Horse on SEN 7/2

[Blue Sun]

I am so sick and *#@!ing tired of hearing whinging about umpiring! OK, the Bulldogs got the rub of the green, it suited everyone except us and, depending on your point of view, the premiership is tainted. But do we have to go on about it ad nauseam? It's so pointless and discouraging and pathetic. I think the right noises were made via the right channels at the right times (thank you Horse and the Swans) and there's nothing more to be done. Bleating won't get us the flag now. And it looks bad and is horrible to read/listen to. It's sore losing and it ain't the Bulldogs fault. They were magnificent and got a victory they have every right to celebrate and enjoy.

I was at the game, saw the tears of joy flow from Bulldogs fans and felt a heck of a lot better about that result (umpiring notwithstanding) than losing to the Hawks in 2014 (which still evokes a heavy, sick sensation in my gut). Umpiring variability is a part of competitive sport and the very best teams and individuals rise above it and dominate anyway. In 2016 we were good enough to win but we weren't so good that not winning meant we wuz robbed. Let's be even better this year!

Rant over.

My apologies, I didn't mean to trigger a rant.

[bloodspirit]

Don't sweat it Blue Sun! Even though I borrowed the word "tainted" from your post, and mine came right after yours, your post was not the trigger. Indeed your post, for mine, was relatively benign and palatable. I wouldn't call it whinging. Anyway you're just as free as me to express your opinion and I quite enjoyed getting my rant off my chest. Cheer cheer.

[crackedactor]

Don't sweat it Blue Sun! Even though I borrowed the word "tainted" from your post, and mine came right after yours, your post was not the trigger. Indeed your post, for mine, was relatively benign and palatable. I wouldn't call it whinging. Anyway you're just as free as me to express your opinion and I quite enjoyed getting my rant off my chest. Cheer cheer.

Bloodspirit - Or whatever @@@@@@@ team you support , you must be delusional. Your sick and tired of the whingeing, why frankly I am sick and tired of people telling me to suck it up.!! Tears from Bulldog supporters, oh give me a F## break!! If it was always gunna be a Bulldogs flag, why did we even bother playing the game?? Just hand over the Cup. I for one do not endorsed or embraced corruption in organised sport. I paid $600 to watch a good and fair game, I did not receive that. As I said, losing was not he point, it was the factor of how we lost.

[royboy42]

Enjoyed an absolutely great presentation from a consummate speaker. Had the audience spell bound not just those invested in AFL. Some a length about the 3 pillars that underpin the core leadership of the club and the ownership that the whole playing group have of the whole process. The college made a video of the event and it should be available on the school website. I will send a link for those who may be interested.

I'm the one on the left.

I'd love to see this. Is it on the school website?? What school?

[Doctor J.]

Don't sweat it Blue Sun! Even though I borrowed the word "tainted" from your post, and mine came right after yours, your post was not the trigger. Indeed your post, for mine, was relatively benign and palatable. I wouldn't call it whinging. Anyway you're just as free as me to express your opinion and I quite enjoyed getting my rant off my chest. Cheer cheer.

I'm going to assume it was mine that inspired you to appoint yourself as the thought police.

No I wont suck it up. The umpiring was not up to standard and influenced the outcome.

Sport is ALL about two competitors having an even chance at the contest. The Sydney Swans did not get an even chance. I accept losing if we get an even contest as in the losses of 96, 06, and 14, but in 2016 we did not get an even contest. To put it down to the vagaries of "umpiring variability" is a very convenient way of dismissing a totally inept performance by the umpires that produced a contrived result. Whether they were instructed to umpire the game that way or were just sucked in by the romance of the fairy tale, no one will ever know.

So no I wont stop "whinging" as you refer to it. Because in a very even game, with all things being equal, we were good enough to win it. All things weren't equal, and the fairy tale was born.

[707]

Be interesting to see how the Dogs go this year now that the manufactured high tackle has been given a new interpretation and that throwing is going to be more closely monitored by the umps. Dogs have profited from those two interpretations in the past.

[mcs]

Be interesting to see how the Dogs go this year now that the manufactured high tackle has been given a new interpretation and that throwing is going to be more closely monitored by the umps. Dogs have profited from those two interpretations in the past.

I actually think the biggest impact will be the changes made to remove third man up - the dogs used this tactic quite effectively to make up for only having average quality ruckman. They'll need their ruckman to do much better in 2017 I feel.

I still think they'll be there or there abouts, but it would not surprise me to see them finish about the same place on the ladder again. Maybe however in 2017 they won't get every single bit of luck fall their way come the pointy end of the season, given there will be no fairypuppy premiership narrative to fulfil.

