Wrong Side Of The Ump's Ledger, Again

[TheHood]

Ok, some others may know for sure, but was that the 13th game in a row that Sydney has appeared on the negative with the Umps?

Does anyone have a rational explanation for it?

Are we serial infringers and rule breakers? Are our ruckmen clumsy? Backmen sloppy? Are we second to more contests than not?

Here's my minature theory: We tackle and chase more than most sides and sometimes, as defenders, we end up bouncing around like pinballs, creating mayhem and then OTS, ITB, Jumper Pulling and so forth.

That's all I can think of. Anyone else tell me why 13 games in a row that we're so "bad"?

[Mike_B]

Can't explain the previous 12 weeks, but overall, I thought the umpiring was pretty fair yesterday. There will always be the odd contentious call, but there didn't seem to be too many at all yesterday.

[NMWBloods]

Re: Wrong Side Of The Ump's Ledger, Again

Originally posted by TheHood
Are we serial infringers and rule breakers? Are our ruckmen clumsy? Backmen sloppy? Are we second to more contests than not?

Yes.

[giant]

I recall reading recently that the first Essendon game was the last time we were ahead in the FK count.

Seems staggering given how we dominated that we finished behind in the frees, but the umps did a pretty good job I think & were genuinely trying to protect the chap going for the ball - which is not a bad thing. Coz we had so many tags it wasn't that surprising we gave away a few. At least this week, they weren't all inside 50! Johnson's was the only one that led to a goal that I can recall & that was probably there.

[Sanecow]

A couple of things bugged me about the umpiring yesterday: soft free kicks for high contact when the ball carrier bent over and ran into someone - NO FREE! And then, J Bolton getting pinged for holding the ball when his opponent had scooped it in and the umpire was on the wrong side of the pair to even see the ball, let alone call it as a free.

However, it was streets ahead of WCE / Freo!

[sharpie]

I think Luffy summed it up pretty well on MMM in the wrap up of the game yesterday. He reckons we get a bad count on the frees simply because as a team we are so hard at the ball and the player that sometimes the tackles are just going to get a bit reckless.

I'd far prefer to be on the wrong side of the ledger than for the team to be softer when attacking the ball and the player.

One other thing I've noticed recently is that we seem have given away far less holding the ball decisions in our defensive 50 in the last few games compared to earlier in the season.

[NMWBloods]

I watched a few games over the weekend. Some of the worst umpiring I have ever seen. The first qtr of WC/Freo was certainly far worse than just about anything we've experience. The StK/'Roos game was pretty terrible too.

[cressakel]

Originally posted by giant
I recall reading recently that the first Essendon game was the last time we were ahead in the FK count.

Seems staggering given how we dominated that we finished behind in the frees, but the umps did a pretty good job I think & were genuinely trying to protect the chap going for the ball - which is not a bad thing. Coz we had so many tags it wasn't that surprising we gave away a few. At least this week, they weren't all inside 50! Johnson's was the only one that led to a goal that I can recall & that was probably there.

Did you forget about the Scott Lucas free kick on the three quarter time siren that wasn't a free kick and, in fact, was voted by Gary Lyon on The Sunday Footy Show as in the top three worst decisions of the year.......!!!!!

[TheHood]

Rohan Connelly has finally written us up in this morning's Age. We have all seen the stats and now hopefully the Umpires have as well.

It is in black and white for all to see. Sydney has been caned all season like no other club.

[Roscoe]

Rohan is a bombers supporter, but has a soft spot for the swans

[giant]

Originally posted by cressakel
Did you forget about the Scott Lucas free kick on the three quarter time siren that wasn't a free kick and, in fact, was voted by Gary Lyon on The Sunday Footy Show as in the top three worst decisions of the year.......!!!!!

No, I didnt forget it, but I'm pretty confident it didnt happen in Sunday's game v Brissie.

[giant]

Originally posted by Roscoe
Rohan is a bombers supporter, but has a soft spot for the swans

According to Big Footy, Swans aren't his only soft spot....wink wink.

[Rizzo]

I read an article by Tim Lane in a mag called "The Monthly" (no affliation etc etc) last night dealing with the new holding the ball rule.

Quite topical as Archer has criticised the rules committee on this point this week.

A couple of interesting points -

* The average free kicks awarsed these days in a game is around 30.

* 20 years ago it was around 80.

* From the mid 90's fewer free kicks have been given but an increased proportion of these are now awared against the player with the ball.

Why has this happened?

Lane points to several factors -

* Umpires cop a hiding giving free kicks. When they do, at least half the people watching are going to disagree. Man, are they under the pump this week!

* A desire by the powers that be for a free flowing game therefore the umpires punish play that forces a ball up.

* Coaches. Since Malthouse's defensive Weagles coaches want tackling, and tacklers, awarded. The encourage percentage play and discourage 'Fancy Dan' footy (what a quaint olde term!). The rule makers have obliged them.

Thoughts people?

I can't say that Roos would fall into the Lane's coaches basket. We all know Roos complained that the new holding the ball rule was killing the ball player - a point that Lane brings up...

[floppinab]

And some more stuff from Fairfax :

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/08/17/1123958070619.html

Note much that we didn't know already but the comparison to the Blues is interesting.

It's gotta be a concern leading up to the finals. IMO the umps DO have pre-conceived ideas about certain teams and I think that we are treated harshly regardless of our agressive style.

Let's hope it doesn't cost us a chance..... or worse still a premiership

[Sanecow]

I don't think it's that we are giving away too many, but that Baz isn't getting paid frees he should. Pay the frees he deserves and the balance would be a lot better.