6 hours ago, sue said:

My my, I see that umpires used to run straight back without indicating to players that that is what they will do.  Who thinks up this ludicrous ideas...

They didn't have D&Ms and counselling sessions with the players at stoppages either.

"Nathan .... Nathan .... Nathan ... give me the ball please. Nathan .... give me the ball please. Nathan ..."

"Dustin ... move one metre back please. Dustin ... Dustin ... move one metre back please ... Dustin ..."

They hardly spoke to them at all. No flapping around. Don't give the ball back = free. Don't move back = free.

Now it's like they're trying to talk the drunk guy at the pub out of decking them using the skills they learnt at their effective communications course at the CAE.

At least we won't have to witness these maggots practicing something that they have not been able to master, before the start of games anymore. Amazing that this is a feature of the bloody game for over 150 years, so they just get rid of it.

Look forward to seeing them practice measuring all sorts of things now, like distances between things.etc etc

4 hours ago, willmoy said:

Appears Peter Schwab was in favour of retaining it. Find a new job ! 

 

18 hours ago, sue said:

My my, I see that umpires used to run straight back without indicating to players that that is what they will do.  Who thinks up this ludicrous ideas...

It's redundant, more than ludicrous.

...as I say to my mates.

In all the years I've played and watched football I've never seen an umpire run forward after a ball up.

Just another change to our once great game!

it will be unrecognisable in 10 years!

1 minute ago, Big Carl said:

Just another change to our once great game!

it will be unrecognisable in 10 years!

Stupid away-strip jumpers, no melees, no power full forwards anymore kicking over 100 goals a season, no one on one duals like Jakovich on Carey or Knights on Van der Har.

Just teams full of midfielders racking up meaningless possessions in the backline, umpires who have selective vision and who suffer anxiety and workplace injuries over trying to bounce the ball.

What a joke.

13 hours ago, puntkick said:

 

Hey willmoy, who are you? i'm willmoy, you're an imposter, not cricket....... 

When the umpires throw it up it goes to a much lower altitude before it starts to descend when compared with the bounce. This totally alters the ruck duel.

Also why recall bounces that are faulty? This used to be just part of the game and randomly favoured one team at one bounce - added some more luck/chance into our game. Where was the harm in that?

3 hours ago, Skin Deeamond said:

When the umpires throw it up it goes to a much lower altitude before it starts to descend when compared with the bounce. This totally alters the ruck duel.

Also why recall bounces that are faulty? This used to be just part of the game and randomly favoured one team at one bounce - added some more luck/chance into our game. Where was the harm in that?

ah, because someone will scream to the heavens that an umpire error could cost someone a premiership

Apologies if posted by others.

In the distant past, we had one umpire bouncing the ball not only at every centre bounce but every ball-up, unless they were required to throw the ball-up when the conditions were exceptionally wet or muddy.  From what I remember, when the latter occurred, the umpire threw the ball up a lot higher than the pathetic little ball-up practiced today.

As others have said, a variable bounce was accepted by players, coaches and spectators. It became one of the variables that made the game interesting and when reading the bounce and the play became an important attribute of ruckmen and rovers (remember that term).  

The ""luck of the bounce" was a term commonly used by commentators and spectators.

The same thing happens with boundary umps. In the old days, a crook throw-in was again part of the game. Now, if the ball is not centre metre perfect, back it goes and we try again. 

The attempt to perfect or standardize all manner of things obviously makes things more predictable and perhaps fairer, but as a result we  lose some of the flow, spontaneity and unpredictability of the game.

Talented and experienced players and coaches created opportunities out of the luck of the bounce. 

Even today, good players and good teams make the most from mistakes or an unpredictable bounce.  

Remember when the term "lucks a fortune" was commonly used by commentators. 

Changes often bring improvement, no doubt, but often the improvement comes at a cost.

We always lose something and often that thing becomes lost forever. 

 

 

The bounce is here to stay!!  http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-21/the-bounce-is-here-to-stay

SEN is also reporting it will not be reviewed next year or in the near future.

Pleased to see an icon of our game will remain. 

13 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

The bounce is here to stay!!  http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-21/the-bounce-is-here-to-stay

SEN is also reporting it will not be reviewed next year or in the near future.

Pleased to see an icon of our game will remain. 

Thanks Lucifer, always with a finger on the pulse.

My post was a waste of time.  Although that can probably be said for all of my posts.

Still and all, great news. 

Got to say I am surprised, but for once we can say well done AFL. 

I thought I didn't care. But when I saw the announcement I felt a flicker of joy inside. So, my inner me must have wanted the bounce to remain.

23 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Thanks Lucifer, always with a finger on the pulse.

My post was a waste of time.  Although that can probably be said for all of my posts.

Still and all, great news. 

Got to say I am surprised, but for once we can say well done AFL. 

Au contraire, ernest...I thought your point on the 'luck of the bounce' was very relevant.  It reminded me of the 2010 drawn GF when the 'luck of the bounce' denied the saints a second flag.  The 'luck of the bounce' in all its facets is what makes our game interesting and unpredictable.

And I like your posts - one of the more reasoned writers on here.

Common sense has prevailed.!!!!

On 11/14/2017 at 3:35 PM, demonstone said:

Ours is the only game in the world that requires a match official to execute a difficult skill to begin proceedings.

Get rid of it and nobody will even notice the difference.

I think NHL ice hockey actually requires the umpires/refs to have played at least at collegiate level. I think it is a fantastic idea, and i know it would be more difficult here but having more umpires who have actually played the game to say at least U19 level would be great

1 hour ago, DeeZone said:

Common sense has prevailed.!!!!

And from AFL headquarters of all places. This Steve Hocking may be a breath of fresh air.

 

1 hour ago, JimiRibs said:

I think NHL ice hockey actually requires the umpires/refs to have played at least at collegiate level. I think it is a fantastic idea, and i know it would be more difficult here but having more umpires who have actually played the game to say at least U19 level would be great

If the AFL made their umps professionals, it might be more attractive to ex-players of all standards as a viable way of staying in the game.

3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

The bounce is here to stay!!  http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-21/the-bounce-is-here-to-stay

SEN is also reporting it will not be reviewed next year or in the near future.

Pleased to see an icon of our game will remain. 

Good.

4 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

The bounce is here to stay!!  http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-11-21/the-bounce-is-here-to-stay

SEN is also reporting it will not be reviewed next year or in the near future.

Pleased to see an icon of our game will remain. 

nice to see this thread convinced the afl powers to keep the bounce