Melbourne vs The Umpires

[Striker475 696]

Why the hell does this seem to happen EVERY SINGLE WEEK

Yes, the free kick count may have been our way, but every single big decision (and 4 50m penalties!!!) went in Richmond's favour. In a game like that, gamebreaker.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Umpiring was rubbish equally for both sides.

The holding the ball rule is becoming the punish the player for getting the ball rule.

[Samsara 65]

Don't like to start discussing umpires but sone poor decisions today

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Why the hell does this seem to happen EVERY SINGLE WEEK

Yes, the free kick count may have been our way, but every single big decision (and 4 50m penalties!!!) went in Richmond's favour. In a game like that, gamebreaker.

It might look bad and it's terribly frustrating, but what about our players getting first to the ball, going harder and faster?

Melbourne lost to a team that wanted the ball more.

[Striker475 696]

It might look bad and it's terribly frustrating, but what about our players getting first to the ball, going harder and faster?

Melbourne lost to a team that wanted the ball more.

We did, but let's look at it.

- The first 50m penalty (first Tigers goal)

Soft as hell. Seriously. Completely undeserved.

- The 50m against Macdonald

Let a player get out of the contest? Macdonald kept running with him due to his momentum - as players do - and the ump paid 50 against.

Both of those, on their own, cost the Dees goals. 2 goals. 12 points. A win.

[waynewussell 6,922]

Howe takes ball gets slung immediately 'holding the ball'. Garland takes one step inboard as Tiger begins to play on... 50m penalty. Both of those decisions were wrong and I think they resulted in Tiger goals. Just check the goals from free-kick stats. Baldy went off like a porn star with the first holding the ball decision at the centre bounce. Wasn't a free for mine.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

We did, but let's look at it.

- The first 50m penalty (first Tigers goal)

Soft as hell. Seriously. Completely undeserved.

- The 50m against Macdonald

Let a player get out of the contest? Macdonald kept running with him due to his momentum - as players do - and the ump paid 50 against.

Both of those, on their own, cost the Dees goals. 2 goals. 12 points. A win.

The umps were nervous as the game had a bit of heat to it. I agree, shocking decisions, but the Tiges copped some beauties too.

At the end of the day, I'm shocked and depressed about how far we are from any short term success, not to mention long term.....

[Jaded No More 68,976]

I would take great pleasure in kicking McBurney in the nuts.

He is a sad sad little man who makes ridiculous decisions time and time again. However the lowlight was definitely Jack Watts getting punched in the stomach behind play, being put down and struggling to run, while the gutless wonder standing on the boundary did nothing. Absolutely pathetic!

(but we lost because we played like poo)

[DaveyJones'sLocker 647]

Correct me if I'm wrong the last 3 weeks have started with 3 free kicks(1 in each) against us as the first clearance

2 of which are 50/50 holding the ball decisions.

Umpires are to not be noticed.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,305]

Holding the ball against Howe on their 50 arc Punt Rd end was one of the worst decisions Ive seen this year. No prior opp, drilled into the ground with the ball buried in his chest....Ball. WTF.

Anyway, they did not effect the game IMO and there were some shockers for both sides.

[waynewussell 6,922]

The worst part of that decision was he clearly made several attempts to punch the ball with a n opposition player sitting on his back... no prior and attempting to punch ball clear... If you don't mind you moronic excuse for an adjudicator who has a feel for the game!

[Bang Na Demon 168]

Also the sheppard not being paid against reiwoldt in the first quarter allowing miller to mark and goal. He had his back to the ball and kept chip out like a gridiron linesman

[TT's Demons 1]

I would take great pleasure in kicking McBurney in the nuts.

He is a sad sad little man who makes ridiculous decisions time and time again. However the lowlight was definitely Jack Watts getting punched in the stomach behind play, being put down and struggling to run, while the gutless wonder standing on the boundary did nothing. Absolutely pathetic!

(but we lost because we played like poo)

It is an absolute disgrace that McBurney is allowed on an AFL ground. He insists on paying the obscure free kicks and ignoring half the obvious ones.

[mrtwister 652]

None were as bad as Razor Ray today in the Swans Saints game. Player down 35m out from Swans goal, out towards the far flank. About 5 minutes left in the 4th. Ball gets kicked in from the opposite flank to about 20 m out in front of the square. Swans up by maybe 2 goals. Saints player reads the ball perfectly and runs ahead of the pack to take a completely uncontested mark and could probably run a good 5 or 6 steps with it he was so open. Anyway, razor blows his whistle about half a second before the mark is taken and says that because there is an injured player in the vicinity, he is going to bounce it at the spot where the ball was kicked to.

Could not believe it. Why could he not wait to see the result of the kick and make that call if the ball went to ground? God he's a tool.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,825]

What about Bartram's 30m penalty, where their guys got the usual 60m.!!!???

