The AFL has bowed to Hawk’s coach and Umpires  will enforce blocking frees in marking contests from this week.

 

Edited May 15, 20186 yr by Redleg

No problem as long as they give frees against the Hawks when their players block. 

AFL programs last night showed numerous times Hawks players block, including incidents vs Swans last Friday night, without penalty.

Pot.Kettle.Black.

On a more serious note.  It is one thing for Clarkson to by-pass the usual channels and go straight to the top guy to complain.  But another for Gil to validate that by reacting to complaint and issuing a missive.

Bad look for the CEO dismissing due process.  He should have sent Clarkson to complain to Hocking or Head of Umpires. 

Clarkson is probably smarting from being left off the new super duper AFL Competition Committee!

Edited May 15, 20186 yr by Lucifer's Hero

2 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

No problem as long as they give frees against the Hawks when their players block. 

AFL programs last night showed numerous times Hawks players block, including incidents vs Swans last Friday night, without penalty.

Pot.Kettle.Black.

On a more serious note.  It is one thing for Clarkson to by-pass the usual channels and go straight to the top guy to complain.  But another for Gil to validate that by reacting to complaint and issuing a missive.

Bad look for the CEO dismissing due process.  He should have sent Clarkson to complain to Hocking or Head of Umpires. 

Clarkson is probably smarting from being left off the new super duper AFL Competition Committee!

since when is it gil's job to instruct the umpires in-season on game-day emphasis and  to make rulings on interpretations of the game's rules

and all without proper process

what makes gil any more an expert on the rules than any other mug punter. he's a ceo ffs not umpires advisor

afl's lack of integrity just continues to roll on

Blocking isn’t even that bad.

Edited May 15, 20186 yr by Clint Bizkit

Just now, Clint Bizkit said:

Blocking isn’t even that bad.

there is legal and illegal blocking, clint

7 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

there is legal and illegal blocking, clint

And who knows which is which ??

14 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

since when is it gil's job to instruct the umpires in-season on game-day emphasis and  to make rulings on interpretations of the game's rules

and all without proper process

what makes gil any more an expert on the rules than any other mug punter. he's a ceo ffs not umpires advisor

afl's lack of integrity just continues to roll on

Too true.

It is NOT the CEO's role to actually have anything to say about the way the game is played - it IS his job to run a clean, unbiased, even handed, corruption-free competition where all clubs are treated as equals and are given equal opportunity to progress and equal opportunity to make money to sustain themselves.

He has been a dismal failure on all those counts.

17 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Blocking isn’t even that bad.

 

16 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

there is legal and illegal blocking, clint

 

8 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

And who knows which is which ??

Like umpire contact, it will depend on who you are, who you play for, and which tribunal the AFL in their infinite wisdom happen to set up to try your case, or which umpire, or panel of umpires Gil's mob decide to send to your game and which club you are playing against.

Edited May 15, 20186 yr by monoccular

blocking is guaranteed to be rule of the week this coming weekend

interesting that they highlighted oliver blocking

Clarkson's conduct in going directly to McLachlan was reprehensible. McLachlan's response is no less reprehensible and a symptom of overweening self-importance and and an example of extremely poor governance. There is a structure that the CEO should not be able to short circuit without inviting condemnation and scorn.

Why is it that after a certain period of time every AFL CEO ends up suffering from hubris and losing the trust and confidence of the footu public - think of Demetriou, Jackson, Oakley, Hamilton -  although McLachlan has reached that stage sooner than others. Time for McLachlan to go.

Blocking is nothing more than what used to be known as interference - shepherding before the ball is wihin 5 metres. Think of the time it takes for a ball to traverse 5 m. Not long at all and much less than the shepherding takes.

If only the umpires watched the game and did not look for "eyes on the ball" or "not genuine contest" or "fake jumper pulls" they might recognise their errors and umpire the game as it should be umpired - to create a fair contest between the players rather than a pedantic concentration on inconsequential fake rules that are open to gaming and cheating.

Hawthorn block & impede in marking contests as much, if not more than anyone. Stratton is a master at it. Not sure what they are hoping to gain from this

By rights it shouldn't be blocks, it should be pushing Umpires out of the way.........

14 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

Hawthorn block & impede in marking contests as much, if not more than anyone. Stratton is a master at it. Not sure what they are hoping to gain from this

Yes I hope this is part of this week’s crack down. The shepherding/blocking of the player on the mark and the fact it is allowed does my head in! I must admit if that happened to me in my playing days I would have been reported for undue violence on the blocker. 

1 hour ago, tiers said:

Clarkson's conduct in going directly to McLachlan was reprehensible. McLachlan's response is no less reprehensible and a symptom of overweening self-importance and and an example of extremely poor governance. There is a structure that the CEO should not be able to short circuit without inviting condemnation and scorn.

Why is it that after a certain period of time every AFL CEO ends up suffering from hubris and losing the trust and confidence of the footu public - think of Demetriou, Jackson, Oakley, Hamilton -  although McLachlan has reached that stage sooner than others. Time for McLachlan to go.

tiers - your last paragraph is based on a false premise.

Gil didn’t ever have it to lose

10 minutes ago, willmoy said:

By rights it shouldn't be blocks, it should be pushing Umpires out of the way.........

No. That was ok last round, so it won’t be this round (depending on of course what jumper they are wearing)

The Hawks have been pushing the rule boundaries (and in many cases breaching them) for a decade and been allowed to get away with it more than any other team IMO and now they have direct access to Gil! 

Lucifer help very other club!

Their "what about me" cry has now been given the stamp of agreement by Gil.  Are now a shoe in for top 4 and subject to a run of bad luck with injuries, will be given every opportunity on the field to make another GF!

What a Coup from Clarkson! (with a leg up from Jeff pulling a few strings??)

What a pox on the rest of the struggling Vic clubs looking to make it to the top. 

Good luck anyone trying to beat the Hawks this year.  Golden armchair ride beckons.

Edited May 15, 20186 yr by Rusty Nails

I hope they ping the Hawks for blocking the man on the mark, which they do far more than anybody else.

More specifically, I hope the hawks get pinged more than everybody else and this sooking bites them in the arse.

34 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

Hawthorn block & impede in marking contests as much, if not more than anyone. Stratton is a master at it. Not sure what they are hoping to gain from this

Even more leeway GTB!  Never backward in coming forward are the Hawks, especially under Clarkson

Gil and his dills are sending this fabulous game straight to Werribee and Carrum Downs !!!

1 hour ago, daisycutter said:

there is legal and illegal blocking, clint

Exactly - as long as the ball is within 5m play on. If it's not, free kick. Simple.

50 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

Hawthorn block & impede in marking contests as much, if not more than anyone. Stratton is a master at it. Not sure what they are hoping to gain from this

Clarkson has correctly identified a significant anti Hawthorn bias in the umpiring of the game. He is just trying to level the playing field and get some fairness for the Hawks. God bless his little heart. Clarkson hates umpiring bias !!!

6 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Exactly - as long as the ball is within 5m play on. If it's not, free kick. Simple.

i don't think it is as simple as that

The example they used on 360 was from.our game against the Saints with Clarrie vs Carlisle, but Clarrie is watching the ball, so how is that a block compared to Langford vs the Swans when he never looks at thw ball. Storm in teacup. Maybe Clarko should appoint the umpires too!

2 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

i don't think it is as simple as that

What does the rulebook say then?

2 hours ago, Redleg said:

The AFL has bowed to Hawk’s coach and Umpires  will enforce blocking frees in marking contests from this week.

 

Where did you see this? Can't see anything on AFL or Age websites