Round 4: the other games. Am I looking at this the right way up?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

There were 60 frees paid in the North game, which was a higher than average for this year - but Don Jolly paid 91 free kicks in the 1970 grand final alone, and its often cited as one of the best grannies of all time.
I think the ugly rolling mauls that dominated the majority of the 2000's were the result of umpires NOT paying frees, because of the belief that not paying frees "kept the game moving" - and I think that belief mistaken.

Their execution hasn't been that sharp, but their work rate has been enormous, and their attack on the ball and the man, relentless. It shows that there are many roads to success. And if you simply out-work the other side, you're in with a pretty good chance of victory.

While that's true on any given afternoon, it probably isn't sustainable over a whole season.

. . . except in '05 and 2012 Liz?

[stevoswan]

Like everyone else I was convinced by the Hawkins push on Friday night. And then I saw the slow motion replay in this article.

In that view both players do appear to be moving forward throughout the contest. Hawkins' right hand is on Harris' side, under his armpit and pushes to the side. His left hand isn't clearly visible much of the time but when it is, doesn't look open and flat and may not even have touched the back. The left arm doesn't seem to straighten in a pushing motion.

So I've gone from as outraged as everyone else to thinking, maybe the umpire was more right than wrong after all.

If we are now arguing our way out of blatant pushing in the back examples like this one from Hawkins, our game is in big trouble. It already is actually but I think you know what I mean.

[Faunac8]

If we are now arguing our way out of blatant pushing in the back examples like this one from Hawkins, our game is in big trouble. It already is actually but I think you know what I mean.

Ah well slow motion replays are much like statistics in that they can be interpreted in various ways.
That replay was inconclusive however the footage shown on the coverage was from the other side of the contest and lead to several members of the commentary team saying how lucky Hawkins was to get away with it followed by much mirth and amusement at the fact he did.

[Roadrunner]

Brisbane was robbed, pure and simple. Stewart dropped the pill when tackled and should have been pinged. Blind Freddie could see that- an obvious goal missed. This should not happen at AFL level- together with the Hawkins push, cost Brisbane the game.

- - - Updated - - -

Brisbane was robbed, pure and simple. Stewart dropped the pill when tackled and should have been pinged. Blind Freddie could see that- an obvious goal missed. This should not happen at AFL level- together with the Hawkins push, cost Brisbane the game.

Don’t tell me the home crowd didn’t play a part-shocking umpiring!