Their first goal also came from a push in the back (it was in the side) and I think that was the last push in the back free for the night. I don’t care if the umps want to use their own interpretation for the rules (well I do but I understand there may be focus areas that they are told to look for etc) but just umpire both teams the same. It is obvious watching games that one side is often favoured and please would they start umpiring and paying holding for all ruck contests, it is a blight on the game.
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I don’t expect anyone to agree with me, but I wish they’d just chuck all but the most obvious of ruck infringement rules in the bin.
They’re so inconsistently applied that any one free can’t help but be mystifying.
Also, the stand rule is just a freaking mess. I don’t mind the idea in principle, but the way they’re applying it…
Making players stand a mark that’s nowhere near the infringement. It feels like if you’re within ten metres then you’re told to stand exactly where you happen to be. Meanwhile the player taking the free can also be nowhere near the infringement and is under no obligation to return to it.
So it’s doubly messed up.
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Is it even conspiracy to suggest this rule only exists to invoke more 50m penalties, therefore goals, therefore more ad time?
It’s nominal purpose could have been easily fulfilled by enforcing the rules as they were- one player stands the mark and the player with the ball needs to kick over it or play on.
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As you have stated the ruck rules are inconsistently applied so the answer isn’t to change the rules or get rid of some, the answer is to apply the rules that are there. ie the first ruck to grab his opponent is penalised and it would be quickly sorted out.
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I was screaming at the telly for that one.
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How much does a home crowd really influence umpiring? WC fans boo any free awarded against them, regardless. It’s fkg pathetic. Parochialism is seen elsewhere, but these idiots must be the absolute worst at it.
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As did I. It actually made me realise I still care and have passion! So it was a small win personally.
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He’s clearly the new Ben Hobbs.
They ping him at every opportunity, like it has a cumulative affect written in to the rule.
Hahahaaa, well we sure showed them. They ain’t making much money from us.
Too logical for the Rsoles in charge at AwFL HQ
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He even cocked the handball and then pulled it back in to protect it in the tackle. Farcical decision
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Their game plan was to hold on the ball on almost every tackle.
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I love the contests where the umpires can clearly be heard saying “both holding" - admitting that they’re too scared to make a decision on who started it…
And to fake any head contact/in the back.
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That is really easy to resolve. Have one umpire (the one not directly involved in the ball up) looking at the ruck contest only and blow the whistle as soon as the first hold is made.
If the players know they are going to be pinged for it they will stop doing it.
Yes.
Make sure you throw your head back before the tackler grabs you.
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I hate the increasing number of intentional throws and acting for frees by players. I have an easy solution.
Intentional throw: 250 points
Staging: 400 points
Dropping knees / drawing high contact: 500 points
1000 points = one week suspension
Yes, there would be some subjectivity in assessing intention, but we already have subjectivity in both umpiring and MRO. Give players video examples of what will be penalised and then compare observed conduct to the examples, and issue points accordingly. There are plenty of examples where we know exactly what the cheating player is doing, and we can at least crack down on those ones.
Kajillion dollar comp with so much gambling - clamping down on intentional rule breaking is both possible and necessary.
Double points for for finals. Septuple points for GFs.
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LOL we have Eleni this week 
Small mercies being Jordyn’s performance in our game last week got her dropped to the ressies or whatever, none of the other 3 copped the same tho
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It was the constant berating players to not stand behind her. Hot tip: they’re gonna move. Just bounce the fricken thing.
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Great! Give the maggots even yet more power to, as Gil decreed, “give us the results we need”.