On 13/08/2017 at 7:57 PM, Forest Demon said:

There are bad decisions and bad non-decisions flying around left, right and centre, but if you think there is anything more sinister going on than a lot of grey area rules being inconsistently applied, you are a screw loose.

We copped the rough end of it in the 3rd quarter, no doubt, and probably also in other games as well, but if you could take a step back, you would probably see we get a good run every now and then as well, Queens Birthday comes to mind.

And that would explain why it is roughly equal in the frees for and against over the course of the season.

Simple answer for the AFL to min this type of discussion would be that at the start of the year teams of umpires are put together and umpire together for the whole session. This would include boundary goal emergency and the video ump. They would train together umpire together and if one of them has a shocker they all go back to the country. This way they would get to know each other and then there would be more consistent with their decisions. Also they would pull each other into line if a bad decision was made because none of them would want to get sent to the bush the following week. Teams only get better the more they train and play together so why should it be any different for the umps?

56 minutes ago, Umpire Please said:

Simple answer for the AFL to min this type of discussion would be that at the start of the year teams of umpires are put together and umpire together for the whole session. This would include boundary goal emergency and the video ump. They would train together umpire together and if one of them has a shocker they all go back to the country. This way they would get to know each other and then there would be more consistent with their decisions. Also they would pull each other into line if a bad decision was made because none of them would want to get sent to the bush the following week. Teams only get better the more they train and play together so why should it be any different for the umps?

Interesting suggestion!

Here's another suggestion how about they do their job with out being bias? Where is the duty of care to the players?

13 hours ago, Skuit said:

Because posters are making accusations of a highly criminal activity with multiple conspirators at all levels of the game without sufficient evidence.

Some of the posts in this thread are downright embarrassing. They make conspiracy theories like Roswell and the moon landing seem plausible.

The idea that this is all one huge plot by the AFL to even up the competition, or worse, to blatantly discriminate against Melbourne, is just a joke and makes Melbourne supporters look like incessant whingers to every other team in the competition.

Football supporters everywhere don't understand the rules applying to holding the ball. If they did, there wouldn't be the incessant and tedious cries of "ball!" every time a player gets tackled.

 

 

50 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

Some of the posts in this thread are downright embarrassing. They make conspiracy theories like Roswell and the moon landing seem plausible.

The idea that this is all one huge plot by the AFL to even up the competition, or worse, to blatantly discriminate against Melbourne, is just a joke and makes Melbourne supporters look like incessant whingers to every other team in the competition.

Football supporters everywhere don't understand the rules applying to holding the ball. If they did, there wouldn't be the incessant and tedious cries of "ball!" every time a player gets tackled.

 

 

Yes, assuming one particular team is the subject of a conspiracy is pretty silly.  But assuming the AFL might do naughty things to make the competition more exciting (especially for teams with large supporter bases) where exciting means more dollars and a bigger empire is perfectly reasonable.  In fact I'd suggest it is is naive not to keep a wary eye out for such behaviour.

I expect most supporters know the holding the ball related rules as well as umpires.  Just because they call 'ball' at ridiculous times just shows passion for their team, not some fundamental mental failure.

1 hour ago, mauriesy said:

Some of the posts in this thread are downright embarrassing. They make conspiracy theories like Roswell and the moon landing seem plausible.

The idea that this is all one huge plot by the AFL to even up the competition, or worse, to blatantly discriminate against Melbourne, is just a joke and makes Melbourne supporters look like incessant whingers to every other team in the competition.

Football supporters everywhere don't understand the rules applying to holding the ball. If they did, there wouldn't be the incessant and tedious cries of "ball!" every time a player gets tackled.

 

Totally agree with this. Most of the posters in this thread remind me of five year old kids complaining that their sister got three jelly beans with their ice cream but they only got two. 

I'm not an umpire, nor do I know any. But it is an incredibly difficult job, they are human and they make mistakes from time to time (as well all do). Anybody who thinks it is easy should put their hand up and do it themselves. 

As an aside, the average player makes more mistakes than the average umpire each week - do we claim a AFL conspiracy every time Jeff Garlett or Dean Kent misses from 20 metres out directly in front?

7 minutes ago, poita said:

Totally agree with this. Most of the posters in this thread remind me of five year old kids complaining that their sister got three jelly beans with their ice cream but they only got two. 

