Umpires' apologist DH-S tells swans to stop whingeing

[Nico]

Originally posted by timthefish
absolutely.

i can't see where d h-s is factually wrong in that article or in his analysis on white-line fever earlier this week. while there are few concrete quotes from the players or coaches suggesting a problem with umpiring the general demeanor of the club in the media is a sulky one to that effect.

i like our game-plan. it was successful last year and with evolution will give us success this year again. the fact is though is that it is an aggressive defence-based plan that attempts to reduce contests when we have possession and maximise them when we do not. as frees tend to go to those in possession (apart from holding the ball of course) this plan is going to reduce such frees awarded to us and increase those given against us.

we can't have it both ways.

Can't quite grasp your argument here.

I thought the reason why we won the flag is that we were aggressive and won the footy, and were first to the ball. Some of the contentious ones on Saturday were against us for holding the ball. The problem I see is that many times it is not the person who is prepared to put their body on the line that gets the benefit of a decision. They get the footy, get jumped on from back and front. Since when was someone literally sitting or jumping in the middle of someone's back legal.

Since when did it become legal to slide into the front of the player on the ground making head high contact. Seems like 2006 is the answer. Touch someone with a cream puff open hand even remotely to the face in a standing situation and it is deemed head high.

The difference in many players between Eade and Roos eras is simply that under Roos they put their bodies on the line and get to the footy first. Under Eade we were universally accepted by other coaches as the softest side in the comp.

I see it as more like consistency of interpretation than anything else. If the inconsistency continues then we have a legitimate gripe. I suspect we might be griping.

Right now I will take Goldspink every week.

[Lucky Knickers]

Originally posted by Nico
Under Eade we were universally accepted by other coaches as the softest side in the comp.

That's a broad statement there Nico. Evidence?

I would have thought that the "soft" tag started to erode when Eade came on board.

A team with Kel/Cressa/Roos/Dunks et al at their peak - soft?

Under Roos our hardness has definitely improved further and we are a lot more consistent.

Agree 100% with your consistency point

[dendol]

Re: how many errors can an umpire make?

Originally posted by smartplay

One possible solution to umpires making error of judgement:
If one makes a clear error of judgement against team A inside the scoring circle (eg Lloyd vs barry game 1 ), and is pointed out in the break or during the game by fair-minded member of the umpiring team, then the same umpire MAKES UP for the error by giving the free for team A for a small infringement inside the scoring circle. Then both teams have no reasons to complain/whinge! A VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION! This depends on unbiased neutral umpire.
If the error is not made up at that point of time of play and further aggravated with more biasness in the same game, do we sit quietly & accept meekly the rubbish umpiring that is thrown at us? Common ! this is professional game. treat the game professionally!

LOL. Lets abandon play altogether and have the umps decide how many free kicks each team will get and base the winner on that.

Originally posted by Nico
The problem I see is that many times it is not the person who is prepared to put their body on the line that gets the benefit of a decision. They get the footy, get jumped on from back and front. Since when was someone literally sitting or jumping in the middle of someone's back legal.

I see it as more like consistency of interpretation than anything else. If the inconsistency continues then we have a legitimate gripe. I suspect we might be griping.

Right now I will take Goldspink every week.

Yep, the commentators in last night's Saints vs Tigers game were mentioning how the players treat the ball like a hot potato now - get caught with it and you're cooked.

We griped all of last year, and nothing happened, yet we still won the flag. If we get closer to 50-50 on the umpiring decisions this year, we're certainties!

Also, what happened to prior opportunity? It seems now that if you dive on the ball to win it, then have 4 opponents jump on you immediately, its holding the ball despite lack of prior opportunity. I'll bet my house that Jude will get pinged this way on the weekend.

[SMFC]

I've known one AFL umpire ever, Denis Rich. Pretty well respected and had a real dislike of all his colleagues - including the ones still going - "Hollywood" McLaren and Goldstink.

Really interesting to here what he had to say. This was one bloke who was pretty sharp. Cos of BS he gave it away earlier than he could've.