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

[giant]

Yeh, you really have to feel for them having two decisions.

Come back and have a whinge when the opposition get EIGHT cheap free kick goals!

[GongSwan]

I didn't see the dubious HTB against WC. But the "holding the arm" against the Dogs, just after they'd taken the lead was ridiculous. Two blokes tumbling head-over-heels, neither a chance to control the ball, a hand brushes an arm and it's called holding. Right in front of WC goal, they score, completely altered the momentum and feel of the game. One of the stupidest things I've ever seen.

Technically, to the letter of the law, seen from a certain angle etc etc etc the free was there. The thing is not that he pays frees, he decides the outcome of games, some sort of God complex or some such rubbish

[Cpt. Kirk]

Technically, to the letter of the law, seen from a certain angle etc etc etc the free was there. The thing is not that he pays frees, he decides the outcome of games, some sort of God complex or some such rubbish

I actually think that it would be a great free kick in the first quarter but i am a strong believer that a slight free kick like that should not determine a game, regardless i think picken should have been pinged for holding the ball(which was definitely there).

The umpires should only pay blatant free kicks in that important last 10 mins of a game(and i think there is stats that suggest that they use to do in the past). A 50/50 decision like that shouldn't be the determining factor of the game.

[dimelb]

Just back from holidays last night, out of computer contact, and have read several pages of vituperation and outrage. I'm with the rest of the people here, and while I think umpiring is a tough gig and generally try to make allowances, I have never booed as long and lustily as I did at the Freo game.
I have no idea what Chamberpot is like in private life, but I'm convinced that when he puts on the match guernsey, he becomes an officious, self-important jack-in-office. Time for a spell in the reserves.

[liz]

I actually think that it would be a great free kick in the first quarter but i am a strong believer that a slight free kick like that should not determine a game, regardless i think picken should have been pinged for holding the ball(which was definitely there).

The umpires should only pay blatant free kicks in that important last 10 mins of a game(and i think there is stats that suggest that they use to do in the past). A 50/50 decision like that shouldn't be the determining factor of the game.

I don't think I agree with any of that. A free kick should be a free kick regardless of when it occurs in the game. A decision that costs / creates a goal in the first quarter can have exactly the same impact on the final result as one that occurs in the final 10 minutes.

I would prefer only obvious frees are paid throughout a game - and those where the umpire actually saw what happened, rather than tried to guess.

I can't think of any mitigating circumstances to explain why Picken got a HTM free in that instance. HTB adjudications are a lot harder to assess / categorise, but certainly the one that went against the Dogs a few minutes earlier looked extremely stiff.

[Go Swannies]

I agree with you Liz that frees should be obvious, not finer shadings that are subject to bias and showboating umps. But I think that the pace of the game - and the stage - should determine how it's being umpired. I remember Goldspink saying that the game he was proudest of was the last 10 minutes of the Swans Cats Semi in 2005. He said "there were scores of minor infractions we could have paid but we largely put the whistles away and let them get on with it." Imagine if Ray had been officiating! Franctic footy near the final siren is inspiring and messy so it needs special umpiring to give us the spectacle we'll remember forever.

[wolftone57]

My nephew was listening to SEN and apparently Ray's performance in several games was questioned and the commentators asked Geoff Gieschan whether any action would be taken in regard to these performances. Geischan said he didn't see any need to do so and he was quite satisfied with his performance. There were several matches mentioned and the subject of confusing decisions was mentioned as well as Ray's gregarious nature. Gieschan backed Ray but did admit that some of the gregariousness could be controlled and the Herald Sun reported that the Umpires Director and Coach had told him to get back to basics. The transcript on SEN will back this up.

[liz]

I Franctic footy near the final siren is inspiring and messy so it needs special umpiring to give us the spectacle we'll remember forever.

But wouldn't it be good if whole games were umpired like that?

[Go Swannies]

But wouldn't it be good if whole games were umpired like that?

I don't think they can be or players would think they can get away with too much. I'm the one calling for a free when a Swans player is taken high or there's an obvious kick in danger. But, at any other time of the game, don't you think Leo's 2005 mark would have a attracted a free one way or the other? Imagine if it had then!

[liz]

I don't think they can be or players would think they can get away with too much. I'm the one calling for a free when a Swans player is taken high or there's an obvious kick in danger. But, at any other time of the game, don't you think Leo's 2005 mark would have a attracted a free one way or the other? Imagine if it had then!

I think frees like that should also be paid with 30 seconds to go in a grand final if they are clearly there. I don't understand the logic of arguing that the rules of the game (and hence what players should be allowed to get away with) should change according to the circumstances of the game.

I just would rather soft / marginal contact / ticky touch frees are never paid. I would like the umpires to always stick to what they actually see, rather than what they guess might have happened. And I would like umpires not to make up rules on the spot to suit their mood / personality / ego.

[swansrule100]

i was reading plugger and the mighty swans on the toilet the other day and i noticed in all the game stats how low the free kick counts were compared to the modern game, umpires get more and more involved each year. Yes the rules change but i believe too often the flow of the game is disrupted by over umpiring. Some of it is so technical and not in the spirit of the contest, then at other times it does flow. Theres no consistency at all, not only game to game and quarter to quarter but minute to minute.

[Dosser]

i was reading plugger and the mighty swans on the toilet the other day and i noticed in all the game stats how low the free kick counts were compared to the modern game, umpires get more and more involved each year. Yes the rules change but i believe too often the flow of the game is disrupted by over umpiring. Some of it is so technical and not in the spirit of the contest, then at other times it does flow. Theres no consistency at all, not only game to game and quarter to quarter but minute to minute.

That was such a good book written by a Swans tragic.

[penga]

Some of it is so technical and not in the spirit of the contest, then at other times it does flow.

This is what gets me. The spirit of the game. Considering the amount of money now available to Vlad, it is time professional umpires are the norm. What would they do all week, I hear you ask, I say have a mid-week umpires game, where they play the game they officiate.

All we want to see is the petty stuff to be play on.

[goswannie14]

I agree with you Liz that frees should be obvious, not finer shadings that are subject to bias and showboating umps. But I think that the pace of the game - and the stage - should determine how it's being umpired. I remember Goldspink saying that the game he was proudest of was the last 10 minutes of the Swans Cats Semi in 2005. He said "there were scores of minor infractions we could have paid but we largely put the whistles away and let them get on with it." Imagine if Ray had been officiating! Franctic footy near the final siren is inspiring and messy so it needs special umpiring to give us the spectacle we'll remember forever.

Funnily enough I watched the last qrtr of that game today whilst having lunch, not only was the commitment from bith teams outstanding, but the fact I can't remember the umpiring at all is testament to what you have quoted. A good umpire is one who is not noticeable.

[Bas]

Funnily enough I watched the last qrtr of that game today whilst having lunch, not only was the commitment from bith teams outstanding, but the fact I can't remember the umpiring at all is testament to what you have quoted. A good umpire is one who is not noticeable.

Poor bugger, I watch the second half for lunch !!