I found it excruciating to watch Brad Miller get frees for in the back, which he NEVER got playing for us. The reason???? 30,000 whingeing Richmond fans screaming from the stands.

It was like playing interstate. The umps were influenced by a crowd containing supporters of only one side.

Once again we were off to a 3 goal handicap. 2 were from highly dubious frees and a soft 50m.. This consigned us to "catch-up" footy for the rest of the day.

How anyone can say the umps had no effect on the game leaves me flabbergasted.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,407]

The worst part of that decision was he clearly made several attempts to punch the ball with a n opposition player sitting on his back... no prior and attempting to punch ball clear... If you don't mind you moronic excuse for an adjudicator who has a feel for the game!

Yes, the opposition player was sitting on his back. When I was umpiring high school kids in this situation I would have used my old call after blowing the whistle, " Get off his back, he's not a horse and you're not a jockey! Free kick for in the back!" Now it seems you can lie on top of a player and he gets pinged for holding the ball. Oh, how the game has changed.

[pitmaster 3,589]

Holding the ball against Howe on their 50 arc Punt Rd end was one of the worst decisions Ive seen this year. No prior opp, drilled into the ground with the ball buried in his chest....Ball. WTF.

Anyway, they did not effect the game IMO and there were some shockers for both sides.

Of course they affected the game!

FCS they got the Tiges off to a flyer with two crooked goals in the first four minutes.

That we got back into it might absolve them of some blame but the fact is the umpiring shaped the first half.

I can understand people not wanting to excuse our players for their mistakes - what was McKenzie thinking with that along the ground handpass when he marked 60 meters out, middle of the corridor with the game in the balance? - but every one of those umpires committed at least one costly atrocity against us and don't let them off the hook.

[Robbie57 2,041]

Umpiring was poor generally but vital bad decisions went against us.

Lesson dont try and get the ball it will be dragged under you and bingo free.

Very disappointing.

[BAMF 4,463]

Ughh.... Umpiring bashing after a loss.

Seriously. We are better than this.

[Hip & Shoulder 64]

I noticed yesterday how the umpires love the 'theatre' of the holding the ball rule. They hold out as long a possible to make sure every eye is on them when the fans are calling 'Ball!'. Then comes the big sweep of the arms. They love it! The umpires think they're the stars of the show. A senior player told me once that good umpiring is when you don't even notice the umpires being on the ground. Mind you, that was quite a few years ago and would hardly apply these days.

[Steamin Demon 401]

Just be thankful we don't often play under the Friday night lights when the umpires REALLY want to get noticed, I've been to the last two Friday night games and yesterday was nothing. FWIW I counted four Richmond goals from frees.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

What about Bartram's 30m penalty, where their guys got the usual 60m.!!!???

I found it excruciating to watch Brad Miller get frees for in the back, which he NEVER got playing for us. The reason???? 30,000 whingeing Richmond fans screaming from the stands.

It was like playing interstate. The umps were influenced by a crowd containing supporters of only one side.

Once again we were off to a 3 goal handicap. 2 were from highly dubious frees and a soft 50m.. This consigned us to "catch-up" footy for the rest of the day.

How anyone can say the umps had no effect on the game leaves me flabbergasted.

+1

[waynewussell 6,922]

Richmond had four frees inside fifty in the first Qtr. One was against Howe for holding the ball which was a very poor decision on two counts (which I have already referred to). Another was given to Miller when he dived forward after a tiny bump from McDonald. We had the one where Revolt 2 pushed off from Frawley (who instinctively grabbed at Revolt to avoid being pushed out of play). That one was not shown on the replay so it could have been right. I think the other one was the fifty given when Martin received a free then handballed to Cotchin, who Batram was ghosting, then Martin tries to apply the shepherd. However, baldy decides that Bartram was standing too close to Martin and pays a fifty!!!! The umpiring assisted the early blow out but if we didn't let the win as many clearances in the first place they wouldn't have had so many inside fifties!

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Ughh.... Umpiring bashing after a loss.

Seriously. We are better than this.

Are we? It happens often.

It does not achieve much.

I didn't think the umpires were too bad one way or the other.

But clearly this thread is good therapy for some.

[waikikkamukau 62]

Why the hell does this seem to happen EVERY SINGLE WEEK

Yes, the free kick count may have been our way, but every single big decision (and 4 50m penalties!!!) went in Richmond's favour. In a game like that, gamebreaker.

Striker I love your passion for the Dees but do you think the umpires felt sorry for us in the third and decided to even things up? Hard at the contest and first to the ball wins games of footy. We played one quarter of footy for the whole game, If we had of played the whole game like that we would have won by 100+. Still would have had the same umpires.