, besides, McLaren was standing behind the contest and would have had no way of seeing any infringement. Any holding that there was would have only been for a couple of seconds, it happened so quickly.

[floppinab]

Looking at the pictures I'm more worried about Seaby. If Leo's not there Seaby gets both hands to the ball no doubt, what happens next..................

[barry]

Jolly could have just as easily got a push-in-the-back free against Cox as he took that mark before he bombed it in.

The umpires put the whistle away god bless 'em.

[giant]

Originally posted by barry
Jolly could have just as easily got a push-in-the-back free against Cox as he took that mark before he bombed it in.

The umpires put the whistle away god bless 'em.

Good point Barry - these were all 50/50s & the umpires did the right thing to turn a blind eye. Very similar to the last ruck play vs geelong where there were decisions which could have gone either way - in both cases, instead of a game decided by a soft free we had one of the best endings in AFL finals history.

[Sean]

Originally posted by barry
Jolly could have just as easily got a push-in-the-back free against Cox as he took that mark before he bombed it in.

Also appeared to be a big push in the back on B2 before Hansen's second goal and then the shot seemed to be touched so there's no need to think that we got the best of it.

Everything seemed pretty fair overall. Our problem is usually that frees awarded against our defence aren't awarded to our forwards - that didn't happen. They let a lot go at both ends.

[goswannie14]

I must agree that the umpiring was good. I wasn't anywhere near as hoarse from yelling at them as I had been the week before in the PF.

As for worrying about what might have happened...you can't live life like that...or you wouldn't get out of bed in the morning

[connolly]

Goldspink and McLaren are at their best when they don't actually attempt to umpire

[Tuesday]

Eirinn and I shall have to claim a percentage of the credit for the umpiring -- we were the lone voices supporting Goldspink et al both at the GF Parade in Melbourne and gave them a standing 'o' at the ground on game day. Others around us were booing, and we were noticed. Their reaction to our efforts was gold.

Apart from supporting the umpires because we pride ourselves on being good sports, we decided to hedge our bets by vocally supporting them. If you give them something they don't expect, then you can have them eating out of the palm of your hand. It's all about massaging the egos. And ego's not a dirty word. It works. Trust me.

[Doctor]

Despite my pre-game worries I also thought the game was very well officiated. Credit where it's due!