I'm not an umpire, nor do I know any. But it is an incredibly difficult job, they are human and they make mistakes from time to time (as well all do). Anybody who thinks it is easy should put their hand up and do it themselves. 

As an aside, the average player makes more mistakes than the average umpire each week - do we claim a AFL conspiracy every time Jeff Garlett or Dean Kent misses from 20 metres out directly in front?

So what you're saying is there is nothing wrong whatsoever with Nicholls and Razor umpiring our games and they are always 100% fair?

17 minutes ago, poita said:

As an aside, the average player makes more mistakes than the average umpire each week - do we claim a AFL conspiracy every time Jeff Garlett or Dean Kent misses from 20 metres out directly in front?

Well the ways things are going with the commercial and gambling interests and match fixing in other sports, you may be forced to eat your words in a few years. I hope not.

11 minutes ago, SFebey said:

So what you're saying is there is nothing wrong whatsoever with Nicholls and Razor umpiring our games and they are always 100% fair?

I'd say that. They may not be 100% correct, but I'm comfortable in my belief that they are 100% fair.

Just now, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'd say that. They may not be 100% correct, but I'm comfortable in my belief that they are 100% fair.

Hmmm. Anyway, I'm changing my tune until I see otherwise, especially after hearing about the umpire audio to Petracca/Gawn.

30 minutes ago, SFebey said:

Hmmm. Anyway, I'm changing my tune until I see otherwise, especially after hearing about the umpire audio to Petracca/Gawn.

If I didn't think the umpiring was fair, I wouldn't be interested in watching the game. And I wonder why anyone who does think umpiring is biased or unfair is bothering to watch a game.

2 hours ago, mauriesy said:

Some of the posts in this thread are downright embarrassing. They make conspiracy theories like Roswell and the moon landing seem plausible.

The idea that this is all one huge plot by the AFL to even up the competition, or worse, to blatantly discriminate against Melbourne, is just a joke and makes Melbourne supporters look like incessant whingers to every other team in the competition.

Football supporters everywhere don't understand the rules applying to holding the ball. If they did, there wouldn't be the incessant and tedious cries of "ball!" every time a player gets tackled.

 

 

A lot of Roswell...did actually happen. Some trimmings a bit fanciful but at the heart of of the Gov was lying through its arse.

Very quaint if somewhat kitsch museum lol.

Some figures regarding umpiring are worrisome. That just is.

The figures for the Dees are actually the MOST worrisome.

Dont let the facts destroy your patronising dismissive though.

1 hour ago, SFebey said:

Hmmm. Anyway, I'm changing my tune until I see otherwise, especially after hearing about the umpire audio to Petracca/Gawn.

I haven't heard that. What did they say?

Just now, godees said:

I haven't heard that. What did they say?

I can't remember which thread it was mate, others may be able to help?

3 hours ago, mauriesy said:

Some of the posts in this thread are downright embarrassing. They make conspiracy theories like Roswell and the moon landing seem plausible.

The idea that this is all one huge plot by the AFL to even up the competition, or worse, to blatantly discriminate against Melbourne, is just a joke and makes Melbourne supporters look like incessant whingers to every other team in the competition.

Football supporters everywhere don't understand the rules applying to holding the ball. If they did, there wouldn't be the incessant and tedious cries of "ball!" every time a player gets tackled.

 

 

For a long time, that was all we had to excuse our p-poor performances! For some, it's hard to break the habit.

Why not explain to the Football Crazy Public, and The Administrators, about why, for generations and generations, as handed down, this certain team needed/ needs to be trampled, never to rise again, never to be given succor, never to lofty heights. The people changed but the sentiment is always there, as handed down........so we battle on

4 hours ago, mauriesy said:

Some of the posts in this thread are downright embarrassing. They make conspiracy theories like Roswell and the moon landing seem plausible.

The idea that this is all one huge plot by the AFL to even up the competition, or worse, to blatantly discriminate against Melbourne, is just a joke and makes Melbourne supporters look like incessant whingers to every other team in the competition.

Football supporters everywhere don't understand the rules applying to holding the ball. If they did, there wouldn't be the incessant and tedious cries of "ball!" every time a player gets tackled.

