Free against in their goal square - awful decision

[LoeweBrow]

Stanley vs Mumford in a ruck contest... Poor skill on the umpire's part sees the ball go sideways, and Ben McEvoy, being the tallest man around the ball, plucks it out of the air. Free kick awarded, with a ruling that suggested that the umpires felt Stanley was boxing Mumford out so that McEvoy could ruck. Is a player excluded from contesting the ball, because he also happens to be tall, and have contested in the ruck previously in the game??? If It had gone direct to Jack Steven instead, it would have simply been play on... Stanley and Mumford were locked together in that contest, and Mac simply did what gets done countless times throughout a game. Result was that they kicked a very easy goal, snuffed out our possible drive back into the game, and further confused every fan as to exactly how the rules of the game are to be interpreted. Extremely frustrating to see how umpire intervention can ruin a game. Not sure what can be done to fix the over umpiring/under umpiring being experienced. Just wish they could limit the number of reasons the umpires get involved in play, and with what is left, enforce the rules consistently... Dream on I guess...

[matrix]

you cant block a ruckmans movement to the ball in/up (as a third man)

i too went banana when i saw it
until the replay and then had to concede

[plugger66]

That decision was 100% correct and here is why. Ben was the ruckman and Stanley blocked the path of their ruckman. people will argue why cant both go up. they can but one cant block the other ruckman otherwise it would happen at every single ball up around the ground.

[kosifantutti]

I haven't seen this one yet but that type of free has always annoyed me due to the "aparthieght" they practice.

I did notice earlier in the game McEvoy and Pike locked in a contest and Mumford was free to go up himself. That apparently was OK.

[#1GILL]

Yep, Plugger is right. Free kick was paid correctly and Rhys should have known better than to do it. He didn't even try to disguise it, but spread his arms out wide to make it obvious. Costly mistake

[matrix]

BUT



what about tte head high to dal just before?
opinions?

when you see it from the other angle (behind swans player) you see he sorta connects with dals jaw with the shouldr

i thought it was there myself

[kosifantutti]

That decision was 100% correct and here is why. Ben was the ruckman and Stanley blocked the path of their ruckman. people will argue why cant both go up. they can but one cant block the other ruckman otherwise it would happen at every single ball up around the ground.

So what if it was Lenny instead of Ben. Would it still be a free?

[plugger66]

That decision was 100% correct and here is why. Ben was the ruckman and Stanley blocked the path of their ruckman. people will argue why cant both go up. they can but one cant block the other ruckman otherwise it would happen at every single ball up around the ground.

So what if it was Lenny instead of Ben. Would it still be a free?

If he blocks then yes. Kosi you understand the game. Surely that was an obvious free. It wasnt even unlucky.

[Skildir]

Thought it was a bona fide free unfortunately.

[kosifantutti]

That decision was 100% correct and here is why. Ben was the ruckman and Stanley blocked the path of their ruckman. people will argue why cant both go up. they can but one cant block the other ruckman otherwise it would happen at every single ball up around the ground.

So what if it was Lenny instead of Ben. Would it still be a free?

If he blocks then yes. Kosi you understand the game. Surely that was an obvious free. It wasnt even unlucky.

Stanley went for the hitout. Why is he not the ruckman? I thought Mumford saw what was happening and made sure he was blocked by Stanley.

[plugger66]

So what if it was Lenny instead of Ben. Would it still be a free?

If he blocks then yes. Kosi you understand the game. Surely that was an obvious free. It wasnt even unlucky.

Stanley went for the hitout. Why is he not the ruckman? I thought Mumford saw what was happening and made sure he was blocked by Stanley.

He still blocked him though. if you let that go it would happen at every single ball up. He cant block like that.

[kosifantutti]

Would it be a free if McEvoy wasn't there?

[Greg T]

They didn't pay it all night till then,s*** decision , 30 blokes round the ball .......terrible

[Sainternist]

Regardless of whether the decision was correct or incorrect, the umpires can still all eat a big bag of AIDS.

No love for umpires here.

[plugger66]

Would it be a free if McEvoy wasn't there?

Yes because he blocked. Well it should be. Who knows what would be paid.

[whiskers3614]

Maybe we are too passive.
Maybe we need a few more umpires robbed us threads!

[CURLY]

Loved in the first quarter Kosi gets pinned in a ruck contest forbumping Mumfford who has a shot. Next throw in Mumfford actually swung Kosi out of the ruck nothing. The Stanley free was barely there and they hadnt paid one all night. The s*** threw up caused the the free . Stanley did nothing wrong but play fir StKilda .

[Munga]

Some rules are just crap. But when the umpiring isn't consistent is when well all get rampaging.

[Verdun66]

The replay showed it was a free according to the rules, which seem to change frequently. Mumford was a long way back though.

[kosifantutti]

Would it be a free if McEvoy wasn't there?

Yes because he blocked. Well it should be. Who knows what would be paid.

Is he supposed to just move out of the way and let Mumford go for it?

[plugger66]

Would it be a free if McEvoy wasn't there?

Yes because he blocked. Well it should be. Who knows what would be paid.

Is he supposed to just move out of the way and let Mumford go for it?

No but he cant block. Surely if that was allowed it would happen every single ball up.

[CURLY]

Yeah if you where allowed to block you'd just hold Roo and Kosi out of marking contests . Oh hang on...

[SydneySainter]

Annoying, but correct call.

[Moods]

When I first saw that decision I was miserable at the umpys for ruining any chance we had of winning. THEN I saw the wide angle and I was miserable at Stanley for ruining any chance we had of winning.....

Was the absolute correct call, unfortunately.

[magnifisaint]

Would it be a free if McEvoy wasn't there?

yes, Mumform was blocked for going for the hitout