Is this cheating? -Developing relationships with umpires off-field

[Nico]

Many years ago umpires used to socialise with players, officials & coaches after the game. Diesel Williams tells of an umpire who told him he'd never get a vote for the Brownlow while he was umpiring. This umpire cost Diesel a Brownlow in the last game of the season when he deliberately changed the other umpire's vote as senior umpire telling him Diesel doesn't get a vote. This is the reason the AFL decided it was better if umpires didn't socialise and mix with players on a regular basis. It could be seen as collusion with a particular footy club. There were many instances of this happening in the dark evil past of the VFL. One umpire called an Indigenous player a 'Little Black Bastard' in a game in the late '60's/Early '70's. In those days that sort of racism didn't get much press at all, it was expected. In 1977 I was in Melbourne and applying for jobs there were signs on the outside of businesses saying; 'NO BLACKS, NO JEWS, NO CATHOLICS'.

There were some relationships developed between players and umpires that were advantageous to the player. Peter McKenna openly admitted many years ago of having a very good relationship with many umpires. He got plenty of frees too. If you develop personal relationships with umpires they are going to give you more than the opposition. This is a form of cheating and should be shut down right now. I think the umpires were very kind to Hawthorn Thursday night and now I hear this I know why. McLachlin is a powder puff and will do anything the powerful clubs tell him to. There is no way any club should be paying AFL Umpire flight and accommodation or fraternising with umpires to gain advantage. This has to be shut down NOW. Evans what the @@@@ are you doing about this?

Evans...wasn't he football manager or something at Hawthorn?

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Where do you manage to find these

Too much spare time.

[Hotpotato]

Brad Seymour (AFL WRAP 2GB) just had a huge crack at the inappropriateness of the umps spending 5 days as guests of Hawthorn at a pre season camp .
Said it just shouldn't happen .
Have to agree .

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Actually it might have been someone called Gibbons who I've never heard of .

[Xie Shan]

Probably is a conflict of interest but there's nothing much we can do about it now sadly.

[Velour&Ruffles]

Brad Seymour (AFL WRAP 2GB) just had a huge crack at the inappropriateness of the umps spending 5 days as guests of Hawthorn at a pre season camp .
Said it just shouldn't happen .
Have to agree
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Actually it might have been someone called Gibbons who I've never heard of .

It's a massive problem. But the blame lies not with Hawthorn but with the AFL. If you're Hawthorn and can get away with it, why not do it? Hawthorn must be laughing in disbelief that they've been allowed to do this. But if you're administering a supposedly professional and impartial competition, literally a billion-plus dollar industry, what on earth are you thinking letting this happen? What possible justification is there for allowing this? It is further evidence of what an absolutely pathetic and biased administrator Gill the Dill is, and how much in the thrall of powerful Victorian interests he is (especially Hawthorn and Collingwood). The man needs to grow a pair of testicles (although developing a scrotum first would probably make that step more useful). He is a joke.

[Velour&Ruffles]

And by the way, the fact that this isn't an absolutely massive story in the football media also tells you a whole lot. They go into hysterics about GWS's academy when the Vic clubs whine after one big win, but it's basically crickets on something that goes to the integrity of every match that an unparalleled power club plays. FFS, it's no wonder I'm losing interest in this.

[barry]

Totally agree. But under gill the dills leadership it feels like its pointless to complain.

[jono2707]

Totally agree. But under gill the dill it feels like its pointless to complain.

Barry - quote edited for accuracy.....

[barry]

I just saw a thing that in hawforns 3 peat, 2 out of the 3 grand finals should have been played outside victoria if highest qualifier hosted them.

Including 2014.

More vic bias.

[sprite]

I just saw a thing that in hawforns 3 peat, 2 out of the 3 grand finals should have been played outside victoria if highest qualifier hosted them.

Including 2014.

More vic bias.

Sorry Barry no bias just the contract with the "G" to host the GF.

Been like that from the start.

So take the tinfoil hat off, have a bex and a good lie down.

[cherub]

Sorry Barry no bias just the contract with the "G" to host the GF.

Been like that from the start.

So take the tinfoil hat off, have a bex and a good lie down.

I think Barry's point is valid. The fact that the MCG contract exists is reflective of the deep seated bias intrinsic to the system. I understand the MG is the largest stadium, so they make the most money. You could argue that it allows more people to see the GF, but so many of the attendees are MCG members and other hangers on, it doesn't really allow a large number of "true believer" fans to see the GF. My gripe with Hawthorn being hailed as great is the fact that their wins over Adelaide and Port in 2012 and 2014 were directly umpire-assisted.

[barry]

Shows that brisbane 3 peat is vastly superior

[bloodsbigot]

Sorry Barry no bias just the contract with the "G" to host the GF.

Been like that from the start.

So take the tinfoil hat off, have a bex and a good lie down.

I'm from Victoria, but I'm starting to get annoyed at old South supporters defensiveness about all the 'tradition' and their Victoria-centric attitude. It's to our own disadvantage playing the Grand Final at the MCG, so who needs crap like that? You're playing right into the AFL's hands.

I used to be like that (A traditionalist) until I moved outside of Melbourne. Grand Finals haven't always been played at the MCG and only as recently as 1991 has it been played at a different venue. The Grand Final should be played at rotating venues each year (With maybe every second year played at the MCG).

If this comp is to ever move forward we need to abandon the idea that the league is just an expanded VFL.

[AnnieH]

I'm from Victoria, but I'm starting to get annoyed at old South supporters defensiveness about all the 'tradition' and their Victoria-centric attitude. It's to our own disadvantage playing the Grand Final at the MCG, so who needs crap like that? You're playing right into the AFL's hands.

I used to be like that (A traditionalist) until I moved outside of Melbourne. Grand Finals haven't always been played at the MCG and only as recently as 1991 has it been played at a different venue. The Grand Final should be played at rotating venues each year (With maybe every second year played at the MCG).

If this comp is to ever move forward we need to abandon the idea that the league is just an expanded VFL.

... but that's what it is, isn't it?

[bodgie]

Not if they get rid of a few Vic teams, move or start up in Tassie and Canberra.

[barry]

Two criteria for moving from VFL to AFL

1. Grand final at highest ranked teams venue.
2. More teams from outside of vic compared to inside.