Prior Opportunity

[Steamboat]

Not sure how the rest of the games went on the weekend as far as umpiring standard, but out at Monarch, it appeared that prior opportunity was left at the M5 toll gates.

Players were wrapped up the minute they got the ball and were pinged for holding, several against St George and Campbelltown that led to goals.

Although they probably evened up in the end, they seemed to all be wrong decisions, and when the whistle blows and all players,officials and spectators look at the umpire without a clue which way the free kick is going or for what, then we have a problem.

Thoughts?

[Junior]

I agree steamboat. while I didn't see the Campbelltown v St George match, in a lot of the matches I have seen there have definitely been some 'unique' decisions. I am not sure what playing experience the team of umpires have had, but sometimes it appears that, yes they know the rules of the game, but they are not in touch with the players' view of the game. There are a number of umpires going around, and I won't name names, but it seems to be the younger, less experienced umpires that seem to think if there is a piece of play that involves heavy contact that there must be a free kick somewhere. Sometimes there might be a big pack mark, a big tackle, or hit that is perfectly legal yet because there is a bloke left lying on the floor, he must have been infringed upon. And as I said, I have found that it seems to be 3 or 4 of the younger umpires. In saying that, I have in general found the umpiring this year to be of a reasonable standard in first grade at least. After a number of matches I have remarked that I didn't notice the umpires at all which is probably the best compliment available to them. So, in general I think they have been good this year, however some of the younger guys need to realise that it's a contact sport.

[Pace To Burn]

I think the main problem with the umpiring is the inconsistencies not only from week to week but on the same day. The holding the ball decisions that you see vary so much it is ridiculous. The amount of times on Sat that the whole crowd(Both Sides Supporters) are heard to be either yelling out or laughing at decisions or non decisions is remarkable. The biggest joke is when a player has ample prior opp and is tackled but the ball is knocked free without correctly disposing of it and the umpires just lift their arms and say play on. The last time i checked that was holding the ball, or you even hear them say knocked out in the tackle play on which is a joke if you have had prior opp. Then you see a player put his head over the ball and pick it up and get tackled straight away with no opp but because the ball is pinned under him they give a free kick against the player trying to make the play. I agree totally with you Junior that i think the majority of the Muppets umpiring have never played and hence their poor decisions on interpretatons of the game. You def see them give decisions at times when there is a big hit and they stand there not knowing what to signal.

[The Rooster]

what about situations of an umpire calling a player a f... head.... what happens there. From our game against campbelltown several times and once to me (was true) but still if we can not call umpires things have been used in the past then what should happen to umpires,and also to the ones that are in fact below the standard that we deserve in the sydney afl