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skeptic wrote:no disrespect to the umps but the game is ridiculously overofficiated (spelling)
watch any game, the team the gets the majority of free kicks for a period of time is usually the 1 that has the momentum
and free kicks are paid for the most trivial of reasons
I used to umpire and the rule was, you only pay the really obvious free kicks... these days the umps pay free kicks that r technically there but don't influence the play.
I don't care if in a marking contest some1 puts their hand on Roo's shoulder for a split second and doesn't infringe on his ability to mark
it shouldn't be a free
or that Roo got 2 close to man who has a free kick and diverted his direction too late - doesn't influence the play at all but BANG 50m penalty
I couldn't agree more.
Most umpires go by the concept of 'we're there to control the game'.
And I think in nearly all cases, that is misinterpretated from 'We're there to have minimal input but just basically make sure the game doesn't simply turn into a chaotic mess' to mean 'I'm there to control the game totally so it's going to be played on my terms'.
Average crowds = total crowds divided by number of matches.
There are more matches this year with the entry of the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast are also a low-drawing team, and have attracted small crowds.
Average crowds were always going to be down this year because of the Gold Coast.
What IS significant is that the average crowds at the MCG are up 2%. So the Melbourne teams are going very well ...
In addition, the Adelaide teams are struggling, and traditionally they have drawn well (particularly the Crows).
That's way too logical an argument for the non-numerates on this forum!
Of course playing games at tiny venues like Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, and Tassie impacts average crowds as does supporting these parasitic new "strategic marketing" ventures in non AFL heartland.
The rest of Australia can wander mask-free, socialise, eat out, no curfews, no zoning, no police rings of steel, no illogical inconsistent rules.
They can even WATCH LIVE FOOTY!
"The AFL is on track to record its lowest average match crowds since 2004 and television broadcasters are reporting mixed results in audiences for games this season.
The patchy results have added to growing calls for the AFL to reform its fixture to improve the closeness of games and the fairness of the competition.
The average attendance at AFL games at the end of round 22 was 34,950 - the lowest average crowd per game since 2004.
Last season's average crowd was 36,908.
Channel Seven has recorded a 3.4 per cent decline in national metropolitan audiences this season for Thursday and Friday night AFL broadcasts and a 2 per cent audience decline for Sunday afternoon football."
God help us! How are the AFL going to rig things now to make games closer??!!
This is a bit scary for the future of the sport under this AFL administration. This has always been there response to any criticism ...."No, you're wrong, We're perfect - see, crowds are up, TV viewing is up. End of argument".
So what now? How do they prove their critics wrong now? Crowds are down. People aren't watching.
So how do they justify their performances now?
Or, will they cheat further and simply (as the above exert suggests) rig the comp to make it closer and keep people watching?
I've got a crazy idea. Why not allow the sport to be a sport. Leave it alone and focus on making it a legitimate sporting competition? I think people still love sport. I actually think people in Australia love sport more than being entertained.
I don't think the 'a close game is a good game' thing is correct. Well it is, if it's genuine. Not if it's choreographed artificially to make it close. People aren't stupid, they see through that.
And I think people are starting to see through the AFL.
The television ratings is a reflection on Channel 7 NOT showing football LIVE. How many people are not happy about Friday night not being on LIVE?????
I also wonder why this article didn't mention anything about AFL ratings on Foxtel? There has been a massive jump in ratings on Foxtel and it's due to one main thing, it's LIVE. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sp ... 6111938355
But with all games live in 2012 especially in FOX, channel 7 will have to show games live on Friday and Sunday.
plugger66 wrote:You are one weird unit. As I suggested why not follow another sport so see how badly run they are and then you will realise how well run our great sport is. The way you write you would have clubs folding, no salary cap, no draft and no competition.
You could ask you the same thing.
Why come on here if everthing people say is wrong?
plugger66 wrote:You are one weird unit. As I suggested why not follow another sport so see how badly run they are and then you will realise how well run our great sport is. The way you write you would have clubs folding, no salary cap, no draft and no competition.
You could ask you the same thing.
Why come on here if everthing people say is wrong?
Only when they have no idea. should I add you to that list? Maybe I should.
most fans and players wouldnt understand 70% of free kicks awarded
none us of know what the MRP are on about, or what to expect from decisions
AFL is a bloody hard game to play under the current rules, let alone try and explain the rules to someone whos never watched it...try it some time.....impossible!