 

 

Lol. You missed the point. It is happening to every team, not just Dee's. For so many years this club has been [censored] weak at speaking up. The only umpires I have an issue with are Nicholls and Razor. As for the conspiracy, the jury is out.

22 hours ago, SFebey said:

Can't remember him mono, what was his claim to fame? What era?

Claim to fame...dubious. Always seemed to screw us.  Prominent feature a proboscis like a baboon. Era ?2005-2012?

22 hours ago, waynewussell said:

Most of the free kicks against Gawn at the centre bounce were NOT in the spirit of the game. Furthermore, those decisions showed a lack of football intelligence by the umpire(s) adjudicating.

So, totally expected then?

I can't believe people don't think the umpires deliberately even up games, obvious to me and many friends, maybe not so to others it seems.

I believe a few of the posters naming umpires Chamberlain and Nicholls should really be ashamed of themselves.

For leaving out this silly looking [censored]! Umpire 28. Troy Pannell, he's just as bad as the rest, if not worse. From memory, it was this [censored] who was patting bulldogs players on the backside during a game last year.

 

4 hours ago, sue said:

Yes, assuming one particular team is the subject of a conspiracy is pretty silly.  But assuming the AFL might do naughty things to make the competition more exciting (especially for teams with large supporter bases) where exciting means more dollars and a bigger empire is perfectly reasonable.  In fact I'd suggest it is is naive not to keep a wary eye out for such behaviour.

I expect most supporters know the holding the ball related rules as well as umpires.  Just because they call 'ball' at ridiculous times just shows passion for their team, not some fundamental mental failure.

It's pretty silly even thinking that the AFL would "even up" the competition through umpiring.

After their input to resurrecting Melbourne FC over the last three years, why wouldn't the AFL want Melbourne to be a "feel good" story as much as any other team (like the Bulldogs last year)? Can we just stop with the victimisation, feelings of being a lesser club and negative thoughts all the time? 

As for most supporters knowledge of the rules, calling "ball!" is fundamentally a mental failure, just like calling for a 50-metre penalty as soon as anything happens to the player getting the free regardless of how trivial.

The comments here about certain umpires are also disgraceful, particularly in regard to physical appearance and stature. I don't know how we would ever encourage people to go into umpiring if the incredible bias and perjorative comments here are any indication.

3 hours ago, beelzebub said:

The figures for the Dees are actually the MOST worrisome.

What ... about 390 free kicks for and against? That's an even number per game, unless of course you think we're entitled to our fair 75%.

Even the most fortunate team in the AFL only gets on average little more than two free kicks per game over their opposition. But I guess it's all a "conspiracy".

Gawn's frees against were for putting out a straight arm and blocking. If you've got a problem, argue the rule, not some fanciful notion of anti-Melbourne bias.

1 hour ago, SFebey said:

Lol. You missed the point. It is happening to every team, not just Dee's. For so many years this club has been [censored] weak at speaking up. The only umpires I have an issue with are Nicholls and Razor. As for the conspiracy, the jury is out.

But your original post in this asked "why are we so slaughtered with blatant frees" and "we always seem to be on the wrong end of the stick".

Sounds like an expression oif bias against us to me.

Just now, mauriesy said:

But your original post in this asked "why are we so slaughtered with blatant frees" and "we always seem to be on the wrong end of the stick".

Sounds like an expression oif bias against us to me.

Yes, in regards to Nicholls and Razor. Say what you want with your PC campaign but there's plenty of talk going around about not only Gawns frees against on the weekend, but our record in previous years. If I could be bothered digging it up I would but there's no need. Nicholls and Razor are the issue for me, I wouldn't think too many Dee's fans would disagree with that, apart from you. Anyone who watches multiple games on weekends would also see that games look to be evened up, not sure too many would disagree there. Not once did I say the umpires or the AFL are responsible for our rot. All IMO and my last post about it.

16 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

What ... about 390 free kicks for and against? That's an even number per game, unless of course you think we're entitled to our fair 75%.

Even the most fortunate team in the AFL only gets on average little more than two free kicks per game over their opposition. But I guess it's all a "conspiracy".

Gawn's frees against were for putting out a straight arm and blocking. If you've got a problem, argue the rule, not some fanciful notion of anti-Melbourne bias.

So you don't believe West Coast has an advantage in free kicks at home? The stats strongly suggest otherwise.