Finals: Week One. Aww, yeah, I suppose that I care.

[Sandridge]

Yes, it's strange how we tend to view matches. Like, if say, we lose by four points and there was a charity goal to the opposition, halfway through the third quarter, then most of us form the opinion that we would have won, if it wasn't for that umpiring howler. A point of view that always ignores the fact that if another decision was made, the game would have proceeded on a different timeline.

I'm glad I don't believe in the parallel universe theory. Otherwise I'd be worried about somehow being transferred to an alternate universe, where in 2005, an umpire spotted Tadhg holding Sampi in the pack and Leaping Leo's mark was disallowed.

Look on the bright side, deja! You might be transferred to an alternate universe where Leo Barry doesn't have to take "that mark" because the umpires pay a free kick to Darren Jolly after he is pushed in the back by Dean Cox in the contest leading up to it. We'd still win in that universe!!

[dejavoodoo44]

Yes, it might be best not to go there DJ44. Look what happened to all those Saints fans who started believing in alternate
realities just because a ball bounced the "wrong way" in the 2010 GF. Now they are all out there protesting about 5G towers
and the like, and are completely bonkers. It's a slippery slope.

Isn't the Saints winning another premiership one of the signs of the apocalypse?

[dejavoodoo44]

I’m amazed there isn’t more commentary about Kennelly’s hold. Such a clear free.

Well, it was made more clear, after the fact, by all the photos and posters of the Leo mark. In real time, almost all of the attention would have been captured by Leo flashing across the pack, while what was going on in the pack, would have been a bit of a blurry tangle.

- - - Updated - - -

Look on the bright side, deja! You might be transferred to an alternate universe where Leo Barry doesn't have to take "that mark" because the umpires pay a free kick to Darren Jolly after he is pushed in the back by Dean Cox in the contest leading up to it. We'd still win in that universe!!

I think we are starting to demonstrate, why parallel universe theory might be a tad unworkable.

[neilfws]

Thought Port/Cats was a pretty good game in the end. Plenty of "finals intensity" and Port brought more of it. I knew they were quick and good at converting, but haven't seen so much of that intense, frenetic tackling.

Read that the Cats 22 last night was the oldest average age for any game ever, not sure if it's meaningful in any way but an interesting stat.

So to Lions and Tigers. Hopefully another good contest, but I think the Lions will have to be very good to be in it.

[Blood Fever]

I’m amazed there isn’t more commentary about Kennelly’s hold. Such a clear free.

I'm more amazed at the dream run Chris Scott gets from the media re his finals record. 4 and 12 since inheriting premiership in 2011. Calls commentary on it " a bit lazy". In the Mcguire category as a media darling and protected species.

[barry]

Razor Ray getting some media coverage today about his performance.

I am a big Razor fan. I know he can occasionally call a few more free kicks than others, but almost all are there, and it does free the game up.
He's about the only umpire I deem as fair and impartial and not intimidated by a big home crowd.

Keep it up Ray.

[dejavoodoo44]

Razor Ray getting some media coverage today about his performance.

I am a big Razor fan. I know he can occasionally call a few more free kicks than others, but almost all are there, and it does free the game up.
He's about the only umpire I deem as fair and impartial and not intimidated by a big home crowd.

Keep it up Ray.

Yes, I also think he's the best. Though I'm not sure if he umpired any of our games this season? Probably a quirk of the hubs, but conversely, I think that we had Stevic four or five times.

[RogueSwan]

For me it is easier to pick the teams I want to fail:

• Dogs - no explanation needed
• Tigers - riding on the Dogs throwing coat tails and Dimma is a d#@%
• Geelong - Selwood ducking, Ablett sniping, Taylor playing dirty and never getting called for it and all whilst having a seeming larger salary cap than most

Hopefully the Saints thump the Dogs and Jones ploughs through Liberatore

edit: I just read through that, man, I am getting grumpy in my old age

[Industrial Fan]

I’m amazed there isn’t more commentary about Kennelly’s hold. Such a clear free.

there were so few free kicks in that game, and the game was played very differently to what it is today with almost every contest a “clear free kick”.

It’s easy to say with a freeze frame at such a critical point of the game but in real time and in context of the game, play on.

In other news I saw something I’ve never seen before in the port cats game. Midway through the 4th qtr, game on the line and Selwood ducks (autocorrect kindly suggested sucks instead of ducks) into a tackle. Then it happened. No whistle. Not sure if that is why Ray is in trouble?

