Deadset had a [censored] gutful. The manhandling of our guys that doesn't get paid, the holdng the balls where our bloke gets the footy and tackled while still in the air ( the McDonald one) other times when jetta is tackled as soon as soon as he gets the pill and has no chance of getting it out while basically directly in front. This just deadset pisses me off

Yes we've been garbage for some time. It's not our ineptness that is turning me off the game. As a 40 year old who played at various levels for 30 years but the way the way the games officiated and what appears to my eyes as deadset [censored] cheating and deliberate officiating against the club I have ingrained on my DNA that has pushed me away. It's not the carp umpiring tonight - I've come to expect it but it's now a generation worth of it. Someone posted the numbers of frees against us at Perth compared to Melbourne, it happens everywhere against us. And I for one am absolutely [censored] sick of it. The powers that be need to return umpiring desicions to something that should by any means be an even affair and not be deliberately influencing games.

\end drunk rant

What do we expect when a billion dollar industry pays their senior umps to be part time. No excuse though.

Ahh yes. It's always the umpires fault. In this ever changing world, at least demonland stays the same!

Thought we had the better of the dodgy decisions overall tonight just quietly. Umpiring was awful for both teams!

There were a couple of shocking HTB frees paid against us tonight, but overall I thought we had the better of it. They gave us some insane in the back calls. The one to Riley in the 4th was easily as bad as the McDonald decision.

Every year AFL become more and more like Reality TV: scripted.

I felt tonight was a bit like an apology. Sorry for all the stupid [censored] up holding the ball (etc) decisions through the season, here's an 'in the back' for ya champ. But still those HTB calls were horrendous. Felt like TMac should have let the umpire have it, and he almost did. I mean he'd already made it a certain goal with the 50, make it count, make a point of telling this clown how [censored] wrong he was.

All of those decisions throughout the year were disgraceful, but that's not what pisses me off the most. What I find completely out of control is how we're called to play on after a mark if we even look sideways. WTF? Every other team is allowed to look around and take a step or two off the mark for an option, not us. If we look sideways it's [censored] play on.

Umpires G&GF

Saw the worst quarter of umpiring ever. Go watch the last quarter of Sydney. V. The Tigers.

Goodes was almost raped and Tippett almost tied up in front of their goal and no frees. At least 10 blatant incidents had the commentators bemused to say the least. On one occasion a Tiger jumped onto Tippetts back who was lying on the ground at the time and rode him as though they were on a date. It was just unbelievable.

If the game meant something to the Swans this would be the main news, but it won't gain a mention.

Thought we had the better of the dodgy decisions overall tonight just quietly. Umpiring was awful for both teams!

I'd have to agree with this. Nevertheless, the standard of umpiring is horrid.

I also think the interpretation of the holding the ball rule has changed mid season as it doesn't seem as though they are giving as many frees for that rule.

Saw the worst quarter of umpiring ever. Go watch the last quarter of Sydney. V. The Tigers.

Goodes was almost raped and Tippett almost tied up in front of their goal and no frees. At least 10 blatant incidents had the commentators bemused to say the least. On one occasion a Tiger jumped onto Tippetts back who was lying on the ground at the time and rode him as though they were on a date. It was just unbelievable.

If the game meant something to the Swans this would be the main news, but it won't gain a mention.

Yep, I saw that too Redleg. It seems to be fairly typical; umpires putting the whistle away during close matches when the ball is inside 50 for fear of making a mistake. It resulted in a number of clear frees being overlooked. Richmond were very, very lucky.

I loved* how the umpires decided to even up the frees AGAINST Melbourne late in the game and ignored prior opportunity.

* A lie.

Mentioned on another thread but the one against Brock the other night laying a bump to shepherd was a joke. Seems the bump must have been to hard, it was in play and low, a perfect shepherd.

Mentioned on another thread but the one against Brock the other night laying a bump to shepherd was a joke. Seems the bump must have been to hard, it was in play and low, a perfect shepherd.

The umpire was heard saying it was "too forceful". Brock went off at that and was arguing at the break.

