Vocal Spida

[reigning premier]

I disagree. The captains and coaches at least should be able to comment on the umpiring. At the moment the AFL, despite the fact they have admitted that players are treated differently by the umpires, do nothing about it and allow no-one to comment on it. When a complaint is made through the appropriate channels, we get a Jeff Geischen whitewash. I believe it is the way the AFL treats it's players in relation to umpires that is unprofessional. Not the other way around.

Disputes/discussions/disagreements (Call them whatever you like), between umpires, players and clubs need to be kept on a professional and private level. They are, afterall, colleagues in the same company. To air ones dirty laundry in public is not only unprofessional, but damaging to the institution you are representing.

Yes go into meetings and kick each others heads in, but don't do it via the media and don't encourage journalists to pursue it in that manner. To do so only brings the game and themselves into disrepute. On top of that, and this is the main issue, we end up with kids playing the game thinking it's appropriate to argue with the umpire.

[goswannie14]

I agree with the basis of your argument. My problem is that the current system does not appear to be working. If it was, players wouldn't speak out, and as has been proven again, when they speak out the umpires appear to take notice of it (How long since we had a positive free kick count before Saturday?)

There has to be a better way for these differences to be worked out. To gag coachjes, captains and players isn't the right way, neither is white washing when umpires make mistakes. The AFL commission need to pull their collective heads out of where the sun doesn't shine and get this sorted out. But whilst The Fat Controller is in charge it isn't going to happen, and as for his side kick, Boy Wonder, you wouldn't win a card game holding a pair like that.

[reigning premier]

I'm not saying they're always right or that there isn't problems in this area of the game. I too think that the woeful decisions cost us The game Vs Essendon not to mention the Qualifying final in 05 Vs the illegals. However, sort it out properly and professionally. Not in the media.

As fans and supporters we can complain, and the media can report/whinge as well. But players and coaches, et al, no thank you. They actually have an avenue for their dispute/complaints. Whereas we have the media and RWO only !! So fair enough. We whinge here, they whinge there. Perfect!

[liz]

I agree with the basis of your argument. My problem is that the current system does not appear to be working. If it was, players wouldn't speak out, and as has been proven again, when they speak out the umpires appear to take notice of it (How long since we had a positive free kick count before Saturday?)

There has to be a better way for these differences to be worked out. To gag coachjes, captains and players isn't the right way, neither is white washing when umpires make mistakes. The AFL commission need to pull their collective heads out of where the sun doesn't shine and get this sorted out. But whilst The Fat Controller is in charge it isn't going to happen, and as for his side kick, Boy Wonder, you wouldn't win a card game holding a pair like that.

Having a positive free kick count is not what it's about. Putting aside the odd mistake umpires make and that we get hot under the collar about, it's more about consistency, not having pre-conceived ideas, and ruling "within the spirit of the game" (or at least, we wish they were allowed to do so).

Instinctively I hate the fact that there can't be any kind of debate / comment about the umpiring but I understand the reasons for it and think its one thing that Adey A has right. It's not about the AFL level umpires - its more about trying to increase the respect for umpires right across the board so that those working at lower levels have a better time of it.

[TheHood]

I agree with Spida that Umpires are becoming too well known via mic, media and other avoidable exposure.

The fine was obvious, however I am so bored with how over-engineered the game has become, that any raw opinion has become a welcome relief.

[alison.z]

i think the problem is that the afl treats unpires like gods. you can't say anything about them (anything at all) and they have a mindset that they can never be wrong. it shows when the daily telegraph asked for explanation of some of the contensious (?) free kicks from the Essendon game and they came back with that they were all right (including the OOB) ... the one that was blatantly obvious and that they couldn't defened - they conveniently didn't have any footage (hello - i only have half the game and i have the footage!!!)

[swansrock4eva]

I think a lot of the problem stems from the culture of the sport itself - don't get me wrong about how much I love footy, but I don't know of any other sport where fans seem to be almost encouraged to call umpires a range of derogatory terms (maggots etc etc) - although I know a lot of lower-level umpires who joke about it - "Yeah yeah I'm a maggot" etc - it's a really bad way to promote the role of the umpire at the lower levels IMO.

Having said that though, the AFL do nothing to help themselves either! They need to be looking to address the whole issue from the top down, and part of that should involve reaching a happy medium where the umpires aren't criticised just because a player or coach is unhappy with the result of the match and the umps are an easy target, but where someone can at least ask the question and the AFL responds to that question publicly in a satisfactory manner so that it can be seen that there are a range of methods in place to monitor performance. The AFL do nothing to help themselves by making the umpires so untouchable - I think most people would rather see the AFL say "well yeah that was a right stuff up - that umpire has been counselled/reviewed and as unfortunate as it was that that decision seems to have proved vital in the outcome of the match, we do need to accept that that's footy." Although it's no consolation to supporters in a situation like that OOB goal, it at least gives the public a chance to see umpires in a similar light to the way we see players - a club will support a player but is still willing to drop him when he's performing badly. Right now umpires appear almost untouchable and infallible and from what I can tell a lot of supporter frustration comes more from knowing that they AREN'T infallible but they are presented that way by the AFL than from the actual free kick ledger itself.

[Robbo]

I saw the footage the other night, what an absolute joke that you have to cough up $5000 for saying that.

Is Australia a democratic nation or not?

[573v30]

I saw the footage the other night, what an absolute joke that you have to cough up $5000 for saying that.

Is Australia a democratic nation or not?

Australia is, AFL isn't.