Changes for Rnd 5 V West Coast

[mcs]

Thought the umpiring was piss poor for both sides but favouring Adelaide.

It's a relief we have a really good record against West Coast in Sydney, but those away games are the ones we need to win.

On balance, across the 4 quarters, the shoddy umpiring was pretty even in my book - the 50/50 calls were fairly even across the night. The one that still has me frustrated (and even got a mention from that useless Robbo in his column today) was the Betts Hands in the Back Non-free kick. I can take 50/50 calls going against you sometimes and in your favour others, but ones like that, where it was blatantly obvious what happened, that really frustrate me. The umpire simply bottled it at a key time in the match - that is not to say the result would have been different, but it was a critical call at a critical moment, and it was a simple one to make as well.

[mcs]

Sinclair and Jones in for Nankervis and Towers.

Yep, I'd be happy with those changes as well.

[liz]

On balance, across the 4 quarters, the shoddy umpiring was pretty even in my book - the 50/50 calls were fairly even across the night. The one that still has me frustrated (and even got a mention from that useless Robbo in his column today) was the Betts Hands in the Back Non-free kick. I can take 50/50 calls going against you sometimes and in your favour others, but ones like that, where it was blatantly obvious what happened, that really frustrate me. The umpire simply bottled it at a key time in the match - that is not to say the result would have been different, but it was a critical call at a critical moment, and it was a simple one to make as well.

And while it probably didn't matter too much in the end (and acknowledging we tend to focus on decisions late in the game more than those early), the non-deliberate call against Walker when he booted the ball into a completely empty forward line just to get possession was clearly against the way the DOOB rule has been adjudged this year. We should at least have regained possession rather than having a throw in.

[RogueSwan]

And while it probably didn't matter too much in the end (and acknowledging we tend to focus on decisions late in the game more than those early), the non-deliberate call against Walker when he booted the ball into a completely empty forward line just to get possession was clearly against the way the DOOB rule has been adjudged this year. We should at least have regained possession rather than having a throw in.

Yep, it was an obvious one yet none our boys tried to call for it to be a free, even the commentators mentioned that.
The push in the back ... I have a hard time understanding those calls. Often a player will be going for a ball only to be completely held, arms across the body and nothing happens but if it was in a marking contest they would get a free. It is hard to explain but a clip would show it easily. It is the one thing about the game my dad is at a loss to understand, it completely frustrates him and I can't explain to him why it happens.

[Ludwig]

Yep, it was an obvious one yet none our boys tried to call for it to be a free, even the commentators mentioned that.
The push in the back ... I have a hard time understanding those calls. Often a player will be going for a ball only to be completely held, arms across the body and nothing happens but if it was in a marking contest they would get a free. It is hard to explain but a clip would show it easily. It is the one thing about the game my dad is at a loss to understand, it completely frustrates him and I can't explain to him why it happens.

There were a number of decisions that really hurt us, including a few questionable or soft ones that cost us goals, but I didn't get the impression there was a particular bias in the calls over the course of the game.

I thought the umpiring was poor across the fixture this round. The most telling one was by Andrew Stephens making 2 successive 15 mtr calls against the Saints in the final minutes of the game that were clearly okay. This led to Hawthorn's winning goal. It was picked up later that Stephens is an avid Hawthorn fan. Here is a screenshot of his Twitter page, before it was withdrawn (due to the comments).

aestephens.jpg

************************************************** ************************************
Hawthorn have themselves well covered, both on the field and on the AFL Commission. Nothing left to chance.

[mcs]

There were a number of decisions that really hurt us, including a few questionable or soft ones that cost us goals, but I didn't get the impression there was a particular bias in the calls over the course of the game.

I thought the umpiring was poor across the fixture this round. The most telling one was by Andrew Stephens making 2 successive 15 mtr calls against the Saints in the final minutes of the game that were clearly okay. This led to Hawthorn's winning goal. It was picked up later that Stephens is an avid Hawthorn fan. Here is a screenshot of his Twitter page, before it was withdrawn (due to the comments).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1464[/ATTACH]

Must be trying to compete with Matt Stevic to become Hawthorn's #1 member

Stevic'spresence in the 2012 decider made our victory all the sweeter that day - despite his best efforts to drag his wees and poos over the line.

The Hawks have been, in my book, exceptionally lucky through the first few rounds with the umpiring, getting several key calls go their way. Hopefully they use up all their luck this year early on, and when they need it (which invariably seems to be prelim final weekend) they find the barrel is empty.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Is Sinclair likely to play against WC? I'm not very informed about his injury.


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[Danzar]

Is Sinclair likely to play against WC? I'm not very informed about his injury.


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He is.

[Danzar]

In: Sinclair
Out: Nankervis.

We played a great game on Saturday night. Sinclair needs his first opportunity against his former team. It's the only game in the HA season, so we might not face the Eagles until finals and possibly out West.

Definitely keep Benny in. He was really effective for us on Saturday.

[liz]

Lycett has been offered a week by the MRP.

[crackedactor]

That helps our Ruck division a bit. In Sinclair and Rose out Nankervis and towers.

[stevoswan]

Hawthorn have themselves well covered, both on the field and on the AFL Commission. Nothing left to chance.

Yes, they are a well organised bunch of cheats, it seems. I only recently read that Andrew Newbold is now on the AFL commission, as alluded to by Lugwig above. While this is obviously old news to some and I've just missed it, it was certainly an "OMG" moment, in fact I angrily (and publicly swore)!! It is indeed annoying.

[Levii3]

West Coast has Lycett and looks like Priddis out

[Mountain Man]

WCE have had far and away the best hit out figures of any team over the 4 rounds - 222 and next best 184 to Hawks and Port (Swans 165).

No doubt Natanui dominates that but I expect Lycett will be missed by them.

[Beerman]

The push in the back ... I have a hard time understanding those calls. Often a player will be going for a ball only to be completely held, arms across the body and nothing happens but if it was in a marking contest they would get a free. It is hard to explain but a clip would show it easily. It is the one thing about the game my dad is at a loss to understand, it completely frustrates him and I can't explain to him why it happens.

I've thought that too. Remember BJ's goal against (Freo?). It was a race to the ball in the forward 50. Jack grabbed his opponent, dragged him back slingshotting himself forward, grabbed the ball and scored. A great goal but remember thinking "is that not holding?"

Or Kieran Jacks goal in Q4 of the 2012 GF. It looked like he pushed (Young?) in the back. (That ones more understandable as Young was probably going to ground anyway).