Most overtly biased umpiring I have seen

[gossipcom]

Okay I must admit this article and also this one sums up what Roosy thought of the match and the umpiring without blatantly being fined.

[AnnieH]

geez, roosey can be a sarcastic little thing sometimes, can't he?

"As AFL coaches and players, we'll adjust because we've got time to do it and we'll train for it and adjust to the kick-in rule, the new holding the ball rule, the hitting the arms rule, the push in the back rule, the 50m rule - all the brilliant rules they've brought in.

"But for the kids it's very frustrating as a parent seeing the kids have to adjust.

"It's not something I had to put up with as a kid."

Asked about his understanding of the interpretations of the new rules, Roos replied only partly tongue-in-cheek that he is now using the DVD issued by the AFL as a coaster.

i love roosey. he's special.

[Dogberry]

Again, the issue is not so much with the ones they give, but the ones they don't give.

Agreed wholeheartedly and Barry Hall seems to have the wrong end in too many games.

BTW, I am one of those who BOO during the presentation. I felt guilty about it while driving home and knew that I shouldn't boo when Matty Lloyd was doing his speech. BUT SO BLOODY WHAT?! WHO THE BLOODY HELL CARE HOW IT SOUNDED ON TV? I have been to quite a few games that we lost by a point and tonite is the first time that I saw so many members acted like "sore losers" because it was a really filthy filthy game to have lost. May be we should have played better, may be also, the umpires should be a bit more consistent about what is right and what is wrong and pay for what is wrong every time and not just sometimes.

[robbieando]

I hope thats the last time that boundary umpire has anything to do with a game of football. Where does the AFL get off by putting a myopic dope to run the boundary. For goodness sake they don't have a hard job.

OK a HUGE mistake was made the resulted in a goal to Essendon that won them the match because the TV cameras picked it up, but its not like the boundry umpire was right in front of Adam McPhee when he took the ball out of bounds. He was at least 30 to 40 metres behind McPhee, with McPhee's body blocking the ball, so there was no way he had a clear line of vision to make the decision.

You might say he should of been up with the play, but with only two boundary umpires (one on each side of the ground) and Essendon on a quick brake how do you expect to sprint up the ground to make the call without being installed as the bookies favourite for the next Stawell Gift? Umpire can't make decisions unless they are 100% (I know, I know thats a bit rice at times) but with the Boundary ump off the play and therefore out of position to make any call, it was up to the goal umpire to assist in the decision which for him would be hard considering there was a forward line entry (and soon after a shot on goal), plus he was even further out of position.

Yes they got it wrong and it cost us dearly, but the umpires were caught out of position because of a quick brake.

Also if you think being a boundary umpire is so easy I suggest you give it a go sometime, because having done it before I know I rather be a field umpire than a boundary umpire its that bloody hard.

[Robbo]

OK a HUGE mistake was made the resulted in a goal to Essendon that won them the match because the TV cameras picked it up, but its not like the boundry umpire was right in front of Adam McPhee when he took the ball out of bounds. He was at least 30 to 40 metres behind McPhee, with McPhee's body blocking the ball, so there was no way he had a clear line of vision to make the decision.

You might say he should of been up with the play, but with only two boundary umpires (one on each side of the ground) and Essendon on a quick brake how do you expect to sprint up the ground to make the call without being installed as the bookies favourite for the next Stawell Gift? Umpire can't make decisions unless they are 100% (I know, I know thats a bit rice at times) but with the Boundary ump off the play and therefore out of position to make any call, it was up to the goal umpire to assist in the decision which for him would be hard considering there was a forward line entry (and soon after a shot on goal), plus he was even further out of position.

Yes they got it wrong and it cost us dearly, but the umpires were caught out of position because of a quick brake.

Also if you think being a boundary umpire is so easy I suggest you give it a go sometime, because having done it before I know I rather be a field umpire than a boundary umpire its that bloody hard.

That comment just doubled my anger.

[AnnieH]

That comment just doubled my anger.

tripled mine.

[Dogberry]

Umpire can't make decisions unless they are 100% (I know, I know thats a bit rice at times)

That red+white colour of ours must have stand out quite well for umpires because they can pick up most of our infringements, more so than they can pick in other colours. Maybe we should consider just wearing white

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I'm not usually one to complain about the umps, and you can check my posts to verify, but we were deadset robbed tonight. Yes we should've played better, but the umps gave us a royal touch up and we were robbed!!

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Can we appeal that McPhee incident? the Dockers appealed because of a faulty siren, or lack of a siren, so can we appeal pathetic umpiring?

[annew]

I also booed tonight and wouldn't normally do that but the umpires cannot keep up with the pace of the game and cannot umpire consistently. Barry Hall cannot take a trick and I for one do not know how he keeps going. There was an incident right in front of me where Barry Hall was pushed to the ground, hit in the head and still no free. It is an absolute joke and time the umpire's mistakes were seriously dealt with. Just because the AFL cannot atrract umpires we are forced to put up with aging umpires that cannot keep up with the pace. It is very disappointing.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

I also booed tonight and wouldn't normally do that but the umpires cannot keep up with the pace of the game and cannot umpire consistently. Barry Hall cannot take a trick and I for one do not know how he keeps going. There was an incident right in front of me where Barry Hall was pushed to the ground, hit in the head and still no free. It is an absolute joke and time the umpire's mistakes were seriously dealt with. Just because the AFL cannot atrract umpires we are forced to put up with aging umpires that cannot keep up with the pace. It is very disappointing.

