Media stunt - let's ask for a "please explain" from AFL

[Thunder Shaker]

The coaches cannot comment on the umpiring, because they get fined. Same with the players. Same with anyone else affiliated with the AFL.

But we, the fans of the game, are outside the jurisdiction of the AFL. We cannot be fined for commenting on the umpires. But we shall not do this. Instead, I have an idea.

Let's go through a tape of the game. We identify the half dozen or so decisions that went against us, being the dubious decisions that were paid against us, or the infringements against our players that did not result in free kicks. We should scrutinise these decisions with an unbiased eye, and ask what rule was broken for each decision? For each decision, we quote from the laws of football, chapter and verse, on the rule applicable to the decision, what the appropriate penalty should be, and why we feel the decision made at the time was wrong.

Then we put those decisions on a CD, along with a letter asking for a "please explain" from the AFL. We should keep the letter as polite as possible. We, the unwashed masses of the outer are just trying to understand the rules of the game and are perplexed on some interpretations.

Here's where it gets interesting. We tip off the media. If copies of the letter and CD were sent to the appropriate media staffers, this could be an interesting story. These copies should be sent to certain media representatives, and the Swans may like a copy as well.

I would like to know why Leo Barry got a free kick paid against him for an illegal shepherd when the ball was not in play in the last quarter (cost us a goal against us); why Goodes did not get a free kick in the last quarter for a trip (cost us a shot on goal); why Barry Hall got a free paid against him in the first quarter for an infringement in a marking contest (cost us a goal). I feel the AFL should explain why these decisions were correct at the time.

Can this work?

(PS: We should also give the umpires their due. One thing they appeared to do right most of the night was not paying holding the ball against a player on the ground with an opponent holding the ball in. The umpires always seemed to bounce the ball under these circumstances, and I think that was the right thing to do.)

[bloodboy]

I am with you Thunder - all the way - something has to be done to make these umpires accountable - they are wrecking the game that I love. Does anyone who subscribes to RWO have any sort of media influence anywhere...?

[Egan]

Just remember the non calls for deliberate out of bounds...

The lack of reward for any tackles that could have been holding the ball.

Both teams were unhardly done by.

But they have been giving the crappest umpires to Perth every week, people will tell you, every week they have to watch the pathetic attempts at trying to umpire the game.

The AFL needs to send the best umpires, the worst ones consistently do woeful jobs.

Well Done to the Swans tonight

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by Egan
Just remember the non calls for deliberate out of bounds...

The lack of reward for any tackles that could have been holding the ball.

IMHO there were no non-calls of deliberate out of bounds, and maybe only one or two HTB decisions that could have been called either way. These have been contentious issues this year, but I thought these areas were umpired well.

Holding at ruck and marking contests were clearly inconsistent and how they came up with some of those decisions is beyond me. And then of course there was the Barry-Stenglein incident.

[Sanecow]

I remember a tackle by a Swan (I don't recall the details and buggered if I will sit through it again to get them) on a WCE player who was bent over and touching the ball that resulted in a free kick to the WCE player (deemed not in possession). But clearly...

15.2 FREE KICKS RELATING TO POSSESSION OF THE FOOTBALL
15.2.1 In Possession of the Football
A Player is in possession of the football if, in the opinion of the field Umpire:-
(a) the Player is holding or otherwise has control of the football;

He had control of the ball FFS!!!

[Egan]

See we look at things with bias.

I could see about 4 deliberates that were never payed

Holding the ball.

The umpires were crap, but all people make mistakes...lets not ruin a finals series by having a disection of the umpires

The AFL are fully to blame for the continuation of a policy to reward Perth with crap umpires...and its coming back to bite.

Sydney were unlucky not to win, but you guys were dead on your feet gave it all, I don't personally think the umpires paid any role in the defeat.

Well Done to the Swanies, I hope you guys win the GF...because it certainly, 100% certain it won't be the Weagles.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Egan


The umpires were crap, but all people make mistakes...lets not ruin a finals series by having a disection of the umpires

Too late, mate.

