Happens all the time to keep games close & “exciting”, then turns around later to ensure (mostly) the correct result. It’s only when a team is completely doninant, and the other really inept, that you get blowouts these days.
Simple solution is mke these guys accountable to the public. It would do wonders for everyone if they were forced to explain reasons why they made X decision.
Amazing to think you are forced to resign for an affair at AFL House yet you can be completely incompetent and unaccountable and keep your job as an AFL umpire.
They tried that (umpires explain decisions) but after round 3 journos/comm specialists stopped turning up.
I understand coaches not being allowed to give them a name as that bad attitude does filter down to lower leagues were violence is more prominent. But surely, the umpires boss or coach can say “yep, got that one wrong”. Surely they aren’t so precious that a week off for a poor performance will hurt their ego so much
Whilst I understand the sentiment behind protecting them from public scrutiny I’m taking the approach that humanising them will actually attract umpires at junior levels. Letting the footy public know they made mistakes because you know what, they’re human, would actually mean people could sympathise with them. Currently we are led to believe they don’t make mistakes and therefore critise them when they do.
Also on the previous occasions they were too black and white. I think they need to reflect on decisions whilst also pointing out the grey areas involved with interpretations.
They’re seen as untouchable and don’t answer to anyone. They also have every ex-Umpire and muppet at AFL house trying to justify and excuse poor performances each week.
Then when anyone jumps on talk back radio or tweets AFL journalists, supporters are told to shut up and accept it.
I understand that umpires performance is critiqued ‘in house’ but nobody has any idea if it happens, as their performance never improves.
Is that the game where one of their bald blokes got a free for high when he ran into a stationary Hibberd, then called play on when Hurley had his head over it and Hannebery took him out? Was crap.
I left that game about 18 minutes into the first because I would have done much, much, much worse if he’d stayed on.
They got them about 4 or 5 goals straight off the bat with bad free kick calls, missed free kick calls to us or bad mark calls. Clearest case I’ve ever seen of one or maybe two umpires wanting one side to get up.
Also WCE make every ump feel like ■■■■ every time they don’t get a home town decision and it works. If you learn one thing about how the AFL works in the past 5 years, it’s that bullying always pays.
Yep, Hurley got smashed in a head on bump by Hannebery which was called play on. From memory Baguley also got flipped upside down in a marking contest and got a free against. I don’t boo but I gave Parnell a send off that day.