100% correct! As much as BF's goon squad thinks Bazza is a protected species (lmfao!) he almost never gets the benefit of the doubt, compared with glamour forwards like Lloyd and Riewoldt.

[mattyg]

Ive been trying to sign up anywhere on the internet simply to voice my opinion about the Sydney Vs. Essendon game, and finally found a place to do it. I have a few points that I'd like to put out there, just to ease my frustration:
1. The standard of umpiring in tonights game was simply appalling. I just cant believe that in this day and age of professionalism in sport, poor umpiring of the standard seen tonight can be the deciding factor in what would have otherwise been a terrific contest. I'm seriously hoping these umpires have day jobs, because to call themselves professional umpires would be laughable.
2. Fair enough you may say umpires have a difficult job. So give them help! If 25,000 fans can see on the big screen that the ball was out (ie. the mcphee incident), then why the hell cant the AFL use some simple technology to GET IT RIGHT! Its the 21st century for crying out loud!
3. The AFL should be ashamed of its action in regards to rule changes. When will someone actually listen to players, coaches and fans and get rid of this ludicrous "in the back" rule. I was of the impression AFL was a contact sport, but after tonights display, i've been left simply bewildered! Are we playing netball!? Contact!

[top40]

For those in this thread who chose to defend the umpires, how about facing some reality checks.

There is little doubt that since the James Hird/Esssendon-Scott Maclaren lovers tiff in May 2004, there has been plenty of signs of lots of occasions when, (with the $20,000 fine in mind), the two sides have kissed and made up...big time.


The boundary umpire was given plenty of opportunity to appreciate that Adam McPhie has gone out of bounds. It is inexcusable to defend him at any level. He's getting paid to do very little, surely he could get it right! You talk about Wayne Harmes back in 79. That was at least a grey call. The boundary umpire here had sufficient vision of the ball to at least see McPhie kicking the entire ball from outside the boundary line. It is as simple as that. Further, why didn't a field umpire, (particularly those who appear obsessed about the hands in the back rule), overrule the boundary umpire?

Speaking of the hands in the back obsession. Let's examine the Barry Hall decision late in the third quarter. The real controversy over last week's Matthew Richardson incident from the umpiring prospective was not Matthew Allen's decision to award a free kick, herein Allen was following the rules of the game. It was Allen's nazi like decision to thereafter, in a VERY loud and contained Telstra Dome award, a 50 metre penalty for play on, ultimately causing a sealer Essendon goal. It was that decision that realy provoked justified criticism from the AFL community against the umpire himself. Well, last night, the exact same thing happens. A fifty metre, (let's rub in !!!), penalty is awarded against Barry Hall and in favour of....Essendon of course.

Yes, the Swans played poorly, Yes, Essendon played above themselves. But I am not sure the Bomber were the better team. But for those who in this thread want to defend the umpires, just be reminded that the crowd reaction was the most angry ever seen in the 25 years, and over 280 games played at the SCG. We always get upset with umpiring, it seems part of the game. Last night was different however. Last night the standard of umpiring went far too far. We had a full house again at the SCG. The fear I have is that if that standard of umpiring along with the silly no contact rules continue, this time next year we will be lucky to get 10,000 per game. Sydney people will leave the code in disgust.

At the very least Richard Colless should lodge an official complaint to the AFL. it will make no different to the result, but it will at least show to the Swans members that the club cares.

[Glenn]

Can we appeal that McPhee incident? the Dockers appealed because of a faulty siren, or lack of a siren, so can we appeal pathetic umpiring?

Wishful thinking but no, if McPhee scored the goal then Sydney might have a case, but seeing as the goal didn't come from him (just the damn assist ) nothing that can be done there AFAIK.

[monopoly19]

The umpiring was literally the worst at any live game I've ever been to. I don't think I'm too bad about the umpires generally - yes they are human and make mistakes - but last night was so consistently bad that it looked like a concerted effort from the 3 of them to destroy any chance Sydney had of winning (as if we hadn't done enough of that ourselves). People have been saying that Sydney should have won the game anyway, that we have no-one to blame but ourselves, and I can't help but think how irrelevant that is. Yes, we could have played better, but how that excuses the fact that the umpires completely obliterated us I'll never understand. I think last night was the first night I've ever been so outwardly frustrated at the end of a game. And yes, I booed! Loudly! Firstly for the umpires as they were leaving the ground because they were an embarrassment to the AFL, and secondly to the presentation because it was a farce. There's no value in winning a trophy if you don't win it fair, and Essendon didn't. I can not think of a better way to turn people off footy than what happened last night.

The worst part of it all is that there will be no repercussions for what happened. The umpiring boss or whoever will look through the tape, and manage to justify every free kick with the most pathetic of excuses and the Swans will again have no recourse. Like someone said above, it's not even necessarily the free kicks that were given to Essendon, but the lack of those given to Sydney. There was a least 2 times, directly in front of where we were sitting, when Fosdike and Davis were both pushed in the back attempting to get the ball. They were unbalanced, and it had an effect on the contest. Free kick to us? No. What a friggin' surprise.

Don't even get me started on the way Barry Hall was treated. It's gotten to the point where whenever he marks it I expect it to be taken off him.