[neilfws]

Yes, I also think he's the best. Though I'm not sure if he umpired any of our games this season? Probably a quirk of the hubs, but conversely, I think that we had Stevic four or five times.

I may have to edit/retract this later as I threw it together quickly, but I think these are the umpire counts for Swans games this year.

I also think Chamberlain is a good umpire. I don't mind hearing what umpires have to say, explaining their calls and keeping players focused on the game is surely a good thing. Unfortunately that personality type makes him an easy target on social media.

Here's an article on him from a few years ago.

Name	n
Andre Gianfagna	6
Brett Rosebury	5
Leigh Haussen	3
Matt Stevic	3
Nathan Williamson	3
Shaun Ryan	3
Brendan Hosking	2
Cameron Dore	2
Chris Donlon	2
David Harris	2
Jacob Mollison	2
Jamie Broadbent	2
Nick Foot	2
Paul Rebeschini	2
Andrew Heffernan	1
Brent Wallace	1
Craig Fleer	1
Curtis Deboy	1
Daniel Johanson	1
Dean Margetts	1
Eleni Glouftsis	1
Hayden Gavine	1
Justin Power	1
Leigh Fisher	1
Mathew Nicholls	1
Nick Brown	1
Rob OGorman	1
Simon Meredith	1

[Blood Fever]

there were so few free kicks in that game, and the game was played very differently to what it is today with almost every contest a “clear free kick”.

It’s easy to say with a freeze frame at such a critical point of the game but in real time and in context of the game, play on.

In other news I saw something I’ve never seen before in the port cats game. Midway through the 4th qtr, game on the line and Selwood ducks (autocorrect kindly suggested sucks instead of ducks) into a tackle. Then it happened. No whistle. Not sure if that is why Ray is in trouble?

Agree he is a good umpire. Annoys me that he thinks he is on a par with the players. Umpires should be seen and not heard so much as Ray.

[dejavoodoo44]

I may have to edit/retract this later as I threw it together quickly, but I think these are the umpire counts for Swans games this year.

I also think Chamberlain is a good umpire. I don't mind hearing what umpires have to say, explaining their calls and keeping players focused on the game is surely a good thing. Unfortunately that personality type makes him an easy target on social media.

Here's an article on him from a few years ago.

Name	n
Andre Gianfagna	6
Brett Rosebury	5
Leigh Haussen	3
Matt Stevic	3
Nathan Williamson	3
Shaun Ryan	3
Brendan Hosking	2
Cameron Dore	2
Chris Donlon	2
David Harris	2
Jacob Mollison	2
Jamie Broadbent	2
Nick Foot	2
Paul Rebeschini	2
Andrew Heffernan	1
Brent Wallace	1
Craig Fleer	1
Curtis Deboy	1
Daniel Johanson	1
Dean Margetts	1
Eleni Glouftsis	1
Hayden Gavine	1
Justin Power	1
Leigh Fisher	1
Mathew Nicholls	1
Nick Brown	1
Rob OGorman	1
Simon Meredith	1

So, I was right that Ray didn't umpire any of our games, but I overestimated with Stevic. Maybe it's because three of the games that I went to had Stevic umpiring, so I assumed that he did one or two more?

With Ray, when he umpires, I always feel confident that the game is going to be umpired well: both due due to his own competence, and as a senior umpire, the probable positive effect that he has on his less senior colleagues.

[Blood Fever]

So, I was right that Ray didn't umpire any of our games, but I overestimated with Stevic. Maybe it's because three of the games that I went to had Stevic umpiring, so I assumed that he did one or two more?

With Ray, when he umpires, I always feel confident that the game is going to be umpired well: both due due to his own competence, and as a senior umpire, the probable positive effect that he has on his less senior colleagues.

May have a negative impact on some because of his domineering nature.

[Mel_C]

Razor Ray getting some media coverage today about his performance.

I am a big Razor fan. I know he can occasionally call a few more free kicks than others, but almost all are there, and it does free the game up.
He's about the only umpire I deem as fair and impartial and not intimidated by a big home crowd.

Keep it up Ray.

There were 2 negatives last night. He couldn't bounce the ball and he needed a tape measure to correctly measure 15 metres.

[Mel_C]

The Tigers are killing the lions in clearances. They need to fix this if they want to win.

Neale has 0 disposals!

Please win Lions.