Watching the NAB Cup games on TV and the Melb/Haw game live at Casey, I noticed how short the boundary throw ins have become.

At first I thought it was at interstate venues in non-football states , where trained boundary umps might be hard to find.

But it was the same at Casey in the NAB and again on Sat night at Docklands.

One radio commentator during the NAB games suggested it was due to the ruck men waiting back further, but on close observation, there is a large proportion of short throw ins.

Could we somehow take advantage of this? eg by anticipating a short throw in, and taking front position by running in early?

Or perhaps an on baller could stand in front of the opposing ruck and block his run in?

Has anyone else noticed this minor point?

no

I saw a couple on Sat night which should have been redone. But I don't think there is anything systematic.

It's definite now, there's something wrong with the throw ins. It's the same every week. The boundary umps are slinging it one handed, then turning to admire their work..which is sub standard.

It was repeatedly happening last night v. The Bulldogs.

We should plant someone ( brave) in front of the ruck -men, so he can either tap it out uncontested, or get a free

People who can't throw in are like people who can't toss coins - unco.

It's definite now, there's something wrong with the throw ins. It's the same every week. The boundary umps are slinging it one handed, then turning to admire their work..which is sub standard.

It was repeatedly happening last night v. The Bulldogs.

We should plant someone ( brave) in front of the ruck -men, so he can either tap it out uncontested, or get a free

A short throw in cost us a goal in the final term as I remember it as well. Is it these yellow balls? But it is now common for the boundary throwing to come in very short, setting up a chance for an intercept.

...and while we're at it, how come some umpires are throwing the ball up and other bouncing (at centre bounces and not for re calls) it in the same games. Can't be the conditions and can't be allowed, they can't just make the rules up as they go....um....

The channel 7 commentary team were talking about that and said the umps are trying to use a different technique and failing. Generally when they recall it and try again they go back to the old method and it works. Something about trying to do it side-on rather than directly over their heads.

They plucked these guys from juniors surely. Technique horrible. Power non-existent. They needed to step in 5m to throw it in, but that is common-sense. We were pretty slow on the up-take to; especially at the Punt Road pocket when Griffen pounced.

Think that the AFL has told them (slant of the week) to throw in toward centre as harder to lock it in versus pockets.

Edited May 11, 201411 yr by TGR

maybe they are preparing us for more female umps.

There were so many short throw ins on Saturday night I was amazed both ruckman didn't anticipate it more and stand a little further forward.

If I recall correctly, only one was re-thrown, but quite a few should have been.

Why don't they walk in 15m and throw it up?

Yep there was a definite technique to throw the ball in towards the centre.

Absolutely ridiculous if you ask me.

You work hard on a wet night to get the ball forward and cause a throw in, and then the boundary umpire throws it back the other team's way.

And I'm not talking 1 or 2 metres, some of the throw ins went about 10-15 metres away from our goals.

Yep there was a definite technique to throw the ball in towards the centre.

Absolutely ridiculous if you ask me.

You work hard on a wet night to get the ball forward and cause a throw in, and then the boundary umpire throws it back the other team's way.

And I'm not talking 1 or 2 metres, some of the throw ins went about 10-15 metres away from our goals.

You might even find that a couple of the boundary umpires were awarded rebound 50 and inside 50 stats

Why don't they walk in 15m and throw it up?

For boundary throw ins ruckman use different techniques to ball ups. We would lose the wrestling from gorilla ruckman. In addition with no circle, potential problems with knees and players jumping into each other. I would rather the boundary umpires move in 5 metres.

They plucked these guys from juniors surely. Technique horrible. Power non-existent. They needed to step in 5m to throw it in, but that is common-sense. We were pretty slow on the up-take to; especially at the Punt Road pocket when Griffen pounced.

Think that the AFL has told them (slant of the week) to throw in toward centre as harder to lock it in versus pockets.

I might be misinterpreting the general tone/meaning of the thread, but the rules state that the boundary throw ins must be directed towards the centre of the playing field.

Maybe the umpires need grippy gloves especially with the damp yellow ball to get extra purchase on their throw?

I might be misinterpreting the general tone/meaning of the thread, but the rules state that the boundary throw ins must be directed towards the centre of the playing field.

That was always the situation as far as I know. However, I once used to marvel at just how far a Boundary umpire could throw the ball - I also was bemused by some of the efforts on Saturday night.

Are they tossers not throwers?