Razor Ray

[top40]

One of life's great mysteries is why oh why is Ray Razor Chamberlain so highly regarded by the AFL. That 50 metre holding the ball decision against Tadhg Kennelly late in the second quarter of the St Kilda Elimination Final was nothing short of extraordinary. For me it's a case of enough is enough! If Razor Ray is appointed for further Finals game, to quote Pauline Hanson: "please explain"..

[ugg]

The fifty itself was there, Tadhg refused to give up the ball. The original decision had me enraged at the time but looking back on it, I think it was 'technically' there. Tadhg took on the tackler (although I don't think he had prior opportunity) and whether he incorrectly disposed of the ball or it jarred out during the impact of the tackler on him is debatable. You could certainly mount a case for awarding the free kick based on that argument.

[R-1]

The umpiring was confusing and strange without really impacting the game. Kosi's interchange free shouldn't have been paid, but neither should the holding the ball against Tadgh. So it was even really.

[Timmy Ellis]

Yeah the free kick and fifty were pretty obvious live and in the replay. Tadhg was lying all over the ball in no rush to move so it was a fair call. That play was a great example of how the game has gone past him now.

[Provost]

Yeah the free kick and fifty were pretty obvious live and in the replay. Tadhg was lying all over the ball in no rush to move so it was a fair call. That play was a great example of how the game has gone past him now.

Exactly, please let that game be Tadgh's swan song so to speak, time to retire on a win me thinks...

[Primmy]

By about 2/3 through the game it looks like the other two umps had told Bubs to pull his head in.

[Cardinal]

razor irks me no end. however, the afl really needs to look at the fundamental nature of the rules they are insisting umps enforce:

* the interchange penalty is too harsh full stop.
* holding the ball and prior opportunity - even if consistently enforced is contrary to the spirit of the game.
* a little more commonsense is being applied to high contact but i think still need work.
* Incidental hands in the back that doesn't affect the contest should be ok.
* i would like at least an extra sub and consideration of interchange limits. afl should be great because different body shapes and different types of atheletes should be able to play. i know this one is complicated due to concern for injury and the modern being so exciting but at least dont kill the 2nd ruck. also not anything razor can do about it.
* finally we need an offside rule.

razor imho just has the ability to apply the rules with less discretion than most.

i also note roos was talking about something like getting all the coaches and other vips together (i think each year) to actually discuss rule changes to bring commonsense to rules committee and afl decisions

[bandwagon]

...the afl really needs to look at the fundamental nature of the rules they are insisting umps enforce

Exactly! Our game is so hard to umpire, it is no surprise there is the inconsistency that the fans hate.

[Mike_B]

As mentioned above the 50 was definitely there. And I think the free was there technically based on the comments you could hear over the mics. The Gilbert one was there too.

As Cardinal has pointed out, there definitely needs to be a tweak to the interchange penalty. For Kosi running a metre the wrong side of a line to cost his team possession of the ball AND 50m is just plain ridiculous. Maybe they need to introduce two types of penalties for infringements. If there are 19 on the field, then by all means make it a harsh penalty. But for someone crossing the line in the wrong place? Gee, surely a fine for the club would suffice. There is no benefit whatsoever being gained by the offending team, so why punish them on the field.

[Cardinal]

We were the better team but you can bet that some Saint's fans will be absolutely spewing over some the infringements that went against them.

Maybe not as much as us against Freo but very ill nevertheless.

[goswannie14]

As mentioned above the 50 was definitely there. And I think the free was there technically based on the comments you could hear over the mics. The Gilbert one was there too.

As Cardinal has pointed out, there definitely needs to be a tweak to the interchange penalty. For Kosi running a metre the wrong side of a line to cost his team possession of the ball AND 50m is just plain ridiculous. Maybe they need to introduce two types of penalties for infringements. If there are 19 on the field, then by all means make it a harsh penalty. But for someone crossing the line in the wrong place? Gee, surely a fine for the club would suffice. There is no benefit whatsoever being gained by the offending team, so why punish them on the field.

It's a lot softer than it used to be. I was waiting for him to be told that he was off for the rest of the game just as it used to be. I'm sure we all remember MOL sitting on the interchange bench for the remainder of a game due to a similar incident some years ago.

Has there ever been a player who is so unware of what is happening around him as Kosi. Truly amazing that this guy can get a game with no idea of what (or who) he is about to run into.

[Rob-bloods]

One problem with umpiring is they crap on about reviews etc but all we ever hear is the decisions were all technically there etc etc. not countless infringements more important and not called. Gieschen is a hack ex Coach on a pension job from the AFL (just like P SCHwab) when is bad umpiring performance going to get an umpire dropped? Isn't it strange they drop an ump for his bounce but not for missing blatant offences and penalising trivia (of which Ray is the deformed master).

One Del Santo incident appeared (unseen as yet on TV replay) live as a dropped ball followed by two throws that led to a goal!

I have no sympathy on the ichange offences we have been pinned twice and that's the clear rule, too harsh but there and at least straightforward.

On the 6-1 count early an old blood close to me commented "it must be great to play almost perfect football Saints!"..here here!!!!

The AFL can ignore it but our great game is being demeaned by umpriring and it needs fixing I don't care if it's a hard job (it is) it must be improved.

[fanciful]

* finally we need an offside rule.

This may actually be the stupidest comment on football I have ever read. Which is saying something.

The lack of an offside rule is what makes our game great.

[stellation]

Tadhg was tackled by Blake (I believe) and Schneider was late to the contest, the tackle itself was a tad iffy I thought (even on replay). The thing that throws me a tad with it all, and affords me some sympathy for Tadhg, is that it was Schneider who was trying to wrench the ball from his grasp, not the man who had tackled him, when the 50 was paid; it's not exactly uncommon to see a player refuse to give the ball up quickly to someone from the opposition who has not been awarded the free, and not give away a 50. There was going to be no play-on, and the kick itself should not have been Schneider's as he wasn't involved in the play- the man who had earnt the kick I believe was still on the ground/on top of Tadhg and was going to have to get up and go behind the mark to then be able to play-on to Adam. The result then was a shot on goal from a forward that's a pretty decent kick (although it obviously wasn't a gimme).

If it was legitimately Adam's free then yep, it was a 50- but I don't think it ever should have been and only became it when Adam tried to wrench the ball away. I daresay Adam pulled a bit of a swifty there, more power to him.

[Jesse Richards]

The commentators were saying that Mr Chamberlain couldn't see through Tadgh's body. They also briefly commented on the psychic whistle blowing to award a mark - before it was taken/held. But like most psychic phenomena it is unreliable and only applied to precognition of St Kilda play. But I could be wrong on this - my remaining one eye may no longer be as reliable after the other one was slashed with a razor.