Has the AFL declared its hand.

[CURLY]

Max King gets a late free to kick a goal and StKilda beat Gold Coast. The free yes while being soft is and has to awarded as he was infringed.

AFL come out and say while yes he was infringed we prefer that no to be paid.

Result StKilda win v an AFL franchise Gold Coast. AFL not happy


We now see a clear breech of the rule in the Collingwood v North game where it was a 100% a 50 meter penalty and the umpire didn't give it to North.

AFL come out and somehow try and argue that while it was a mistake we are happy its not paid.

Result Collingwood win. AFL happy.

[Beno88]

I don't understand why the AFL feels the need to come out and publicly clarify contentious calls.

There will be mistakes. There will be games decided by free kicks. There are more close games these days. There are more rules and ever shifting interpretations. Live with the decision and move on.

Clubs don't come out and justify player mistakes to the public. Why does the AFL need to do it for umpires?

[saynta]

I don't understand why the AFL feels the need to come out and publicly clarify contentious calls.

There will be mistakes. There will be games decided by free kicks. There are more close games these days. There are more rules and ever shifting interpretations. Live with the decision and move on.

Clubs don't come out and justify player mistakes to the public. Why does the AFL need to do it for umpires?

Wot the coach said.

[WellardSaint]

Umpire in Norf vs Filth blew whistle and had to repeat his instruction to Pies to back off.
Blame the crowd noise, blame the adrenaline of the Pies players, but truly if pro footballers won't respond to whistle+ump's order, they must be penalised with a 50.
They weren't contesting the mark and had no right to invade the Norf guy's space.

Disgraceful

[Scollop]

As Ross Lyon said, you can't isolate 1 free kick and make a judgement call on it. There are countless decisions. IF you want to assess one free, then assess them ALL.

The AFL need to run a spread sheet on each and EVERY FREE paid or free NOT PAID that looked 50/50 and was called play on.

Same with each and every 50m penalty paid and also the contentious non-50m penalties that are let go.

If they don't do that, then Shut the Fick up!!

[Scollop]

The AFL are a bit like CURLY. They want to discuss one or two incidents and ignore every other free and non free and totally ignore all the correct decisions made in a game

Ross Lyon was upset that the AFL decided to provide commentary on the Max King free because it's unnecessary...not because they declared it was right or wrong.

If CURLY wants to prove that the 'umpires cheat' he should do a spreadsheet and send it off to all the media outlets every week.

[SaintWiki]

The AFL need to run a spread sheet on each and EVERY FREE paid or free NOT PAID that looked 50/50 and was called play on.

Same with each and every 50m penalty paid and also the contentious non-50m penalties that are let go.

If they don't do that, then Shut the Fick up!!

All or nothing and apologise when the umpires are wrong, but mostly apologise for not managing the umpires properly.

[Sanctorum]

As Ross Lyon said, you can't isolate 1 free kick and make a judgement call on it. There are countless decisions. IF you want to assess one free, then assess them ALL.

The AFL need to run a spread sheet on each and EVERY FREE paid or free NOT PAID that looked 50/50 and was called play on.

Same with each and every 50m penalty paid and also the contentious non-50m penalties that are let go.

If they don't do that, then Shut the Fick up!!

I'd be surprised if the Umpires board don't do exactly that in their post match reviews of every game Scollop.

AFL is considered the most difficult football game to referee, blinding pace ball movement makes it nigh impossible for umpires to get every decision they make right, decisions they hace to make within seconds of the play.

Inevitably this leads to inconsistencies in identical situations in different games.

it's something supporters, and the football media (take noteRobbo!!), need to accept as part of the game, it's swings and roundabouts, sometimes we're happy, other times it makes us cranky....

But as Ross Lyon pointed out, you can't look at bne particular incident in isolation, there are countless decsions made during a game and a lot of plays that determine whether a team wins or loses a close game.

The non-goal by Tom Hawkins in the 2009 GF could have changed the outcome of that match, but it also may not have had any bearing on St Kilda's loss.

[SaintPav]

Classic situation of damned if you do, damned if you don't.

