Round 11 v Richmond Tigers @ SCG

[Roadrunner]

I’ve watched this game twice already and will watch it again. I have to say that I’m so proud of our team- down and almost out in the second, but willed themselves to fight back and gave everything- no supporter can ask for more. I certainly didn’t think we could win it but was just happy that we were competitive and wrestled back the momentum. Even when we hit the front with around 13 minutes to go, I thought they would come back at us. The lads showed composure and maturity beyond their years and made us very happy.

I’ll single out Ladhams as he’s has copped a fair bit on here- I think his efforts and persistence won us the game. Very happy that we recruited him!

[707]

How old is the third Warner brother?. we need to start the planning now in order to get the set of four :-)

On re-watching the game, Ladhams has good ground level skills and decision making for a ruckman, very good trade.

Whateley on 360 showed the wide angle, Stevic is at least 60 metres away, the officiating umpire 30 metres. Stevic should not have made a decision on such a marrginal free from that distance over riding the controlling umpire plus the ball was in the stands by the time Stevic indicates where the free is going. This has been a non issue in reality.

[Rod_]

How old is the third Warner brother?. we need to start the planning now in order to get the set of four :-)

On re-watching the game, Ladhams has good ground level skills and decision making for a ruckman, very good trade.

Whateley on 360 showed the wide angle, Stevic is at least 60 metres away, the officiating umpire 30 metres. Stevic should not have made a decision on such a marrginal free from that distance over riding the controlling umpire plus the ball was in the stands by the time Stevic indicates where the free is going. This has been a non issue in reality.

Agree 100% - over officiating (and it brings into question did he want a different result, or have a bet on the game and wanted a different payout...)

[Roadrunner]

Agree 100% - over officiating (and it brings into question did he want a different result, or have a bet on the game and wanted a different payout...)

Umps these days love to be in the limelight and enjoy being important. They penalise players for ticky-touchwood frees and miss obvious ones far too often. In the days when we had 1 ump, decisions were much better and they let the game flow. Yes, the play is faster today but I suggest that 2 umps should be sufficient thereby allowing a higher level of officiating- we have too many umps not up to standard. Soccer has 1 ref and though our grounds are bigger, I don’t see why 2 can’t do the job- one on each side of the ground. The major inconsistencies are around holding the ball and/or incorrect disposal, and holding and interfering. Didn’t the single umpire have to decide on these issues in the past?

It’s obvious to me that today’s umps are just not up to the level required for AFL. The question is what is the Commission doing about it. To my mind not enough and this is not acceptable when there is so much money in today’s football. They need to attract the best talent and train them in the above areas to the point where they get most decisions right. It is ridiculous and unacceptable that a game’s outcome could be decided by bad umpiring decisions.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

When people talk of using "common sense" it generally refers to doing what the speaker would prefer to have occured.
And I reject the claims that the umpires are paying to many frees.

I have no gripe with free kicks, just the inconsistancy - which I prefer to think is more the fault of interpretation variations generated by AFL headquarters, rather than incompetence or bias from the umpires themselves.

I agree consistency is the main issue.

There was an incident in our game where we were awarded a free kick and the Richmond player kicked the ball away. (I think it was Soldo.) No 50m penalty. I think umpires rarely pay 50m penalties when there's one disposal from the opposition after a free is paid. It's only when they go on with it that a 50m is paid, and even then not always.

What was more eye catching with the Warner one is that he kicked it into the crowd. That will always be paid a 50m in normal play, whether a free has been paid or there is a boundary throw-in. It just comes to whether this was normal play since Warner clearly believed the game was over.

I'd love to know what happens at an umpire coaching level. We all accept that many of the rules and the fast paced nature of the game lend themselves to inconsistency / varying interpretations of what is and isn't a free. But do the umpires collectively think they should be reaching some consensus via the game review process and internal discussion, or do they think it's all so hard that there's no choice for them all to apply their own individual interpretations. One would like to think it's the former, but the evidence of this year (not based purely, or even mainly, on Swans games but right across all games I've watched) isn't strong.

Seems Leigh Mathews has come out in suport of Liz and myself, asking: "Why have we at this narrative that we don't want the umpire paying the whistle. Apply the rules strictly, without fear or favour. We need to get over this thought that more free kicks is bad for the game."
He didn't mention Don Jolley or the 1970 grandfinal, although I certainly have.
Whinging about umpire over involvement is simply an expresson of parochialism. Getting the umpires to "let the game flow" is not a solution, it's a symptom. That "Mr Potato Head" Craig Hutchinson disagrees with Mathews is me judice evidance that it's a fallacious arguement.

[stevoswan]

Chads been involved in a lot of things this yr .

Kicked it to Buddy for his 1000th, kicked the 2 goals that got us going down in tassie against Hawks , giving it to the crowd in Perth after his goal, BOG against the drug cheats ,the running too far dissent BS, now this rubbish about the non 50 .

He is involved in all of these things because he wants to be . He makes things happen and takes the initiative to get involved . He doesnt stand around with his hands on his knees

The players and coaches love him for this , more than they do others , so fans better get on board and accept this is who Chad is . He wont change and hes not going anywhere !