[Meg]

Be interesting to see how the Dogs go this year now that the manufactured high tackle has been given a new interpretation and that throwing is going to be more closely monitored by the umps. Dogs have profited from those two interpretations in the past.

I'm interested in your comment that 'throwing is going to be more closely monitored by the umps'.

I had hoped that the issue of legitimate handball technique would have been covered in the discussion of rule changes/interpretations after last season but as far as I'm aware this hasn't happened. Have I missed something?

[CureTheSane]

I predict that the dogs finish 10th this year.
9 places lower than the Swans

[S.S. Bleeder]

Lengthy, informative interview on SEN this morning with the coach.

Well worth a listen, follow the link on the RHS alongside the lead paragraph.

It includes a measured - but pointed - response to questions on GF umpiring.

Umpires need to work more on their craft: Longmire

I'm so glad the Swans have finally come out and commented on this.

Personally, I don't think that the decision making of umpires is the issue. Everyone accepts that umpires make mistakes. The problem is that they often make mistakes in favour of one side over another, the 2012 and (especially) the 2016 GF's are proof of this (you can add many finals games where the Hawks have won to this list).

The way those matches were umpired raises serious doubts about the integrity of the game, let alone the competence of the umpires. This has cost us a premiership. I wouldn't be surprised if someone surfaced in 20-30 years time with information concerning bribes and/or heavy betting on the 2016 GF.

- - - Updated - - -

I just read the article on the AFL website. I'm not surprised - the umpiring was so one-sided in the gf. The Swans were never going to win with a free kick count like that. 15-4 at 3/4 time and 20-8 at full time. It's a miracle the Swans were still so close at 3/4 time. The Swans could not say anything about it in the press - the AFL would defend themselves and whack the Swans with a fine. The Melbourne centric media would also be quick to cry sour grapes.
I think of a scenario where 2 Melbourne teams were in the GF and the free kick count was 20-8 at full time. There would be an outcry but somehow it's ok for the Swans to be on the receiving end of this.
I imagine the Swans would have shown the replays of several incidents that should have been a free kick to the Swans but it was called play on. Longmires comments in the media were measured but he would not have been so 'measured' in the gf review with the AFL.

+1

[S.S. Bleeder]

The Swans were everyone's second team when we were in the premiership drought.
People love an underdog, and that was us after being cellar dwellers for so many years.
We won in 2005 and everyone was happy.
Then we kept on making the to 8, COLA became an issue, the Goodes thing, now the academies.

We are no longer the second team for most of the people when we once were.
Other teams took our place - Bulldogs, Saints, etc
And everyone started to hate us due to the above mentioned issues.
So no outcry about the umpiring, probably many chuckles and "sucks to be the" comments.

Everyone? I don't recall us being favoured by the umpires in 2005.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Ah well, its all in the past now I guess - but that doesn't mean I won't be waiting at the fence at the SCG for any of the three green maggots at the first home game in Sydney at which they officiate in 2017 .... they will be getting the full pent up anger of a long summer break on their walk out before the game from me.... I hope I'm not the only one ready to give them a true piece of my mind. .

Just what I've been thinking for the last several months. Im sick to death of playing the nice guy. I'm really looking forward to our first Melbourne game so I can give those maggots the hell they deserve. Abusing the umpires has clearly worked for the Melbourne teams, ie Scumthorn, Norf, Aints, etc so why can't it work for us?

[S.S. Bleeder]

Be interesting to see how the Dogs go this year now that the manufactured high tackle has been given a new interpretation and that throwing is going to be more closely monitored by the umps. Dogs have profited from those two interpretations in the past.

It won't change. Scumthorn used to benefit from tucking their heads down and running head long into our stationary players all the time, despite the VFL acknowledging that it was an issue. Personally, I think it's time we stopped playing "by the rules" and started playing by "the umpires interpretation of a he rules".

[mcs]

Just what I've been thinking for the last several months. Im sick to death of playing the nice guy. I'm really looking forward to our first Melbourne game so I can give those maggots the hell they deserve. Abusing the umpires has clearly worked for the Melbourne teams, ie Scumthorn, Norf, Aints, etc so why can't it work for us?

I am not for abusing umpires in the normal run of the mill (unless they do a really @@@@ job in a game, then I'm unlikely to be in a minority in showing displeasure).

But those green maggots from the grand final deserve to hear what I thought of their 'performance' that day - if as much to get it off my chest than anything haha

[CureTheSane]

Everyone? I don't recall us being favoured by the umpires in 2005.

I'll assume you're having a bit of fun there taking what I wrote way out of context.
Obviously I was talking about the general AFL public.