Umpires and Kosi

poatina · Post: # 1103618Post **poatina** » Tue 12 Jul 2011 3:33pm

As we know, Kosi can be a great contested mark, a talent which has become more important as long kicks are used to get over a press.
But he doesn't twist in the air or take the acrobatic mark - he comes in a straight line whether from the side or straight towards the incoming ball and launches on that line. Opposition players seeing a ball come in will bump push ,or shepherd him early so he doesn't settle on a line - Kosi is easily pushed off line and doesn't or can't adjust quickly .
The Laws of the Game state that pushing , bumping or the like is not permitted unless the ball is not more than 5 metres away ( see those laws 15.4.1-15.4.3) but this is never enforced , at least not in Kosi's case. All clubs seem aware that if he's pushed or bumped as soon as the ball seems to be coming in ,that is ,when its 40+ metres away , he won't recover to take the mark. Geelong ( Scarlett) seem particularly blatant with this tactic .
Why don't the umpires enforce the rules ? I don't know, but I do know every couple of months or so one of the clubs or their coach will bleat to Gieshen for more protection for a particular player , and they get it ( don't even think of touching Judd ) . I wish St Kilda would demand the protection of the rules for Kosi .

CURLY · Post: # 1103636Post **CURLY** » Tue 12 Jul 2011 4:10pm

Fantastic post and one that must be adressed by StKilda. Collingwood have made no secret of the fact that to stop Riewoldt they block or knock him off his line. Why arent they being pinned by the umpires?

St. Luke · Post: # 1103672Post **St. Luke** » Tue 12 Jul 2011 5:17pm

I feel sorry for Kosi at times. His confidence gets battered by crap umpiring decisions at times, and his confidence is the one thing that needs to improve. If he goes in for a tackle these days, he'd have to be having second thoughts as to whether he's going to get rubbed out for a few games.

Thats why the loading is quite unfair. It just about killed Baker.

St DAC · Post: # 1103678Post **St DAC** » Tue 12 Jul 2011 5:31pm

All clubs do it, ours included. It's hard for the umpires to determine which players (forward or defender) is actually doing the pushing, so generally if it's a one-on-one contest they let it go. Hard to see what else they can do without it resembling the farce that is the ruck infringement debarcle.

plugger66 · Post: # 1103681Post **plugger66** » Tue 12 Jul 2011 5:33pm

St DAC wrote:All clubs do it, ours included. It's hard for the umpires to determine which players (forward or defender) is actually doing the pushing, so generally if it's a one-on-one contest they let it go. Hard to see what else they can do without it resembling the farce that is the ruck infringement debarcle.

Exactly. If they are doing it to Kosi then our backmen are doing it to our opposition unless of course we have very dumb backmen or ones with conscious.

Rosco · Post: # 1103684Post **Rosco** » Tue 12 Jul 2011 5:37pm

kosi has lost all confidence in the umpires blowing a whistle his way. just look at any contest he is in - if he hears a whistle and he hasn't clunked it his arms go straight into the air to stand the mark...

hungry for a premiership · Tue 12 Jul 2011 5:50pm

You can't blame the umpires for Kosi's form.

At least we're no longer coached by Grant Thomas, because he made no secret of his disgust at the umpiring and as a result the umps hated us under his tenure.

To the top · Tue 12 Jul 2011 6:50pm

And the block put on him by a player with no interest in contesting the mark.

gringo · Post: # 1103737Post **gringo** » Tue 12 Jul 2011 7:01pm

That's what's good about umpires they don't hold grudges about a guy who said they should umpire in a more fair way. Instead of saying well good point, they thought let's ruin a guys career as a coach and give biased calls. At least they are only volunteers and not paid.

plugger66 · Post: # 1103743Post **plugger66** » Tue 12 Jul 2011 7:13pm

gringo wrote:That's what's good about umpires they don't hold grudges about a guy who said they should umpire in a more fair way. Instead of saying well good point, they thought let's ruin a guys career as a coach and give biased calls. At least they are only volunteers and not paid.