This was their rule of the week apparently, with their interpretation being a "straight arm block" isn't allowed. Saw it a bunch on Friday night, eg. here at 10:25: http://203.36.100.164/Telstra/AFL-Web/bponlinewoc6264/sigeo/vod/ingest_aflfilms_vod/2017/08/931399/VOD_Source/2017-08-11_08-57-07-9783/output_2400kbps_720p.mp4

 

Absolute joke.

3 hours ago, Deecisive said:

funny how putting your hand up to fend off a player jumping into your face is not allowed, but at throw ins you can drag the opposition player down by the arm as much as you like and not give away a free. disappointed in some of the umpiring at times they just let what ever happen then every now and again pull something out of the hat.

But you can collect a handball (toby G) and stick a foot in someones face.

What is this strange game?

Edited August 13, 20178 yr by leave it to deever

This is the second time in recent weeks that Max has just dropped his bundle, the other time being against Sydney. The umpire is right to play a free kick for blocking when Max doesn't jump at the centre bounce, although he was certainly stiff on other occasions.

Max is the best ruckman in the competition, so he needs to expect some attention. Some days you get decisions go your way, others you don't. It's not good enough as a senior player and leader to just stop playing. Hopefully Goodwin has a quiet word in his ear this week.

Great tweet! On ya Maxy

2 hours ago, Deestroy All said:

Uh, no. Max v Longer has happened once, when Longer was at Brisbane. 

You may be thinking of Hickey, who beat Max twice in a row. Then Max destroyed his soul in round 1 and he hasn't been seen since. 

Right you are, I was thinking of Hickey. Thanks for the correction. 

1 hour ago, poita said:

This is the second time in recent weeks that Max has just dropped his bundle, the other time being against Sydney. The umpire is right to play a free kick for blocking when Max doesn't jump at the centre bounce, although he was certainly stiff on other occasions.

Max is the best ruckman in the competition, so he needs to expect some attention. Some days you get decisions go your way, others you don't. It's not good enough as a senior player and leader to just stop playing. Hopefully Goodwin has a quiet word in his ear this week.

I think he was genuinely concerned about giving away more frees so his decision was warranted.

He didnt stop out of anger he just felt bad.

1 hour ago, poita said:

This is the second time in recent weeks that Max has just dropped his bundle, the other time being against Sydney. The umpire is right to play a free kick for blocking when Max doesn't jump at the centre bounce, although he was certainly stiff on other occasions.

Max is the best ruckman in the competition, so he needs to expect some attention. Some days you get decisions go your way, others you don't. It's not good enough as a senior player and leader to just stop playing. Hopefully Goodwin has a quiet word in his ear this week.

Bullshite there is no rule you have to jump

Max is using his opposite arm to block, as someone has stated it must be "rule of the week". He needs to adjust and the coaches should have sorted it out on the run.

Whether the decision is right or wrong, this was what was happening and it was easy to see on the TV.

No point Max arguing &/or not competing, he needs to adapt to the interpretation.

I think this game will be a good learning experience for Max if he takes it onboard and he will be better for it from here on but only if he stops the umpire blame and gets on with it.

I'm happy for the club to get clarification during the week but that's no help during a game. Adapt and get on with it boys.

17 hours ago, jnrmac said:

The frees were unfathomable and are so inconsistently applied its a complete joke,

5. 15.5  FREE KICKS – RELATING TO RUCKS

   Each Team must have no more than one Ruck to contest any bounce, throw up or boundary throw in.

   A field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against a Player where the Player:

   1. (a)  who is not a designated Ruck contests a throw up or boundary throw in;

   2. (b)  unduly pushes, bumps, holds or blocks an opposition Player who is the Ruck contesting a bounce or throw up by a field Umpire or throw in by a boundary Umpire; or

   3. (c)  who is contesting the football as the Ruck at any bounce, throw up or boundary throw in makes contact with the opposition Ruck prior to the football leaving the field or boundary Umpire’s hand.

There is another rule in the laws of the game where it says you are allowed to use an open hand to push another player in the chest as long as the ball is within 5 metres.

6 minutes ago, goodoil said:

There is another rule in the laws of the game where it says you are allowed to use an open hand to push another player in the chest as long as the ball is within 5 metres.

good god, don't bring logic into any discussion about AFL rules.

In any case, which is more deserving of a free - a push to the head with (maybe) a bent arm and a push to the chest with a straight arm?

1 minute ago, sue said:

good god, don't bring logic into any discussion about AFL rules.

In any case, which is more deserving of a free - a push to the head with (maybe) a bent arm and a push to the chest with a straight arm?

talking about logic !!    shhhhhh

Ever noticed how the teams that Maxy (if he's anywhere near full fitness) struggles against are usually the teams that don't have a good ruck, like Saints & Dogs & Pies? Those teams know they're not going to beat him, but know they can nullify him all game, and pound him physically, by just jumping into him and making a token effort to go for the ball. And they know they'll go completely unpunished by the umpires who, all being little guys, know nothing whatsoever about ruck contests, so they just look for something like "straight arm".

