Don’t appoint a non-umpire as president or what ever that ex tiger name was
Also dont pick umpires purely for fitness
I missed out as s goal umpire because I was too unfit start picking umpires who can umpire
I still can't believe how that handball was not deliberate.. especially after how the Sydney/Hawthorn and Geelong/Freo games were being adjudicated.Words can’t describe how much i hate the ■■■■■■■ umpires.
The AFL has also set a dangerous precedent after saying the Firrito decision was the correct call.
There was about 3 deliberate out of bounds not paid, two in the same pocket and one (maybe 2) kicks out of defence to no one.
The one that irked me more was Rance deliberately hand balling through the points when he wasn’t under pressure but ‘disguised’ it by having a player standing a metre over the line.
This is the ■■■■ that happens. The change an interpretation, the coaches and players tweak it, and before you know it the game barely resembles what it did a couple years ago.
To sort out this mess (and it is a mess right now) I think they need two things to change. The umpires themselves and the rules.
Umpires:
- Umpires must become their own separate identity/organisation. Free from AFL interference.
- Umpires must NEVER be seen to 'socialise' with any club. Ever.
- Umpires need to be full time professionals that can umpire anywhere the game is played, regardless of state.
- Umpires, from junior level to AFL, should all attend the same training and there should be a promotion and relegation system Australia wide
- There needs to be a review of every single game for every single correct, incorrect and missed call. The results of this review need to be made public each week. There needs to be benchmarks that result in action against the umpires. For example if umpire A missed 10 calls, got 5 calls incorrect then he/she goes back to state level and give the next person a chance.
Rules:
Cut down the number of rules. Keep it very simple.
No DANGEROUS head high contact (slipping up over the shoulder because the guy lifts his arm does not count).
No pushes in the back that result in the player being forcefully propelled forward (no diving, or gentle hands).
No incorrect disposal, ever. Either has prior opportunity and is gone or has no opportunity and ball up. Ball ‘knocked out’ in tackle… holding the ball. Just like NRL players… they need to learn to protect the ball a little better and dispose of it correctly. I don’t want to watch a messy game of Rugby Union thank you.
No more than 15 steps without a bounce.
No tripping but if a player raises his leg then it is fair game.
And that would be about it. I would love to see no more than 20 free kicks paid for the game. Really just cut down the number of whistles. The high head crap has just got to stop. Players are now using their head in a more dangerous way to earn a kick. I don’t want ducking to be an “artform”. Nor do I want to keep seeing players diving out of contests rather than keeping their feet. Honour the man who plays with strength and holds his position against slight contact.
Umpiring is deciding at least 2 games a week and that is just disgusting. Every game is umpired differently and every team has a different rule set. Whole thing is corrupt and botched. NRL and soccer may have their occasional issues but far far less games decided by the whistle.
Reiwoldts throw in the last quarter on the MCC boundary was the most disgusting thing from the weekend. Even worse than the Deledio one.
The umpire was 10m away with perfect line of sight and just let it play on. You cannot tell me they are just incompetent, that was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the game for an agenda.
To me the answers are so simple and having finally retired from it at local level I can look at it even closer than I normally would.
- Any criticism of an umpire by coach or player is met with a 4 match suspension and $50000 fine. All those receiving the penalty must also become accredited umpires.
- Let the umpires make decisions and reports. Yesterday, halfway through the 3rd term, there had been 10 free kicks paid. That’s an inability to make a decision. When it comes to reports, if an umpire lays a report, the the MRP cannot review it - instead it is contested at the Tribunal.
- Every player and umpire in a match is to meet in the home team rooms after the game for an hour for a post match beverage. That would build rapport and respect, between player, official and umpire alike.
- Only have current and former umpires on the Rules Of The Game Committee.
To me the answers are so simple and having finally retired from it at local level I can look at it even closer than I normally would.
- Any criticism of an umpire by coach or player is met with a 4 match suspension and $50000 fine. All those receiving the penalty must also become accredited umpires.
- Let the umpires make decisions and reports. Yesterday, halfway through the 3rd term, there had been 10 free kicks paid. That’s an inability to make a decision. When it comes to reports, if an umpire lays a report, the the MRP cannot review it - instead it is contested at the Tribunal.
- Every player and umpire in a match is to meet in the home team rooms after the game for an hour for a post match beverage. That would build rapport and respect, between player, official and umpire alike.
- Only have current and former umpires on the Rules Of The Game Committee.
#1 is just plains stupidity. Abuse is different from criticism. Abuse is not on, ever. Criticism is fair, just and necessary for human beings to become better, whether they are umpires or not. Why should players be criticised for wrong decisions, skill errors, etc., but the umpires not?
Fk me Pazz, you’ve been in rare form lately.
Make umpires full time. Umpiring should not be a second job at the elite level. No lawyering or doctoring during the day and moonlighting as umpires on the weekends.
