Umpires

[Ossie]

Yeah, but we all hate both Geelong and Collingwood, so, in a neutral game there was criticism of the umpires mainly going one way.

Just how do Collingwood do so well in the free kick count year after year after year? I know the free kick count is not definitive but it really is a bit much.

The throwing of the ball these days is beyond a joke, they need to crack down on this. I know players do this when the umpire is unsighted and always have, but it is at plague proportions and should be clamped down on and surely with 3 umpires on the field they can position themselves to see both sides of the pack.

DS

I can't figure it out either David. This is the fourth year in a row where Collingwood receive substantially more free kicks than their opponents. This year in their 7 games, the Pies free kick differential has been +7, -1, -2, +9, +9, +4 & +12. That means they average over 5 free kicks a game than the other team. That's a handy leg up for them!
Interestingly, in their last 10 Grand Finals, they have received more free kicks than their opposition in 9 out of 10 of the deciders.

 

[tigerlove]

There’s your problem - you listened to a C’wood supporter and assumed you’d get common sense

I didn't assume that, believe me

 

[tigerlove]

I have a theory as to why Collingwood are not pinged so hard by the umpires and why they receive more free kicks.

One or more (presumably) recently retired umpires who are Collingwood supporters go to the coaching staff and offer their services to advise the club on how to bend the rules and not get caught and how to play for frees and be rewarded.

Example; They then advise the coaching staff on how to throw the ball legally, just as long as one fist is clenched then the umpire will presume it is a handball.

Because the umpires maybe instructed to look for the clenched fist in determining whether it is a throw.

There are tells umpires will have been instructed to look for and if the players have been coached to display these tells then they are more likely to receive free kicks.

Conversely when bending the rules make sure you display the tells which fool the umpires into thinking you have have been legal.

I have umpired country footy for decades so I have seen a lot of tricks by lots of cunning players trying to gain an advantage.

This is just a theory but in Europe soccer clubs give their players lessons on how to fake for free kicks.

If Collingwood players are being coached to win free kicks then Cox is a golden pupil, every 4th disposal this year has been a free. Pity he's not such a good student at learning the art of playing footy.

 

[Tames]

Just how do Collingwood do so well in the free kick count year after year after year? I know the free kick count is not definitive but it really is a bit much.

Considering its been happening for years and years, it may even be something as simple as their colours - The black and white stripes stand out to umpires, and therefore the players are seen more often and paid more free kicks.

 

[DavidSSS]

TOT70 you make some good points.

To me the biggest problem is that once the umpires are instructed to not pay all free kicks in order to keep the game moving then they are necessarily going to be inconsistent.

I can understand the AFL wants the game to move quicker and they deliberately made sure the free kick counts reduced some years ago. But they can still enforce some rules without any problems - if they enforce a stricter no throwing rule, give notice of this, and pay a pile of free kicks for throwing, then the throwing will stop. They are (or were, it is confusing) trying to do this with the strategy of just dropping the ball as a player is tackled, the idea is to change behaviour not increase the number of free kicks. It is possible.

DS

 

[tigerlove]

If each field ump made just 3 dubious 50-50 interpretive calls a game there's 9 frees just there. If they make another 3 50-50s that don't pay frees you potentially have 18 calls a game. That can be a significant game changer. It would be so easy for umpired to cheat without raising suspicion. Would that happen? Food for thought.

 

[graystar1]

I think throwing the ball should be allowed now. Cant see a reason to prohibit it. Might make the game a little better and faster.
Just a thought .
Why should it be prohibited?

Yeah, right. And how about also introducing the offside rule as well.

Throw the ball, offside rule and no tackling, and we should then be a cross between Soccer and Rugby League!!

Happy days.

 

[graystar1]

I don't think it's a new thing, remember the 'crow throw?' That was 90s I reckon and didn't Ted Whitten get his players to throw it when the umpire was out of position?

I think that was the "flick pass" BR, now defunct.

 

[zippadeee]

There is an article on News.com.au.
About Geelong players going for the dive when ever they're in a marking contest.
Selwood, Ablett and Dangerfield's one in the preliminary final were all highlighted.
About time....

 

[pete and tys]

Yeah, right. And how about also introducing the offside rule as well.

Throw the ball, offside rule and no tackling, and we should then be a cross between Soccer and Rugby League!!

Happy days.

No..just allow throwing and dropping the ball...play on!

 

[HR]

Handball is just an Aussie Rules quirk.

Pete or tys, seriously now.....

