For the last two years my girlfriend and I have been going to the football pretty sound in the thought that we (the demons) are not a strong team but have shown signs of building. We've been going, watching the improvement and game after game see players commit the act of incorrect disposal during play. This has become a strong area of tension for the both of us as we've seen not only opposition teams commit the act but our own too. During this weeks game against Freo we were so convinced the rule didn't exist we decided to put our cards on the table, admit our ignorance and ask if there had been a rule change. Constantly we'd heard commentators say "and the ball spills free..." We accepted that, after confirmation from the local punters, it was a rule no longer paid. Fair enough. To see in (I think) the last quarter on Sunday that rule pushed upon Colin Sylvia after a blatant throw from a Freo player right before the umpire, it's fair to say we were shocked. Unfortunately the only consolation for us was everyone we asked watched us as we sat open mouthed at our local. I'm not saying umpiring cost us that game, i'm saying that is amazing...

Edited July 19, 201015 yr by HardRunningRivers

Watching on TV you could hear the umpire say he had prior opurtunity. If the ball gets knocked free without prior op then incorrect disposal is forgiven. Im sure this is the rule.

Watching on TV you could hear the umpire say he had prior opurtunity. If the ball gets knocked free without prior op then incorrect disposal is forgiven. Im sure this is the rule.

The fact the rule is debated at length by pretty much ALL supporters and commentators shows there is something wrong with the rule. As for its inconsistent interpretation.....Aaarrrrggghhhhhh!

Miller time is correct but the interpretations still change from one umpire to another.

It didn't cost us the game as we still had our chances but it was very very frustrating to see the 'throw' and then the decision paid against us.

We got a few rough ones on Sunday, probably got the better ones against Essendon.

With the Silvia tackle the ball was knocked free when tackled, under the laws of the game from the AFL website.

15.2.4 Application — Specific Instances where Play shall Continue

For the avoidance of doubt, the field Umpire shall allow play to

continue when:

(a) a Player is bumped and the football falls from the

Player’s hands;

(B) a Player’s arm is knocked which causes the Player to

lose possession of the football;

Umpires are human and therefore errors will always happen, due to each umpires interpretation of the law.

Its just bloody annoying! somedays they will go our way, other times they wont.

Nicely done mattDEEmon

Yeh, I hate it when people yell out 'balllllllllllll' at the footy. Players are allowed to drop the ball and pretty much do anything and it won't be called holding the ball unless its clear prior opportunity. Easy