From my limited understanding of the practices of other football codes, the approach to explaining umpiring or refereeing mistakes varies among different organisations around the world. However, there are some general practices around transparency (particularly around controversial decisions), accountability, protecting officials, technology, and the use of video analysis, educating fans, and so-called continuous improvement to learn from mistakes and minimize errors. The EPL appears to be world's best practise and has a sophisticated system in place to handle refereeing decisions and to communicate with the public.

While striking a balance between accountability, transparency, and respect for umpires is always going to be a challenge, some of the comms coming from the AFL, and in particular from one AFL official, simply do not pass the pub test. Consistency seems to be a bit of an AFL issue across the board, driven by what, who really knows, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, well, you know how the saying goes...

[D.B.Cooper]

Ok, we get it Curly.

- AFL instruct umpires to cheat to ensure Collingwood win.
- AFL instruct umpires to cheat against Saints every week.
- The AFL is corrupt and had a vendetta against the Saints.

How many threads do you have to initiate on the topic?

Were the threads titled Umpires & Windhager 50 on the umpire topic not sufficient to get the message out to the forum?

[CURLY]

Ok, we get it Curly.

- AFL instruct umpires to cheat to ensure Collingwood win.
- AFL instruct umpires to cheat against Saints every week.
- The AFL is corrupt and had a vendetta against the Saints.

How many threads do you have to initiate on the topic?

Were the threads titled Umpires & Windhager 50 on the umpire topic not sufficient to get the message out to the forum?

Different subject matter.

When the AFL approves cheating in the media it’s thread worthy

[mr six o'clock]

The biggest problem for the AFL is that these poor decisions are now happening multiple times a week highlighting how bad the umpiring has become.

[saynta]

The biggest problem for the AFL is that these poor decisions are now happening multiple times a week highlighting how bad the umpiring has become.

Correct, and well pointed out.

[Sainter_Dad]

The biggest problem for the AFL is that these poor decisions are now happening multiple times a week highlighting how bad the umpiring has become.

Correct, and well pointed out.

Even more so is that with 4 Umpires you can get 4 interpretations of an event within the same game!!!!!!

[Yorkeys]

Current set of umps are intimidated by big clubs and big names. Goes to their training.
They are possibly also confused and p'd off at all the instructions re interpretation and nuance that seem to be on the run stuff from GHQ.

[Scollop]

It's embarrassing stuff when you get a Hall of Famer up on stage telling the audience last night that they're confused watching the game these days.

It's awful 'on the run stuff' as Yorkeys and others have said. Incompetent and weak leadership

[D.B.Cooper]

I think the challenge has always been and remains interpretation and constant change.

An action in the first 5 minutes of a match will be a free kick and the identical action with 2 minutes to play in a close match is totally ignored.

The same incident at different venues and matches is not dealt in a uniform or consistent manner.

If you watch old matches from any decade from the 60’s to present the interpretation of the rules are totally different, it’s difficult to follow the interpretation at that point in time.

Fast game, players and coaches bend the rules, confusion, 4 umpires with different views, it’s a complex dog’s breakfast at the moment and a mess.

Oh, forgot to add, the AFL instruct the umpires to deliberately cheat against the Saints

[The_Dud]

Ok, we get it Curly.

- AFL instruct umpires to cheat to ensure Collingwood win.
- AFL instruct umpires to cheat against Saints every week.
- The AFL is corrupt and had a vendetta against the Saints.

How many threads do you have to initiate on the topic?

Were the threads titled Umpires & Windhager 50 on the umpire topic not sufficient to get the message out to the forum?

EXCEPT in round 2 this year against Collingwood when we won the free kick count 30-16 and Higgins kicked the sealer from the third row in the crowd.

But sssshhhhhh, we don't talk about that, and he's DEFINITELY not a troll...

[CURLY]

Ok, we get it Curly.

- AFL instruct umpires to cheat to ensure Collingwood win.
- AFL instruct umpires to cheat against Saints every week.
- The AFL is corrupt and had a vendetta against the Saints.

How many threads do you have to initiate on the topic?

Were the threads titled Umpires & Windhager 50 on the umpire topic not sufficient to get the message out to the forum?

