Ray Chamberlin is a ******* ****** who agrees?

[Scottee]

I have seen worst umpiring than what was on display yesterday.

Have we forgot how the bombers won a close game at the SCG in 2007 when McPhee's foot was clearly over the line?

Umpiring has always been crap in Australian Rules but the standards are being lowered each week, with a new low set each week.

Ive been watching avidly since 1965 and never seen anything as blatant as yeterday. The game is in serious shape if it can't do anything about this.

[ScottH]

I have seen worst umpiring than what was on display yesterday.

Have we forgot how the bombers won a close game at the SCG in 2007 when McPhee's foot was clearly over the line?

Umpiring has always been crap in Australian Rules but the standards are being lowered each week, with a new low set each week.

Like the player pool being stretched, the umpire pool will be stretched as well with more games per weekend.

Hey Scott thanks to you too for running this site. I really appreciate being able to participate in a forum that is interesting, informative and sometimes just good fun. It is perfectly appropriate for the mods of a forum such as this to gently remind posters of what is getting close to crossing the line. I don't know why some people think it's appropriate to argue this point with you guys but I guess you get the odd person who thinks they should keep stirring the pot.

Anyway keep up the good work.....

Thanks Jono, and others for their show of support.
We do our best to keep everyone pleased, but sometimes that is not possible.

[Bas]

Have we forgot how the bombers won a close game at the SCG in 2007 when McPhee's foot was clearly over the line?

Brought back memories of a 1997 game against Adelaide I think when Filandia run over the boundary line and it wasn't his foot that fell out.

I still remember James Hird commenting something about Shetland Pony.

Where is Peter these days? Probably like a dog at a bone about something in life!!!

[Captain]

Why don't the owners just delete the posts which could cause them trouble and let the rest of us whinge (legally) about the pathetic umpiring?

[SwansFan1972]

I run this site with ScottH - I am getting tired ... maybe I'll just let a few of you ruin it for all.

PS - I don't get to watch the game here. But here are a few sobering thoughts ... without the opposition, there wouldn't be a game - Without the umpires, there wouldn't be a game. If we played better and didn't catch the eye of the umpires for doing stupid things, this tread wouldn't have been started, nor be up to post 118 by now.

Ok - but surely the fact the thread exists at all tells you something is out of kilter here. It isn't as if one such as this pops up every week.

And sure, if people are overstepping the mark you should reel them in, but if your intention was to settle people down, your style was likely to have the opposite effect.

[Hartijon]

Too many new rules!

Not dtracting anything from the apalling perforamce of the Umpires,a major problem with the game is that we have too many rules open to subjective interpretation.

Holding the Ball. The Umpire has to judge intent so players over emphasise their attempt to punch the ball even though they know they can't. If they don't its HTB!
Dumb Rule!

Hands in the back: The Umpire pays a free when the front placed player moves back and the player at the back is just holding his spot
Dumb Rule

Diving on the Ball and not clearing it: Players hold the ball under the player and stop him clearing it
Dumb Rule

Holding : Last person to let go gets pinged eg LRT
Dumb Rule

In the back: Diving specialists,eg Chapman , always fall forward like they have been pushed in the back:Needs looking at

50 metre Rule: Need markers on the fence line to get it exactly 50! Too harsh and dumb rule.


I'll stop there but there are a few more no doubt

[Mike_B]

Horse may have something to say
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/sydney-swa...717-1hk8b.html

Dunno who the writer/sub-editor thinks he'll be talking to, unless it's one of those blokes in pink with a whistle in the NRL. They're UMPIRES in AFL

[MadCanuck]

Wow, I've never seen such vitriol on this site, not even during the 'great Davis debates'. I wouldn't expect any 'disciplinary' action any time soon for Razor however and in fact I'd expect just the opposite. Expect to hear comments like these from league HQ in the next 24 hours:

"Great call - calls them as he sees them"
"Made the tough calls irregardless of team, time of game, or position on field"
"Kept a tight lid on a tight, and sometimes emotional, contest"
Etc

Let's lighten up. Ray adds a little colour to the game. Like most, I was furious at some of those decisions yesterday but in the scheme of things it's just a game and I look forward to getting all worked up again next week!
I

[top40]

Not dtracting anything from the apalling perforamce of the Umpires,a major problem with the game is that we have too many rules open to subjective interpretation.