Umpires can spend 38 hours a week either umpiring games, practising umpiring on the track or studying all things umpiring as a group including interpretations of rules. A Monday can be spent reviewing the weekend’s games via videotape much the same way clubs and individual players do. The league can afford to set it up and they are already paid well. Have a 5-10 year transition phase where all existing umpires are offered full time roles if they want it and over that period all new umpires entering the system do so with the knowledge it is a full time role.
“Rare”
“Form”
maybe they can start by admitting an error every now and then.
Take off the numbers from their backs - no one needs to know who they are, and what do they need the number for, can anyone explain this?
A good umpire isnt noticed during the game.
To that point, umpires who feel the need for attention and limelight should be sacked immediately
The AFL should be funding an independent umpiring academy. With offices, staff, learning facilities and have their home at the MCG. Fund them properly with a independent chain of command with a CEO that has a seat on the AFL board. Make them full time staff. Nurture them, have umpiring scouts that go country wide and recruit. Spend their working week, studying the rules, watching game after game, from every league. Going out to clubs, not just AFL clubs, but state leagues, TAC clubs, lower divisions, going over the rules of the game. They need to be experts at their craft.
At the moment its an underfunded, under supported part time gig.
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Interpretation. Three officials (or four) each have different interpretations on rules that require them to make a judgement call, ie: holding the ball, deliberate out of bounds etc. You can’t remove interpretation - but maybe it’s a better idea to allow the umpires to only have one zone on the ground all game - no rotating through. At least then the players will know “geez I need to be careful up the Punt Road end, because Chamberlain is pinging everyone for holding the ball.”
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Anonymity. How often do you hear “the best umpires are never seen or heard from”. Well, Channel 7 must be made to remove mics from umpires - or at the very least not broadcast them, and the AFL must remove numbers from the back of the umpires tops. The game is about the players, and the fans. Lets not turn umpires into celebrities - or worse - targets for abuse.
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Right of reply/Accountability. This must be the only country in the world where you can hang ■■■■ on any politician/famous person you want, but woe betide you should you dare criticise officiating in our sports. The line “it’s too hard to attract umpires” is an easy one to trot out, and it has merit at grass roots level but at elite level, the umpires are too often not elite.
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Money. I’m not talking about elite level with this one, I’m talking about at grass roots level. I don’t know what the AFL is doing, but with all that revenue they make from tv rights - surely they have an obligation to tip some coin into umpire sponsorship/pathway programs for umpires around the country.
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Rules. Stop freaking changing them. That is all.
...The first thing the AFL should do is stop instructing the maggots to get the results they want from the games. (Do you remember who it was that said “Leave out the bits we don’t need”?).
Agree. Umpiring is just another way the AFL shape the game to their desired outcomes. Not going to change any time soon.
Harking back to vs St.Kilda, I saw an umpire collide with a Saints player ( Reiwoldt, I think ) and both were on the ground. Isn't this sanctionable , I've seen no reports of it, or has that gone now the AFL has justified clash jumpers?
That happened right infront of where i sit at Etihad , Saint Rewoldt , even gave and abused that umpire with a gob full nothing was done or said, certain players, and Hawks are a protected species, no doubt.
Oh and on the number on the back thing. Is it so we can humanise them? Learn thyeir little names. Have little relationships with these little battlers?When was the last time you heard a member of the crowd yell, “GOOD CALL UMPIRE 36”, or at pub later going over a game with your mates, “but i tell you what, wasn’t umpire 15 good tonight”.
Putting numbers on the umpire simply draws more attention to their bad umpiring. You even get members of the crowd say, “that ■■■■■■ umpire 22, whats that dIckheads name…” looks up umpire d!ckhead in the record, “AH THAT UMPIRE D!CKHEAD CRUCIFIES US EVERY GAME”.
So yea, we get to know our umpires alright.
Genuine LOL.
Ok, this is me being serious…not often, so listen up!
- Letting the game go should be the umpires first thought
- Penalize players for playing for frees. Review each game, if a player is seen playing for a free kick, suspend them for a week. This will instantly make a difference.
- Rules committee need to make rules more black and white. Although it might frustrate people, having a deliberate rule is crap if not officiated correctly.
- Umpires to wear noise blocking headphones. This will stop the crowd influencing the game. Will also stop them having their feelings hurt!
That’s it. Pretty ■■■■■■■ simple really!
To me the answers are so simple and having finally retired from it at local level I can look at it even closer than I normally would. 3. Every player and umpire in a match is to meet in the home team rooms after the game for an hour for a post match beverage. That would build rapport and respect, between player, official and umpire alike.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
thats up there with “eat my balls mate”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Can see dusty glassing an ump no problem.
When I was a kid, If the bottom hand moved during a hand-pass it was deemed a throw. Anything over your shoulder was a throw. Bring back the stationary bottom-hand rule quicksmart. Makes deciding what’s a throw (i.e. 80% of modern handballs) and what’s legit a doddle.
Imagine having to share a beer for a hour with pannell, nicholls and margetts afterva game
Id rather put razorblades up my japseye