 

[HR]

I actually just want the umps to pay the free, this will open the game up. They seem to be waiting for the absolute bleeding obvious, which appears to be about 10 frees too late and less meaningful than the the prior 10. Then once the free is paid, stop the opponents from delaying the restart.
Like years gone by, they already have the rule set now it's just up to them to use it.

 

[pete and tys]

Pete or tys, seriously now.....

Yep. A massive quirk.
Also unfairly disadvantages one armed players!

 

[yandb]

I actually just want the umps to pay the free, this will open the game up. They seem to be waiting for the absolute bleeding obvious, which appears to be about 10 frees too late and less meaningful than the the prior 10. Then once the free is paid, stop the opponents from delaying the restart.
Like years gone by, they already have the rule set now it's just up to them to use it.

I agree HR paying more frees will help, the key is pay the frees that open play up.

Arms around a player, tackling a player in the marking contest automatic 50, knock the offenders in the first five minutes of the game and players will stop doing it.

 

[HR]

Yep. A massive quirk.
Also unfairly disadvantages one armed players!

The quirk you refer to is Aussie rules.
We all like the fact the game isn't like any others.
The handball is a great part of our game.

 

[DavidSSS]

I actually just want the umps to pay the free, this will open the game up. They seem to be waiting for the absolute bleeding obvious, which appears to be about 10 frees too late and less meaningful than the the prior 10. Then once the free is paid, stop the opponents from delaying the restart.
Like years gone by, they already have the rule set now it's just up to them to use it.

Yep, just pay the free, the behaviour of the players will change.

But I reckon your second point is more important, no delay or 50M. The idea of replacing the old 15m penalty with a 50m penalty was not to make the penalty harsher, the idea was to stop the delaying tactics when a free was given or a mark taken. Because of the way it is interpreted now the umpires don't pay it unless the delay is bleedingly obvious and quite long. Maybe pay a 25m penalty for a small violation and 50m for a larger one.

As for quirks of our game, Pete and tys, do you want us to play on a rectangular field too? We're the only game with handpasses (by the way, flick passes were never legal), the only football played on an oval ground, we have no off-side etc. And he reason for all these quirks? Because we play Australian Rules Football not soccer, rugby, gridiron etc. While we're on the quirks of our game let's just remember our game came first - rules were codified in 1858, earlier than any of those Johnny come Lately football codes I just mentioned. It is they who have quirks, we have the first codified football game in the world, why didn't they follow the original rules when they developed their games - why did they introduce all those quirks?

DS

 

[pete and tys]

Yep, just pay the free, the behaviour of the players will change.

But I reckon your second point is more important, no delay or 50M. The idea of replacing the old 15m penalty with a 50m penalty was not to make the penalty harsher, the idea was to stop the delaying tactics when a free was given or a mark taken. Because of the way it is interpreted now the umpires don't pay it unless the delay is bleedingly obvious and quite long. Maybe pay a 25m penalty for a small violation and 50m for a larger one.

As for quirks of our game, Pete and tys, do you want us to play on a rectangular field too? We're the only game with handpasses (by the way, flick passes were never legal), the only football played on an oval ground, we have no off-side etc. And he reason for all these quirks? Because we play Australian Rules Football not soccer, rugby, gridiron etc. While we're on the quirks of our game let's just remember our game came first - rules were codified in 1858, earlier than any of those Johnny come Lately football codes I just mentioned. It is they who have quirks, we have the first codified football game in the world, why didn't they follow the original rules when they developed their games - why did they introduce all those quirks?

DS

Yes I am happy with all that too.
Was being a little facetious but just wanted to see what people thought about permitting throws in the name of getting the game easier to umpire. It is a strange season anyway.
Tys said I was bound to get some bites..so cheers for your response.

 

[Smoking Aces]

Just wished they had a closer look at how taggers play Martin.

 

[Mycotchinrules]

Can you set up a GoFundMe page for a Royal commission?

I want to know why Tom Lynch can get tasered, and it would still be 'play on'

 

[HR]

Yes I am happy with all that too.
Was being a little facetious but just wanted to see what people thought about permitting throws in the name of getting the game easier to umpire. It is a strange season anyway.
Tys said I was bound to get some bites..so cheers for your response.

Hahahaha
I wrote for about 30 minutes replying to the quirk post. Then deleted 29 minutes of it.
I so wanted to post it but it would have been hook line and sinker.
Pete, come on man it's game day. The stress is high enough.
Good win tonight though.