There it is....yet again. While wrapping up someone who deserves it (and I agree with most of it)....you still can't resist putting the boots in to someone who doesn't. It's so tiresome....and don't defend yourself as if I'm 'picking a fight' TB......you invite dissent.

[KTigers]

Umps these days love to be in the limelight and enjoy being important. They penalise players for ticky-touchwood frees and miss obvious ones far too often. In the days when we had 1 ump, decisions were much better and they let the game flow. Yes, the play is faster today but I suggest that 2 umps should be sufficient thereby allowing a higher level of officiating- we have too many umps not up to standard. Soccer has 1 ref and though our grounds are bigger, I don’t see why 2 can’t do the job- one on each side of the ground. The major inconsistencies are around holding the ball and/or incorrect disposal, and holding and interfering. Didn’t the single umpire have to decide on these issues in the past?

It’s obvious to me that today’s umps are just not up to the level required for AFL. The question is what is the Commission doing about it. To my mind not enough and this is not acceptable when there is so much money in today’s football. They need to attract the best talent and train them in the above areas to the point where they get most decisions right. It is ridiculous and unacceptable that a game’s outcome could be decided by bad umpiring decisions.

If having too many teams means the talent is spread more thinly then surely having too many umpires means the same thing.
The endless tinkering and ''fine tuning" of the rules does one thing. Confuses everyone. The players, the umpires and the fans.
I know there are a bunch of ex players on the Rules Committee who are at a loose end and in need of a pay cheque, but it
would be better for everyone if they were just given an annual stipend, sent to the golf course and never heard from again.

[stevoswan]

Umps these days love to be in the limelight and enjoy being important. They penalise players for ticky-touchwood frees and miss obvious ones far too often. In the days when we had 1 ump, decisions were much better and they let the game flow. Yes, the play is faster today but I suggest that 2 umps should be sufficient thereby allowing a higher level of officiating- we have too many umps not up to standard. Soccer has 1 ref and though our grounds are bigger, I don’t see why 2 can’t do the job- one on each side of the ground. The major inconsistencies are around holding the ball and/or incorrect disposal, and holding and interfering. Didn’t the single umpire have to decide on these issues in the past?

It’s obvious to me that today’s umps are just not up to the level required for AFL. The question is what is the Commission doing about it. To my mind not enough and this is not acceptable when there is so much money in today’s football. They need to attract the best talent and train them in the above areas to the point where they get most decisions right. It is ridiculous and unacceptable that a game’s outcome could be decided by bad umpiring decisions.

+1

[TheBloods]

There it is....yet again. While wrapping up someone who deserves it (and I agree with most of it)....you still can't resist putting the boots in to someone who doesn't. It's so tiresome....and don't defend yourself as if I'm 'picking a fight' TB......you invite dissent.

Yes it was a dig , i couldnt help myself . If Chad is fair game then everyone is

[chalbilto]

Hey TB, have I missed something, but there has been so much praise and deservedly so for Chad and I don't understand your comment being fair game. We know your feelings about JB so I am sure, like me the majority of the supports of him here just accept your views whether we agree or disagree with you. I don't think that any poster here would disagree with Chad being a great talent and will probably be acknowledged as a "star" in the future.

[joeykanga]

Hey TB, have I missed something, but there has been so much praise and deservedly so for Chad and I don't understand your comment being fair game. We know your feelings about JB so I am sure, like me the majority of the supports of him here just accept your views whether we agree or disagree with you. I don't think that any poster here would disagree with Chad being a great talent and will probably be acknowledged as a "star" in the future.

I'm getting confused ...your answer to TB should refer to JR as JB wasn't part of this particular discussion as TB does like JB and does not like JR

[TheBloods]

Hey TB, have I missed something, but there has been so much praise and deservedly so for Chad and I don't understand your comment being fair game. We know your feelings about JB so I am sure, like me the majority of the supports of him here just accept your views whether we agree or disagree with you. I don't think that any poster here would disagree with Chad being a great talent and will probably be acknowledged as a "star" in the future.

Chad cops it all the time . Its unfair . He is doing his best. He is who he is and is just being himself when he plays , why single out his flaws when he is such a fantastic asset while others do stuff all and people go out of their way to give them props ?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Rowy cops it all the time . Its unfair . He is doing his best. He is who he is and is just being himself when he plays , why single out his flaws when he is such a fantastic asset ?

[joeykanga]

Rowy cops it all the time . Its unfair . He is doing his best. He is who he is and is just being himself when he plays , why single out his flaws when he is such a fantastic asset ?

You're rock and rolling

[royboy42]

Chad cops it all the time . Its unfair . He is doing his best. He is who he is and is just being himself when he plays , why single out his flaws when he is such a fantastic asset while others do stuff all and people go out of their way to give them props ?

Enough!!
For goodness sake.
RWO isolated these childish snipes to one area.
Can you just go there and vent , and we wont have to go through it all again again.