This season has already been compromised.

[Thunder Shaker]

If we do this, the first thing we must do is start posting a list of the umpiring incidents for referral here. We will need to find these on the tape later.

I'll start:
* Fourth quarter, About halfway: Free kick paid to Stenglein, against Leo Barry, for an illegal shepherd off the ball. Result: 1 goal to West Coast directly from that free.

To support the dubiousness of this decision, we must also find some of the 20 or so occasions during the game where players ran into each other and no free was paid. For balance, it would be helpful to have a few examples involving "infringing" players from both sides. Then we can ask the question: why was this one paid and the others not paid?

* Fourth quarter, time on: Wirrpunda trips Adam Goodes about 30 metres out from the Swans' goal. No free kick was paid. Result: No shot on goal for the Swans, and the Eagles clear the ball up to the other end and score the game-winning goal.

* First quarter, about the 20-minute mark: Nick Davis kicks a goal from 5 metres out. The goal is disallowed because of an infringement against Barry Hall in a marking contest. Result: A goal denied to the Swans.

What other incidents are there? There are the incidents against our players that did not result in free kicks, and incidents that resulted in free kicks against our players.

[ugg]

I'm still puzzled over the LRT HTB decision. Admitedly, the TV footage wasn't great but I'm sure he was over the line before the tackle was completed. Absolutely bewildering.

[Charlie]

Don't go overboard and include any 50-50. Stick with the rolled-gold shockers.

Will eliminate any room for spin.

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by Charlie
Don't go overboard and include any 50-50. Stick with the rolled-gold shockers.

Will eliminate any room for spin.

Good call. I would rather have only four incidents on CD if all of them were obvious errors. The LRT HTB was questionable, but I don't know if it merits inclusion.

Someone mentioned ruck infringements in another thread, and how the ruck frees were 1-7 against us. There has to be some gold to mine there.

Did Barry Hall miss out on one or two frees in marking contests?

My knowledge of the rules is not first-rate, so I cannot spot an obvious umpiring error with any degree of certainty.

If this is to be done, we need to have our footage scrutinised and selected, a master CD prepared and a polite covering letter prepared by Sunday.

Inside Football has a deadline of about 5 pm Monday and they need to have a copy of this before then. By midday would be good. To make the news on Monday evening, the television media need to have their copies by midday. The newspapers wouldn't run the story until Tuesday, but they would also need copies by about midday so the AFL can get their right of reply during normal business hours. And of course the AFL would need to receive their copies as early as possible.

[ugg]

It just happened to be the only HTB decision all night (inconsistent with the other non-HTB decisions I might add) and it occurred late in the 4th quarter. Seems a bit more than questionable IMO.

[Charlie]

The Barry/Stenglein decision.

The Ball 'in the back' when he flew.

The Goodes trip.

Perhaps the Hall one in the square, which cost the Davis goal.

I would leave it at that.

[Jeffers1984]

Originally posted by Charlie
The Barry/Stenglein decision.

The Ball 'in the back' when he flew.

The Goodes trip.

Perhaps the Hall one in the square, which cost the Davis goal.

I would leave it at that.

I would add Barry Hall getting chopped in the arms in the 1st quarter as another one. Another set of rules for Barry.

[anne]

Originally posted by Egan
See we look at things with bias.

I could see about 4 deliberates that were never payed

Holding the ball.

The umpires were crap, but all people make mistakes...lets not ruin a finals series by having a disection of the umpires

The AFL are fully to blame for the continuation of a policy to reward Perth with crap umpires...and its coming back to bite.

Sydney were unlucky not to win, but you guys were dead on your feet gave it all, I don't personally think the umpires paid any role in the defeat.

Well Done to the Swanies, I hope you guys win the GF...because it certainly, 100% certain it won't be the Weagles.

We were the better team. We were robbed. The umpires decided the outcome of the game. All the papers, including the Melbourne ones are in agreement.

Moderator's note - Egan was in no way abusive or patronising. Please treat all posters, whether they are Swans fans or not, with the respect that you expect to be treated with.