Biggest Whingers in the AFL

[Nolie]

Originally posted by Sean
They kicked four more behinds than us and I seem to recall three of those being from set shots that were pretty much in front - Matera and Sampi come to mind and I'm sure there was at least one other. Could be wrong though - haven't been able to watch the replay yet

Sampi's again was from a dubious free kick.

[liz]

Originally posted by Nolie
Sampi's again was from a dubious free kick.

Not really - he was clearly held, if only for a split moment.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by Dave
The logic of playing such a flawless game that umpires stuff ups have little effect is a crock.

What if both teams had not made one error all game, scores were level, but an incorrect call on the final siren gave a team a shot at goal and they won?

The simple fact is that the umpiring should have absolutely NO effect on the outcome of a game.

it is axiomatic that people make errors, players and umpires alike. why should we be tolerant of players errors and entirely intolerant of those of the umpires? cut the cake any way you like but for each error that anyone can find by an umpire that would have made the difference on friday night has it gone the other way ( i can think of three ) i'll happily provide three made by the swans (given a video tape of the match).

the real issue for me is that umpiring is dying a rapid death in this country what with the greater exposure of and focus of vitriol directed at individual umpires. making "official" complaints and demanding that "something must be done" is lame, pathetic and ultimately ineffectual.

the best long-term solution apparent to me for the present paucity of fresh umpiring talent is for the afl to raise the financial and cultural status of the top umpires to levels similar to the upper tiers of players. in this game of big money and high stakes, i do not see it unreasonable for excellence in umpiring to be rewarded with 200k + salaries. for this an umpire must of course be of the highest calibre, be employed full-time, involved in community relations, education of clubs, players and other umpires and administration.

how much would a result on last friday night more fair in our eyes be worth?

[timthefish]

Originally posted by liz
Not really - he was clearly held, if only for a split moment.

definitely a fair free kick.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Nolie
Sampi's again was from a dubious free kick.

Definitely held!!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Re: Biggest Whingers in the AFL

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
The way we have carried on today makes me want to "rip up" my membership. Biggest sooks in the League, bar none (except maybe Riewoldt).

After every loss we have I'm surprised by some of the stuff that get's posted on here. I am glad I don't log in till the Monday after because some of the stuff we come out with is really off.
In a more relaxed state of mind you have to admit shooting ourselves so repeatedly in the foot {LRT's bad pass, MOL's miss, Leo's charge (legal or not it was pointless) etc. etc.} was such a quintessentially Swans way of blowing it.
However by losing a game we should have won we have probably thrown away a gilt edged chance at the flag, and I doubt our ability to get throuch St.Kilda.

[Schneiderman]

Re: Re: Biggest Whingers in the AFL

Originally posted by Ruckman
However by losing a game we should have won we have probably thrown away a gilt edged chance at the flag, and I doubt our ability to get throuch St.Kilda.

Nothing gilt edged about our chances one way or the other. If we had won, the only difference is that we would have to meet Port or Adelaide the following week. Neither is a push-over. And then we'd have to meet the winner of WC and St Kilda in the GF - whoever would win that game would still be massive favourites.

The simple fact is we have to beat the best teams left. We can still do it, and it all starts again this Friday.

[sharpie]

Re: Re: Biggest Whingers in the AFL

Originally posted by Ruckman
After every loss we have I'm surprised by some of the stuff that get's posted on here. I am glad I don't log in till the Monday after because some of the stuff we come out with is really off.
In a more relaxed state of mind you have to admit shooting ourselves so repeatedly in the foot {LRT's bad pass, MOL's miss, Leo's charge (legal or not it was pointless) etc. etc.} was such a quintessentially Swans way of blowing it.
However by losing a game we should have won we have probably thrown away a gilt edged chance at the flag, and I doubt our ability to get throuch St.Kilda.

Sure its easy to say that, but didn't West Coast make just as many errors, and had just as many bad shots at goal?

But did they have just as many unfavourable umpiring decisions? No. That is where the difference lies.

Either way, sure a lot of crap gets posted here straight after matches, but mostly it is while everyone is still very emotional about the result. I dont see a problem with venting here on RWO if it helps calm you down or whatever.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Sean
I don't know if people complain every week but in some ways they would be justified. As you know, the treatment of our forward line in general and Hall in particular is pretty ridiculous and the worst thing is that it's not a recent thing - anyone remember Plugger getting 4 frees in a whole season?

It's not suprising that Swans fans get a bit frustrated - and events like Friday certainly make it worse.

I agree that Hall has been harshly dealt with for years, as was Plugger. Not sure how much of this is a Sydney thing and how much is a big forward issue.

A lot of the other frees, particularly around the ground and in the backline, are warranted though. Not all of course, but most sides get tough decisions and all supporters think their team is harshly done by.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Nolie
Sampi's again was from a dubious free kick.

Didn't he take a mark in front of Dempster?

[Dave]

I cant believe this thread is still going.

We were ripped off! Simple as that.

If you think that having potentially lost a GF berth due to crap umpiring is not worth complaining about then you must be one of those people who constantly gets screwed and just says "Oh well". Show some spine.

The conservative Govt in this country must love you!

[NMWBloods]

Re: Re: Re: Biggest Whingers in the AFL

Originally posted by sharpie
But did they have just as many unfavourable umpiring decisions? No. That is where the difference lies.

Certainly to the same extent as us, but they did get some poor calls. For example, Hall clearly infringed Glass just forward of the wing, no free kick and we run down and kick a goal. Judd was being held most of the game.

Either way, sure a lot of crap gets posted here straight after matches, but mostly it is while everyone is still very emotional about the result. I dont see a problem with venting here on RWO if it helps calm you down or whatever.

I have no problem with people venting - it's very cathartic. However, occasionally it seems that alternative explanations of the loss are not welcome - rather that it must have been the umpires and only the umpires.

[timthefish]

Re: Re: Re: Biggest Whingers in the AFL

Originally posted by sharpie
Either way, sure a lot of crap gets posted here straight after matches, but mostly it is while everyone is still very emotional about the result. I dont see a problem with venting here on RWO if it helps calm you down or whatever.

absolutely, we've all done it at some stage. however, to leave crap opinions unchallanged may give the false appearance that they have some kind of validity or are a consensus.

i'm pretty sure i'm on a loser with at least one of my opinions at the moment. the consensus, or at least the stronger voices from people who i generally regard as being thoughtful seem to be against me.

such is life.

[timthefish]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Biggest Whingers in the AFL

Originally posted by NMWBloods
rather that it must have been the umpires and only the umpires.

this may not be the opinion of all people disappointed by the umpiring on friday (such as you and me bloods) but it has been a repeated claim by some here. few have gone so far as to claim outright bias on the behalf of the umps (though there has been much insinuation) but it has given the debate a real stench of a witch hunt.

[sharpie]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Biggest Whingers in the AFL

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Certainly to the same extent as us, but they did get some poor calls. For example, Hall clearly infringed Glass just forward of the wing, no free kick and we run down and kick a goal. Judd was being held most of the game.

Was Kirk not getting crunched on the ground constantly? Did Hall not have his arms chopped? These sort of decisions happen on a weekly basis, and generally even themselves out.

But when you have the Leo Barry decision - probably one of the worst, most influencial umpiring decisions in such an important final in the history of the game - closely followed by the Goodes non-decision, I can't see how it can be said that the umpiring evened itself out over the course of the night.

It is this reason that so many of us are angry.

But having said that, I do agree that it is Monday and as such, it is time to move on and look forward to Friday, where revenge can begin.