EXCEPT in round 2 this year against Collingwood when we won the free kick count 30-16 and Higgins kicked the sealer from the third row in the crowd.

But sssshhhhhh, we don't talk about that, and he's DEFINITELY not a troll...

You mean a game we won by almost 3 goals lead all game.

[Scollop]

Your memory is off. Collingwood kicked 3 of the first 4 goals of the match

Half time scores St Kilda 6.2 Coll. 7.4

[D.B.Cooper]

Ok, we get it Curly.

- AFL instruct umpires to cheat to ensure Collingwood win.
- AFL instruct umpires to cheat against Saints every week.
- The AFL is corrupt and had a vendetta against the Saints.

How many threads do you have to initiate on the topic?

Were the threads titled Umpires & Windhager 50 on the umpire topic not sufficient to get the message out to the forum?

EXCEPT in round 2 this year against Collingwood when we won the free kick count 30-16 and Higgins kicked the sealer from the third row in the crowd.

But sssshhhhhh, we don't talk about that, and he's DEFINITELY not a troll...

There were 3 umpires in the vicinity of Higgins, all watching the play, 2 boundary and 1 field.
Higgins was clearly out to all and sundry (with the exception of one saints supporter ) yet his goal was allowed.

Given the free kick count was 30/16 in our favour and the sealer to take us 20 points up with 6 or 7 minute to play should have been a throw in, one must enquire as to why the umpires were instructed by the AFL to cheat against Collingwood that evening?

Why were they cheating for the Saints when this is clearly against their AFL sanctioned instruction?
Were the umps protesting? Were they punished after their cheating for us? Was the AFL sending Collingwood a message on the night?

Its all a bit much for a simpleton like me, we'd need to take instruction from an ITK to understand the behind the scene events that lead to this blatant cheating for our club.

[ctqs]

If Norf hadn't blown a 50-point lead, it wouldn't have been a factor. They put themselves in that position. Stuff them.

[CURLY]

If Norf hadn't blown a 50-point lead, it wouldn't have been a factor. They put themselves in that position. Stuff them.

14-2 FREE KICK count from half time has that effect.

[saynta]

I think the challenge has always been and remains interpretation and constant change.

An action in the first 5 minutes of a match will be a free kick and the identical action with 2 minutes to play in a close match is totally ignored.

The same incident at different venues and matches is not dealt in a uniform or consistent manner.

If you watch old matches from any decade from the 60’s to present the interpretation of the rules are totally different, it’s difficult to follow the interpretation at that point in time.

Fast game, players and coaches bend the rules, confusion, 4 umpires with different views, it’s a complex dog’s breakfast at the moment and a mess.

Oh, forgot to add, the AFL instruct the umpires to deliberately cheat against the Saints

Or to put their match payments on the side the Saints are playing.

[saynta]

Ok, we get it Curly.

- AFL instruct umpires to cheat to ensure Collingwood win.
- AFL instruct umpires to cheat against Saints every week.
- The AFL is corrupt and had a vendetta against the Saints.

How many threads do you have to initiate on the topic?

Were the threads titled Umpires & Windhager 50 on the umpire topic not sufficient to get the message out to the forum?

EXCEPT in round 2 this year against Collingwood when we won the free kick count 30-16 and Higgins kicked the sealer from the third row in the crowd.

But sssshhhhhh, we don't talk about that, and he's DEFINITELY not a troll...

There were 3 umpires in the vicinity of Higgins, all watching the play, 2 boundary and 1 field.
Higgins was clearly out to all and sundry (with the exception of one saints supporter ) yet his goal was allowed.

Given the free kick count was 30/16 in our favour and the sealer to take us 20 points up with 6 or 7 minute to play should have been a throw in, one must enquire as to why the umpires were instructed by the AFL to cheat against Collingwood that evening?

Why were they cheating for the Saints when this is clearly against their AFL sanctioned instruction?
Were the umps protesting? Were they punished after their cheating for us? Was the AFL sending Collingwood a message on the night?

Its all a bit much for a simpleton like me, we'd need to take instruction from an ITK to understand the behind the scene events that lead to this blatant cheating for our club.

Did you ever consider the possibility that the maggots might have put their easily earned on the Saints for that game?