The team that has the ball more always tends to get more free kicks.

Incorrect.

Just for 2 recent examples early in the Crows and GWS games we were controlling the ball and well up on the scoreboard, but were getting murdered by the umps.

Anyway they generally don't determine results.

I would need to be on the ground at 1/4 and 3/4 breaks to get near them.

Yes, well what is stopping you Red, do it for the team.

...

We have been killed by tyhe umps against Rich and Freo with some unbelievable decisions. Yes we got one back to Jesse Hogan but it is cruelling the game for me. Even watching two non melbourne sides I can't believe how bad the umps are.

The one back to Hogan is a classic case of how umpiring is influenced by more than the rules. The TV commentators went on about how it was ridiculous, and so it was. But I reckon they paid it because just before a clear play-on to advantage running into an open goal was wrongly called back beyond 50m to Jamar.

We all know umpires will sometimes make mistakes. And we all know that us biased supporters are going to think we get the rough end of the pineapple. And yes, getting to the ball first helps sometimes (though with the new sliding and holding the ball rules, I'm not so sure).

But if you just watch matches where you don't care about the outcome you will see that the umps are influenced by crowds, previous bungles and being generous to well known players at the expense of no-name players (of which unfortunately we have too many).

Edited May 4, 201510 yr by sue

I think there is something else going on with the umpiring.

The AFL is giving the free to air games the best umpires. So we see Roseberry and Nichols umpiring this week on Friday and Saturday night.

The "left-over" games get the left-over umpires. So we keep getting the likes of Farmer and Schmitt.

I would need to be on the ground at 1/4 and 3/4 breaks to get near them.

We'll have quick whip around, buy a megaphone for you and you can probably instruct the umpires from the boundary at 1/4 and 3/4 breaks.

This would also be handy for extra advice to be provided to the umpires during stoppages and helping with a well timed shout of BAAAAAAAAAAAAALLL!!

The team that has the ball more always tends to get more free kicks.

A lot of the calls yesterday for both teams were very soft, but a lot of the obvious ones weren't called for both sides.

We got a ride yesterday. Everyone around me was carrying on about obvious frees that weren't called, but we got some absolute pearlers, Hogan's in front of goal included.

At the end of the day, if you're second to the ball all day, you're going to get calls against you.

Melbourne seems to get the tough end of the stick because it's rarely the first with the ball.

Richmond last week had more of the ball for three quarters and got some shocking calls in their favour. But we worked hard, controlled the game and won comfortably. In the last we were first to the ball and got some silly but certainly "there" free kicks.

Pretty sure Garland was first to the ball when he got pinged after a nanosecond of possession in the goalsquare against Richmond the other week.

I would need to be on the ground at 1/4 and 3/4 breaks to get near them.

maybe we could get biffo and bitters to escort you?

maybe we could get biffo and bitters to escort you?

Biff has plenty of escorts that do his work for him dc.

Yes, well what is stopping you Red, do it for the team.

Could I sneak out as the umpires' water boy?

maybe we could get biffo and bitters to escort you?

They would get me arrested for consorting.

I reckon the "nothing free" to Hogan in the square was an absolute disgrace.

It was obviously a payback for the error in not paying the advantage (I think to Garlett as he ran into an open goal), seconds earlier. The Garlett goal would have been inspiring. The Hogan goal was an embarrassment.

It became TWO serious errors. The initial mistake was compounded, and the umpires looked flustered, and appeared to be losing control.

They continued to make error after error during the second quarter. Melbourne had much less possession, but were getting more frees than Freo.

Is there a comp. in Outer Mongolia? That would be a good spot for those three pelicans next week.

I reckon the "nothing free" to Hogan in the square was an absolute disgrace.

It was obviously a payback for the error in not paying the advantage (I think to Garlett as he ran into an open goal), seconds earlier. The Garlett goal would have been inspiring. The Hogan goal was an embarrassment.

It became TWO serious errors. The initial mistake was compounded, and the umpires looked flustered, and appeared to be losing control.

They continued to make error after error during the second quarter. Melbourne had much less possession, but were getting more frees than Freo.

Is there a comp. in Outer Mongolia? That would be a good spot for those three pelicans next week.

that's a pretty unfair and racist remark about the good folks in outer mongolia

I reckon the "nothing free" to Hogan in the square was an absolute disgrace.

It was obviously a payback for the error in not paying the advantage (I think to Garlett as he ran into an open goal), seconds earlier. The Garlett goal would have been inspiring. The Hogan goal was an embarrassment.

It became TWO serious errors. The initial mistake was compounded, and the umpires looked flustered, and appeared to be losing control.

They continued to make error after error during the second quarter. Melbourne had much less possession, but were getting more frees than Freo.

Is there a comp. in Outer Mongolia? That would be a good spot for those three pelicans next week.

I called it at the time, it was 100% there to make up for not paying advantage.

I was just annoyed that Fyfe was allowed to hold on to Garland's jumper in marking contests.

Every week i wonder to myself why they are not held accountable for their terrible decisions. Why would they even care if they screw up, nothing will happen to them anyway.

that's a pretty unfair and racist remark about the good folks in outer mongolia

Not to mention pelicans ...

FWIW, I went down to the umpires race at half time as they left the field.

I was in my Dees hat and was within a few feet of all 3.

I said that they had not given the same decisions to the young Dees, that they gave to the name players of the Dockers. I said holding the ball is holding the ball no matter what jumper.

I didn't swear or abuse them. They looked at me and grinned. I haven't done that in 30 years.

Funny thing though, we got 8 frees to none in the next quarter.

You haven't grinned in 30 years? I know you are a longtime Demon, Redleg, but surely 1987, 1988 and 2000 must have been worth a mouth bend or two ...

I just hate the way umpires are shielded from criticism in our game compared with other sports. There should be room for dialogue from coaches about decisions. I get the feeling performances from certain umpires aren't scrutinised enough in order to ensure the best umpires get picked