The umpires need to be investigated.

[barry]

Hodge did a tummy punch and two sling tackles. Both sispendable things. But i bet he gets off.

[Xie Shan]

I don't think there's a real conspiracy in Hawthorn's favour, although I concede that's probably more based around a skeptic view of "surely that sort of thing doesn't really go on", but I'd be curious to know just what it is. Is it something to do with their training regime and they just have remarkable core strength across the board, so a team with JPK's ability to stand in the tackle longer seems uneven and we focus on the anomalies? Is it group think on the rest of the AFL fandom's behalf that leads us to collectively view everything as an example? Have they been trained in specific techniques that other teams need to cotton on to on how to make free kicks that could go to them appear more obvious and conceal those that should go against them?

It's probably the first game I've walked away from in a while genuinely feeling the umpiring ruined the enjoyment of it, and did find myself thinking "I kind of get the whole #freekickhawthorn thing".

I feel the same way, stella, particularly the last sentence. I don't normally complain about the umpiring but it has gotten worse this year IMO.

[shaun..]

Not sure how Brad Hill got away with 25 steps, running from D50 to the wing. That moment lost us the game, and capped a brilliant night for the (ch)umps.

[undy]

Not sure how Brad Hill got away with 25 steps, running from D50 to the wing. That moment lost us the game, and capped a brilliant night for the (ch)umps.

That was the worst for me (didn't spot the Hodge assaults)

[graemed]

The umpires need to be investigated.

For what it's worth, I thought most of the free kicks the Hawks got in the 2nd quarter were there. They may have been 50/50 calls, but Hawthorn were first to the ball most of the time in that period and that usually gets you the call. The 50M against Jack was a disgraceful call though and is the one that probably turned the game back to them. McGlynn should also have been warned first as that is what happens most of the time. You could see the umpire waiting for him to do it, rather than officiating it on its merits.

Yes the Lewis drop was bad, and other bits and pieces around the ground could have gone either way, but it's really those two 50s that stick in my craw. Having said all that, our second quarter was dismal and that's why we lost.

The warning is used only when setting the mark. McGlynn clearly infringed but did so because Hill had also infringed.
There was a comment made by the commentators on SEN that there is an obligation on the rules committee to even the scale, i.e. if a defender cannot enter the protected zone then neither should an attacker.
In other words if an attacking player enters the zone it should automatically be deemed play on.
This made remarkable sense and situations like McGlynn's where he had to guard two players without infringing on the mark would not occur.

[Cheer_Cheer]

Normally I get over this kind of treatment pretty quickly these days.. 3 days on and I am still seething. This was such a massive game for the premiership race. To give the result to one side is criminal. Horse can't say anything against this dictatorship. It ihas gone from #freekickhawthorn to #Free50mpentalyHawthorn..

[Swanny40519]

Normally I get over this kind of treatment pretty quickly these days.. 3 days on and I am still seething. This was such a massive game for the premiership race. To give the result to one side is criminal. Horse can't say anything against this dictatorship. It ihas gone from #freekickhawthorn to #Free50mpentalyHawthorn..

I am with you CC.

I have been that guttered since Thursday night I have not watched any football since then on TV. Have not even been brave enough to watch a replay.

The Hawks will have that many photos on their walls of their "favourite" umpires, they will not fit them all on.

#premiershiptohawthorn again

[Auntie.Gerald]

I wasn't going to weigh in but my most frustrating moment was the 2min in last qtr

Naismith made a break from our 50m. He was clearly ankle tapped when kicking......clear as day

No free kick given

Burgoyne picks it up and kicks a goal from 50m out

[Hotpotato]

What the Hawthorn club are doing is very successful, in business , in life!
If there isn't anything preventing it.

It's called EQ.

"Emotional intelligence (EI) or emotional quotient (EQ) is the capacity of individuals to recognize their own, and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behaviour."

To guide thinking and behaviour.....
The umps wouldn't buy this , but it works.
They proved it Thursday night.

[AnnieH]

I'm still bloody angry.
REALLY angry.
This is worse than losing the granny... we did that without the help of the umpires.

[crackedactor]

I wasn't going to weigh in but my most frustrating moment was the 2min in last qtr

Naismith made a break from our 50m. He was clearly ankle tapped when kicking......clear as day

No free kick given


Burgoyne picks it up and kicks a goal from 50m out

Yes I noticed the Naismith Ankle tap when I watched a replay yesterday. I also watched the K Jack 50 m penalty. It was a joke!! he was already in the area of the free kick. I also slo-mo the Rioli goal. To me it looks awfully close to Naismith touching that ball. Why was even a review called for??? Right or wrong the umps should have least called for a review. Makes you wonder how fair dinkum they really are?/

[longmile]

I'm still bloody angry.
REALLY angry.
This is worse than losing the granny... we did that without the help of the umpires.

Yep still upset.
Was a really sore loser after that one.
While we weren't perfect we were the better team who deserved the win. I genuinely feel like the umpires robbed this game from us. And to make it worse an absolute clutch game against the filthy Hawks
Really hate thinking about footy at the moment. Hopefully the game on saturday restores some personal good vibes.

[barry]

Yes I noticed the Naismith Ankle tap when I watched a replay yesterday. I also watched the K Jack 50 m penalty. It was a joke!! he was already in the area of the free kick. I also slo-mo the Rioli goal. To me it looks awfully close to Naismith touching that ball. Why was even a review called for??? Right or wrong the umps should have least called for a review. Makes you wonder how fair dinkum they really are?/

Ankle tap on Naismith. Usually not paid.
K. Jack 50 metre. technically wrong, but usually leniency is taken since it didnt interfere with the free kick.
Nainsmith touch, was definitely over the goal line.

As far as team strength goes, I dont see Hawthorn as any more danger to us than geelong or dogs, or giants, so our premiership hopes are alive.

However, I cant see us being able to address this umpire problem before the finals. It has failed to gain legs in the media for Gill to do a knee jerk reaction.

[bloodbrother]

So dirty we are out of the top four on percentage now when we should be top of the ladder no one can convince me that we were not cheated Thursday night, cannot believe that wet toast are now on the same points ,they are not even in the ballpark with the swans. Just hope we can win the rest of our games get back in top 4 and see the Dawks first week of the finals with Tippett back and a healthy list because we will need to play 20% better than them just to cover the ump bias towards them.

[annew]

I am still angry and filthy on the game from Thursday night too. Its making me madder listening to the VFL commentators say that hawks were fantastic, frees had no bearing and there is a problem at swans if they keep losing the close ones. Then to read the article on the hawks and tne close connection they have with the umpires well i am seeing red. Plus on SEN tbey are saying that hawks did it tough havjng to travel twice for finals last year. I tbought it was tound 23 and week one of finals plus how much do they travel during home and away - not much.