In defense of Hall

[pinkemu]

Don't encourage acting - Thomo

very interesting read. Sums up the whole situation.

Right on the money!

This whole episode reminds me of bull fighting. And they call that sport to.

[goswannie14]

Agreed. However there are some posters here who don't share the gist of the article and blame Barry for his actions. From the tone of their comments I think their views are pretty well set, so be it. As the saying goes we agree to disagree.

You know it was bad when even the press come out supporting Barry, doesn't say much for the objectivity of some of those who are high on their moral high ground soapboxes. It must feel good being that self righteous.

[T-bag]

Speaking as one of the less educated - and I indicated that in my post - I needed to have it spelt out. The problem is that Satch's comment didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I still think clutching the front of an opponent's jumper is a strange way to go about creating space, apart from being illegal. My implied question was: is this common practice?
If my ignorance offends you, that's your problem, not mine.

Sorry Di I didn't actually mean you

[Robbo]

Don't encourage acting - Thomo

very interesting read. Sums up the whole situation.

Oh the irony coming from a supporter of the Italian soccer team.

[pinkemu]

Oh the irony coming from a supporter of the Italian soccer team.

It's to late for that game. Let's save ours from the red carpets.

[Lohengrin]

This thread has become unnecessarily nasty simply because some people disagree.

I'd be interested in the last occasion that Thomas was cited as an expert here.

[shaun..]

Thats actually a decent read, the umpires should take note. Or just let Hall get rid of Mitchell's smug grin for good.

[johnno]

Don't know if anyone here saw the sketch that Sam Newman did of Barry Hall on the footy show last night, it was another one of thos CGU ads sketch similar to the one he did a few weeks ago about Terry Wallace. I felt it was a touch harsh.

[ROK Lobster]

This thread has become unnecessarily nasty simply because some people disagree.

I'd be interested in the last occasion that Thomas was cited as an expert here.

Doesn't invalidate what is a fairly well articulated and reasonable opinion.

[Go Swannies]

This thread has become unnecessarily nasty simply because some people disagree.

I'd be interested in the last occasion that Thomas was cited as an expert here.

As a coach Thomas failed. But he knows more about the game than anyone here so he deserves to be read. (The same reason that I think Valentino Rossi knows more about motorcycle racing than I do - and Mark Webber more about F1 - they do it, we watch and may have done it at a very junior level.) So we get the benefit of a true expert with no axe to grind detailing how he sees a controversial event featuring one of our players. If he detailed how Baz deserved each of the 50s I'd have taken that view seriously. But he took Baz' side and that's very gratifying.

My personal view is that unfair umpiring will end Baz' career before it should - and that same biased umpiring has made Nick Reiwoldt more of a star than his playing deserves. I wonder if GT would acknowledge that?

[Lohengrin]

I wouldn't dispute Thomas knows his football. But I just wonder what the attitude to his article would have been if it had been 'anti-Swans' (or even in the case of many other footy experts who criticise the Swans).

I agree with all of his article except the point that Hall should have been given a free kick. From either angle he was clearly holding first and play on was the appropriate call.

The 50s were a case of over-umpiring, which we've seen too much of in recent years.

As for Hall complaining about frees, he does get a tough run, but I wonder how many times (like this one) they're not really frees but look like it because of his strange technique?

[shaun..]

A bit of a loss as to why he would hold his opponent's jumper too, wouldn't it be easier to place the palm and hence palm-off if need be?

In saying that, he also gets held on to and doesn't get the calls - one obvious one against Campbell - and hence carries on like a lunatic.

[1%ers]

Hall is a liability to his team-mates. They don't what he will do & turns the ball over far too much.
As soon as he is frustrated or out positioned by his opponent he infringes on his opponent, when we are in attack.
How can we consistently outscore the opposition with Halls actions & whinging to umpires?

[Lucky Knickers]

Hall is a liability to his team-mates. They don't what he will do & turns the ball over far too much.
As soon as he is frustrated or out positioned by his opponent he infringes on his opponent, when we are in attack.
How can we consistently outscore the opposition with Halls actions & whinging to umpires?

Our skills are deplorable at the moment. We aren't making it easy on our forward line to mark and take set shots.
Baz does fine if we hit up a target.
You should be asking how can we consistently outscore the opposition when we continue to turn the ball over.

[liz]

Hall is a liability to his team-mates. They don't what he will do & turns the ball over far too much.
As soon as he is frustrated or out positioned by his opponent he infringes on his opponent, when we are in attack.
How can we consistently outscore the opposition with Halls actions & whinging to umpires?

LOL. Hall is odds on to finish this season as the Swans' leading goal scorer - for the 8th consecutive season, baring significant injury. Only Adam Goodes looks as if he could possibly outscore him but probably only then if he were stationed in the forward line more often (and we don't really want to sacrifice him from the midfield).

And it is hardly like he is hampering the development of a young up-and-comer by keeping them out of the team.

In the words of O'Keefe

"I think you get a hell of a lot more good from Barry than bad ... and the opposition does try and provoke him," O'Keefe said.

"But he's been in brilliant form and great touch this year and we wouldn't have him any other way."

Barry Hall owns up to mistake | Herald Sun