Holding the Ball. The Umpire has to judge intent so players over emphasise their attempt to punch the ball even though they know they can't. If they don't its HTB!
Dumb Rule!

Hands in the back: The Umpire pays a free when the front placed player moves back and the player at the back is just holding his spot
Dumb Rule

Diving on the Ball and not clearing it: Players hold the ball under the player and stop him clearing it

Dumb Rule

Holding : Last person to let go gets pinged eg LRT
Dumb Rule

In the back: Diving specialists,eg Chapman , always fall forward like they have been pushed in the back:Needs looking at

50 metre Rule: Need markers on the fence line to get it exactly 50! Too harsh and dumb rule.


I'll stop there but there are a few more no doubt

Some excellent points raised. The problem is virtually every minute of a game an umpire is left to make 50:50 grey area decisions. They might nearly always get them technically correct. Yet an opportunity exists to favour one side over the other. Not sure what the answer is, save culling some of these rules.

[aardvark]

Ray adds a little colour to the game.

I really don't think the game needs that sort of colour. A good umpire is rarely noticed, not the centre of attention.

[desredandwhite]

Sigh. This old chestnut again.

Folks, the mods are erring on the side of caution. Why? Because no one wants the hassle of having to talk to the AFL about potentially libellous situations. The intention is NOT to stifle discussion or to censor the internet. Just be aware that there is a line and it's not too difficult to stay just on the right side of that line.

Let's move on. There's another game we can stuff up this weekend against the Bulldogs and our energy should be instead expended on arguing over whether Jesse White should be dropped forever (yes, but only to the NEAFL where he can inflate his potential trade value by thrashing ACT league players), or whether we should bring back TDL (yes, we need someone with goal-sense and is a natural forward), or who we can bring back from reserves to continually bait Barry Hall in the hopes of getting multiple free kicks (come on down Paul Bevan)

[ScottH]

Why don't the owners just delete the posts which could cause them trouble and let the rest of us whinge (legally) about the pathetic umpiring?

As much as we don't like removing posts, or part posts, it has been happening.

[Bas]

Let's move on. There's another game we can stuff up this weekend against the Bulldogs and our energy should be instead expended on arguing over whether Jesse White should be dropped forever (yes, but only to the NEAFL where he can inflate his potential trade value by thrashing ACT league players), or whether we should bring back TDL (yes, we need someone with goal-sense and is a natural forward), or who we can bring back from reserves to continually bait Barry Hall in the hopes of getting multiple free kicks (come on down Paul Bevan)

I agree. I'm starting to whinge about our next loss now.

It removes the intensity of the emotion that way.

Forget about a forward line, who can we develop to become a serial pest?

Damn Dogs and Bloody Barry Biffo kicking 6 goals after he said he was going to retire. At least we can't blame the umpires this week. Another 4 goal loss.

What about that long haired kid. Thank God we dumped Cheese.

Feeling better already !

[Mel_C]

After the disgraceful ROK HTB decision, I've given him both barrels when he's come to the boundary - and he's had a sly smile when he's heard me.

A few years back when we played Carlton at Etihad I was sitting behind the swans bench right near the race where the umpires go off. Instead of paying HTB against Judd he paid in the back when it clearly wasn't. When he came off at half time I yelled out to him that he would be umpiring in the reserves the next week. He game me that same sly smile!

I am still worked up after yesterday's game .

[Bas]

A few years back when we played Carlton at Etihad I was sitting behind the swans bench right near the race where the umpires go off. Instead of paying HTB against Judd he paid in the back when it clearly wasn't. When he came off at half time I yelled out to him that he would be umpiring in the reserves the next week. He game me that same sly smile!

I am still worked up after yesterday's game .

The smile is becuase he has got the very response he has wanted. You're better off giving him praise even if you don't mean it. That will get under his skin.