So when we're playing one of these teams, Maxy knows that Hickey or Longer or whoever they put against him is going to use these tactics. And when he puts his arm up to protect himself, he's now all of a sudden infringing? So what do the AFL (and some posters) expect him to do? Just take the hits all game every game?

2 hours ago, goodoil said:

There is another rule in the laws of the game where it says you are allowed to use an open hand to push another player in the chest as long as the ball is within 5 metres.

I bet you can't find it printed anywhere.

As for the tosh about a stiff arm vs a bent arm its bollocks

So seeing the other ruling from the AFL today, the correction that Max needs to make to his technique is to lead with a straight leg, roundhouse kick to the head, that being well within the rules.

Edited August 14, 20178 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

11 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

I bet you can't find it printed anywhere.

As for the tosh about a stiff arm vs a bent arm its bollocks

Good luck finding the full rules on the AFL site.  If they are there then they are well hidden.  I've had to rely on Prof Google to find them elsewhere.

4 minutes ago, sue said:

Good luck finding the full rules on the AFL site.  If they are there then they are well hidden.  I've had to rely on Prof Google to find them elsewhere.

If anyone can find them on the AFL site, please let us know.  If they are not there it speaks volumes about the AFL in my view.

9 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

So seeing the other ruling from the AFL today, the correction that Max needs to make to his technique is to lead with a straight leg, roundhouse kick to the head, that being well within the rules.

51 minutes ago, sue said:

If anyone can find them on the AFL site, please let us know.  If they are not there it speaks volumes about the AFL in my view.

They change them every week Sue and that makes it very difficult to have them available to a fan. After all fans are hardly important these days.

I know that we were only playing St Kilda but yesterday proves IMO you do not need a dominant ruckman at centre bounces to win games. It is more important to have a ruckman who contributes around the ground. EG. Max yesterday.

20 hours ago, poita said:

This is the second time in recent weeks that Max has just dropped his bundle, the other time being against Sydney. The umpire is right to play a free kick for blocking when Max doesn't jump at the centre bounce, although he was certainly stiff on other occasions.

Max is the best ruckman in the competition, so he needs to expect some attention. Some days you get decisions go your way, others you don't. It's not good enough as a senior player and leader to just stop playing. Hopefully Goodwin has a quiet word in his ear this week.

If that's a rule, it makes no sense. In fact, the whole "shepherding" players thing has got out of control this year with players regularly receiving free kicks because an opponent happens to be in their way because they got there first. Even worse, how any player can be accused of "shepherding out" another player when they have not moved is beyond me.

Given he copped a raw deal, the answer was simple, jump into Longer. Then he wouldn't be blocking and he would have stopped Longer jumping into him.

He is big enough to just jump straight into his opponent, not stand there and put his arm out to protect himself. Clearly the umpires can't tell the difference between a block and protecting your face from a knee.

5 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

If that's a rule, it makes no sense. In fact, the whole "shepherding" players thing has got out of control this year with players regularly receiving free kicks because an opponent happens to be in their way because they got there first. Even worse, how any player can be accused of "shepherding out" another player when they have not moved is beyond me.

What about the free against Oliver for going third man up, when he didn't move and the ball bounced to him and he grabbed it.

Goal to Mummy from perhaps the worst free kick ever given.

Even the commentators were stunned.

6 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Given he copped a raw deal, the answer was simple, jump into Longer. Then he wouldn't be blocking and he would have stopped Longer jumping into him.

He is big enough to just jump straight into his opponent, not stand there and put his arm out to protect himself. Clearly the umpires can't tell the difference between a block and protecting your face from a knee.

That would be fine if the ball was bounced vertically.  But if it comes to Gawn and the opponent is charging towards him he has little option. If he just stands there or takes a slow step forward he will be crunched.   As I posted earlier, I am now in favor of banning the bounce (reluctantly).

10 minutes ago, Redleg said:

What about the free against Oliver for going third man up, when he didn't move and the ball bounced to him and he grabbed it.

Goal to Mummy from perhaps the worst free kick ever given.

Even the commentators were stunned.

To be fair, I think we might have seen the luckiest 50 metre penalty ever yesterday. Viney was gifted our first goal after Tyson handpassed the ball back to him for his free kick. The St Kilda player clearly thought the free kick had been given to Tyson (as, I think, did most of the crowd) who he thought had started play again by handpassing to Viney. 

Edited August 14, 20178 yr by La Dee-vina Comedia
typo (note to self - Demonland is a typo-fest for some reason)

3 minutes ago, sue said:

That would be fine if the ball was bounced vertically.  But if it comes to Gawn and the opponent is charging towards him he has little option. If he just stands there or takes a slow step forward he will be crunched.   As I posted earlier, I am now in favor of banning the bounce (reluctantly).

You put your knee up and jump, or move slightly sideways and come in hard again. There is no need to just stand there.

This isn't the first time he has played in the ruck and he needed to adapt.

Don't get me wrong, the officiating of the ruck contests was putrid, but you have to do something, not just give in.