Match Day Rnd. 2. Western Bulldogs V Sydney Swans. 7.50 pm Etihad Stadium.

[Meg]

Another umpire in another match might have called the Mills punch over the line differently but as I said earlier I think the penalty was (unfortunately) probably correct. And I expect that's what will be said on Whistleblowers on Monday.

What was clear, I think, is that Mills himself didn't understand the rule. He pleaded twice with the umpire that he was in the goal square when he punched the ball. I think he thought that was sufficient to allow him to go for the boundary. It's not, the other circumstance must be immediate pressure from an opposing player. It was a hard way for Mills to learn the rule. And even harder for the team on the night.

[56-14]

Another umpire in another match might have called the Mills punch over the line differently but as I said earlier I think the penalty was (unfortunately) probably correct. And I expect that's what will be said on Whistleblowers on Monday.

What was clear, I think, is that Mills himself didn't understand the rule. He pleaded twice with the umpire that he was in the goal square when he punched the ball. I think he thought that was sufficient to allow him to go for the boundary. It's not, the other circumstance must be immediate pressure from an opposing player. It was a hard way for Mills to learn the rule. And even harder for the team on the night.

If the decision was probably correct & Mills didn't understand the rules - maybe someone at the club should focus on informing the players of rules / changes.

[swansprincess]

Another umpire in another match might have called the Mills punch over the line differently but as I said earlier I think the penalty was (unfortunately) probably correct. And I expect that's what will be said on Whistleblowers on Monday.

What was clear, I think, is that Mills himself didn't understand the rule. He pleaded twice with the umpire that he was in the goal square when he punched the ball. I think he thought that was sufficient to allow him to go for the boundary. It's not, the other circumstance must be immediate pressure from an opposing player. It was a hard way for Mills to learn the rule. And even harder for the team on the night.

I think the point of this whole debacle is not about whether Mills was within the rules (as they are this year) or not, but it's that the rule itself is not working because it's open to too much interpretation by umpires. It has always been a contentious rule the rushing of behinds and the AFL needs to make it more of a black and white rule ie. You're not allowed to rush a behind at all or it will result in a ball up, instead of the umpires perception what is or isn't 'immediate pressure'.

[Nico]

Mark McClure on ABC radio today, before the game, made the comment that clubs who have been at the top for the last 6 years have in fact played 7 seasons, in the context of tired players at the start of this year.

On the umpiring could it be that 3 umpires confuse the situation with seeing decisions through different eyes eg The HTB/prior opportunity rule. Also it seemed umpire 16 was involved in a lot more action. That non blocking decision to Buddy was poor as No. 25 had no eyes for the ball and caught Buddy in the shoulder causing him to lose balance.

The one to Cloke in the first quarter against Allir was a shocker. The replay clearly showed Allir had the sit on Cloke who half turned and had Allir in a head lock. Then Allir gets pinged for and ever so light tug on the jumper after Cloke had shrugged him off. Does anyone know how many frees the Bulldogs got from frees.

[Meg]

If the decision was probably correct & Mills didn't understand the rules - maybe someone at the club should focus on informing the players of rules / changes.

I quite agree.

[Joel Ridge]

I've watched up to 3 quarter time.

What is happening to AA? His timing is out, his intensity was low and he gave away free kicks. His style reminds me of Mark Waugh. Waugh like AA when out of form looks very laconic.

K.Jack is not giving enough. What is going on with him?

Hewitt is looking good, but needs to build himself into a 4 quarter, 35 plus possession machine. You want the ball in his possession.

Mills is worrying me. He sometimes looks like he is not at 100% pace when he chases.

[Ludwig]

The one to Cloke in the first quarter against Allir was a shocker. The replay clearly showed Allir had the sit on Cloke who half turned and had Allir in a head lock. Then Allir gets pinged for and ever so light tug on the jumper after Cloke had shrugged him off. Does anyone know how many frees the Bulldogs got from frees.

The one called on Aliir for holding Tom Boyd in the 3rd qtr. was even worse. Even the commentators said it was no way a free kick. I didn't count the total number of goals they got from free, because I ran out of fingers.

I can still find AFL enjoyable if I treat it like watching professional wrestling. It's not quite a sports competition, but rather sports entertainment. Not concerned about outcomes anymore.

[Joel Ridge]

@@@@ cunningham get some awareness.

I've watched the incident in question. One question MCS, have you played any local senior football?

Those who have played football understand the nightmare scenario that Cunningham had in that situation. There was a floating ball that he was back tracking to intercept. He had to keep his eye on the ball which he did. He could not look back and see where Bont was. Bont had three advantages:

- Superior height
- A run at the ball.
- He could scope both the ball flight and Cunninghams position from his spot.

The reason that the ball got so far is because Grundy lost his feet 20
seconds before.