The umpire was heard saying it was "too forceful". Brock went off at that and was arguing at the break.

Never heard of that rule..."too forceful", I don't blame Brock it was a total Crok

The umpire was heard saying it was "too forceful". Brock went off at that and was arguing at the break.

They are just making stuff up now. Where is the rule that stipulates the degree of force to be used in a shepherd or block ?

There has been a massive over-reaction to a few players being victim of their own lack of awareness. Justin Koshitskey in particular has a lot to answer for

For mine, if you are out there and the ball is within 60 metres, you should be prepared for contact, be it a shepherd, a full-on bump or a solid nudge to put you off balance. It is a contact sport and anyone out there relying on the kindness of others is a mug.

As for our game, the tom McDonald decision just summed it up. While all three umpires were rubbish I have long thought Schmitt by name........................

Umpiring is shitful and crap across the board.

Go back to (say) 1980. You had one umpire each for six games.

The best 6 umpires going around.

Now you have 3 x 9 umps plus 9 emergencies each round.

The best 36 going around.

And with three on the ground we get ones seeing a tackle one way, and another another, while the other ump sees it as play on. So closest to the contest make the call.

You think that adding a couple of teams made the talent level of players drop? Add 20 more teams and we'd have something approching the dilution of talent the footballers would have if they were umpires.

The AFL needs to overhaul the entire Umpiring setup. They need to be properly governed full time employees with performance targets and a real review/discipline system for when they royally screw up. What they are doing right now is amateur hour.

The AFL needs to overhaul the entire Umpiring setup. They need to be properly governed full time employees with performance targets and a real review/discipline system for when they royally screw up. What they are doing right now is amateur hour.

For heavens sake don't pay them any more! They are already paid a fortune ($100000 for a part time job).

It just makes them feel important , and want to be the centre of attention.

They need to be told to play a low profile, and DON'T LISTEN TO THE CROWD.

I loved* how the umpires decided to even up the frees AGAINST Melbourne late in the game and ignored prior opportunity.

* A lie.

It appears being wrapped up and having your free hand pinned to your body, but the ball holding hand free is considered prior opportunity....

actually if you don't have prior opportunity and your arm(s) are held but the ball is not held in (or knocked out) by the tackler you should be pinged for holding the ball if you don't handball or kick correctly according to the rules. might be stiff but that is the way it was adjudicated in the past

as most people have said the real problem is consistency so the players and the public understand

on a similar note do posters think some handpasses are just too fast to be correct. especially those picked up of the ground and handpassed all in one movement that to the naked eye looks like a shovel pass or scoop

actually if you don't have prior opportunity and your arm(s) are held but the ball is not held in (or knocked out) by the tackler you should be pinged for holding the ball if you don't handball or kick correctly according to the rules. might be stiff but that is the way it was adjudicated in the past

as most people have said the real problem is consistency so the players and the public understand

on a similar note do posters think some handpasses are just too fast to be correct. especially those picked up of the ground and handpassed all in one movement that to the naked eye looks like a shovel pass or scoop

I'm more concerned with when a player handballs on their right side going the wrong way, where they graze their hand on the ball if they're lucky or the ones over the head where again they graze the ball with their hand.

I'm more concerned with when a player handballs on their right side going the wrong way, where they graze their hand on the ball if they're lucky or the ones over the head where again they graze the ball with their hand.

agree there is certainly a grey area in many of those cases

agree there is certainly a grey area in many of those cases

Never been a problem for you before .

Never been a problem for you before .

tis a tough job biffo but someone's got to step up

I started a thread about umpiring a little while ago because of my outrage after a game too!

actually if you don't have prior opportunity and your arm(s) are held but the ball is not held in (or knocked out) by the tackler you should be pinged for holding the ball if you don't handball or kick correctly according to the rules. might be stiff but that is the way it was adjudicated in the past.

I that is incorrect disposal not HTB.

And imagine the game if that was paid still like it bloody well should be !!!

Really, there is no point tackling any more, when you expect to get rewarded for it you get punished and when you expect to get punished you get punished.