I suggest you withdraw your criticism of Cunningham in this situation.

[mcs]

I've watched up to 3 quarter time.

What is happening to AA? His timing is out, his intensity was low and he gave away free kicks. His style reminds me of Mark Waugh. Waugh like AA when out of form looks very laconic.
.

Its called being early in the season in which he has missed a fair chunk of pre-season and not played much footy. He improved significantly as the game went on and will be fine in a couple of weeks.

[mcs]

I suggest you withdraw your criticism of Cunningham in this situation.

I am perfectly entitled to hold whatever view I would like JoelRidgeMatt80 without having to get the approval of ye great corporate god - I wish you'd stop hiding behind a shroud of pretending to be someone new every time you turn up again on here.

It is perfectly reasonable for me to have an opinion that he should have done a lot better than he did. I never suggested he would of been able to stop a goal - but Bontempelli basically ended up getting the goal following an uncontested possession - Cunningham barely laid a finger on him.

Cunningham is not a newbie, hes been at the club 5 years now and has 72 games under his belt, and in my reasonable opinion, should be doing better. His decision making often sucks, he goes the easy option too often, and his awareness continues to not be at the level one would expect with the reasonable level of experience he has.

Why he is anywhere near the backline I have no idea however - but that is a completely different story.

[Nico]

Its called being early in the season in which he has missed a fair chunk of pre-season and not played much footy. He improved significantly as the game went on and will be fine in a couple of weeks.

There is a thing called touch. Very hard to get it back immediately when you have limited time on the ground pre season. He is a classy player and got better as the game went on. Also with Rampe out the taller backs have more on their plate.

Watching the games tonight it appears we lack pace in the midfield. Nothing new but I feel we need a different mix, particularly at centre bounces. Our players just don't read the ruck tap. We are dead set easy beats in that area.

[Joel Ridge]

I am perfectly entitled to hold whatever view I would like JoelRidgeMatt80 without having to get the approval of ye great corporate god - I wish you'd stop hiding behind a shroud of pretending to be someone new every time you turn up again on here.

It is perfectly reasonable for me to have an opinion that he should have done a lot better than he did. I never suggested he would of been able to stop a goal - but Bontempelli basically ended up getting the goal following an uncontested possession - Cunningham barely laid a finger on him.

Cunningham is not a newbie, hes been at the club 5 years now and has 72 games under his belt, and in my reasonable opinion, should be doing better. His decision making often sucks, he goes the easy option too often, and his awareness continues to not be at the level one would expect with the reasonable level of experience he has.

Why he is anywhere near the backline I have no idea however - but that is a completely different story.

You're entitled to your opinion. What I can't abide is the @@@@ that you used to criticise Cunningham. It's my understanding @@@@ means a swear word or term of some kind.

I think we are more classy and civilised on this forum to use swear words or slang.

I do hold some similar thoughts on Cunningham that you do. I don't however think your criticism of Cunningham is fair in this instance.

[mcs]

You're entitled to your opinion. What I can't abide is the @@@@ that you used to criticise Cunningham. It's my understanding @@@@ means a swear word or term of some kind.

I think we are more classy and civilised on this forum to use swear words or slang.

I do hold some similar thoughts on Cunningham that you do. I don't however think your criticism of Cunningham is fair in this instance.

It was a comment typed during the heat of watching the match for goodness sake - its not the match thread for nothing after all....

Yet again your trying to make yourself out as some sort of god of what is acceptable or not - it is very annoying....

[mcs]

There is a thing called touch. Very hard to get it back immediately when you have limited time on the ground pre season. He is a classy player and got better as the game went on. Also with Rampe out the taller backs have more on their plate.

Watching the games tonight it appears we lack pace in the midfield. Nothing new but I feel we need a different mix, particularly at centre bounces. Our players just don't read the ruck tap. We are dead set easy beats in that area.

Its been noticeable in both games so far that we have struggled to create space in midfield around the contest. Hopefully the return of Heeney will help fix this somewhat, but its a real issue we need to fix soon, or we will continue to get beaten easily in the middle. Naismith hasn't had a great start to the year either which is not helping. Winning lots of hitouts, but to no one in particular it seems.

[S.S. Bleeder]

If the decision was probably correct & Mills didn't understand the rules - maybe someone at the club should focus on informing the players of rules / changes.

I agree. I'm not angry about that decision as I can see how the umpire could have made that decision. What I'm pissed off about was the clear bias of the umpiring in the dogs favour. Kennedy was constantly getting his jumper pulled all night, right in front of the umpires and they never paid a free, yet when Aliir tugs on Clokes jumper whilst they were holding each other Cloke gets a free. The dogs are constantly throwing the ball and being allowed to do so yet there were a couple paid against our guys in similar circumstances. The dogs are constantly caught holding the ball and we never get frees. It's as thought there is one rule for us and another for them.