When we played them over there a couple of years ago, they beat us by 6 points and our kicking for goal was, like last Sunday against the Swans, abysmal.

We were actually leading the free kick count till 3/4 time but in the heat of a close last quarter they got about 10 frees to 1.

The maggots got us that time.

2 hours ago, FireInTheBelly said:

Because he's doing exactly what the AFL want, he's following orders.

The umpires are receiving instructions over their headsets, hence the increasing number of slow/late calls. There was 1 instance last week with Nicholls, where Clarry was tackled and Nicholls called play on and waved his arms after the ball came free. A second later, and nothing had changed, he blows the whistle and calls holding the ball. What changed?

Somebody else made that call.

To be honest, I believe you had that one correct: '...somebody else made that decision...' off-field. The decision and the delay was not subsequent to the first call as it was legally tapped out under enormous duress to Clarrie ... leaving the MFC in an advantageous position at that moment and just after, and then, the 'call' against Clarrie whose skill had just previously overcome great odds in the scramble. Absolute set-up, abuse, prejudice and latent interference.

 

40 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

To be honest, I believe you had that one correct: '...somebody else made that decision...' off-field. The decision and the delay was not subsequent to the first call as it was legally tapped out under enormous duress to Clarrie ... leaving the MFC in an advantageous position at that moment and just after, and then, the 'call' against Clarrie whose skill had just previously overcome great odds in the scramble. Absolute set-up, abuse, prejudice and latent interference.

 

I certainly noticed it when that happened - seemed staggering at the time.  But I cannot believe even the AFL will have descended to such levels without it being made public that the umps may get overridden on the fly. Surely not.  Sounds more like incompetence to me.  It's not as if anyone can point to multiple instances, can they?

It is sports entertainment these days. Do not expect integrity. Revenue is the arbiter now.

If we make finals the $$$$$$ would be unbelievable from supporters suddenly wanting to go to our finals. Reckon neutrals would want to go watch us in September too.

I have been watching Melbourne play since the late 70’s. Over that time I have watched maybe 500 matches involving us and have honestly believed we got the better of the umpiring on maybe half a dozen times. This obviously can’t be right.

I consider myself to be relatively level headed but I must a significant bias. Sometimes I’ve woken up after a match and fully expected to find headlines screaming for a Royal Commission into how shafted by the umpires the Dees were the day before. Nothing. 

Umpiring is an impossible job and I reckon it has got harder over the years. They have to strip the rules back to the basics to make it less subjective (as someone else on here has suggested). 

 

 

26 minutes ago, sue said:

I certainly noticed it when that happened - seemed staggering at the time.  But I cannot believe even the AFL will have descended to such levels without it being made public that the umps may get overridden on the fly. Surely not.  Sounds more like incompetence to me.  It's not as if anyone can point to multiple instances, can they?

It's something that's very hard to identify, however there's definitely been an increase in slow/late calls this year, which could be an indicator of this happening. The thing that brought this to my attention was in a particular Dees game, and I can't recall which game it was sorry, on 3 separate occasions when a player was lining up at goals, an unknown voice could be heard over the referees intercom (I'll call it) say '15 seconds', at which point the umpire would notify the kicker of '15 seconds gone'. It was clearly not someone on the ground, and it had a distinct NRL bunker sound to it. I've not heard it in any game since, so I'm assuming this person had hit the wrong button sending the communication public when it should only have been for the umpires earpiece.

I'd love to go back to that game and listen to the voice and also if there were any goal reviews. I'd guarantee it's the same voice, meaning that video umpire is giving directions to the on-field umpires.

1 minute ago, FireInTheBelly said:

It's something that's very hard to identify, however there's definitely been an increase in slow/late calls this year, which could be an indicator of this happening. The thing that brought this to my attention was in a particular Dees game, and I can't recall which game it was sorry, on 3 separate occasions when a player was lining up at goals, an unknown voice could be heard over the referees intercom (I'll call it) say '15 seconds', at which point the umpire would notify the kicker of '15 seconds gone'. It was clearly not someone on the ground, and it had a distinct NRL bunker sound to it. I've not heard it in any game since, so I'm assuming this person had hit the wrong button sending the communication public when it should only have been for the umpires earpiece.

I'd love to go back to that game and listen to the voice and also if there were any goal reviews. I'd guarantee it's the same voice, meaning that video umpire is giving directions to the on-field umpires.

I've heard the '15 seconds' too.  But that seems perfectly reasonable so as to keep what is displayed on the screen at the match in line with what the ump is saying (and saving him form having to do the timing in his head).

 

3 minutes ago, sue said:

I've heard the '15 seconds' too.  But that seems perfectly reasonable so as to keep what is displayed on the screen at the match in line with what the ump is saying (and saving him form having to do the timing in his head).

 

Agreed, however where is the line drawn on what the video umpire can advise on? I've seen no guidelines.

All I'm saying is a faint line can be drawn between the 3 scenarios ('the voice', late calls, mind change), there's obviously no way anyone would be able too prove this unless the AFL came out and said it. If it were true, what's the chances of that getting out???

I should add, that after the Bombers saga, I'd put nothing beyond the AFL.

Noooooooooo..... we've got umpire Schmitt again. He absolutely hates us!!!

Stevic is OK. Handled the Adelaide ferals well.

Schmitt is rubbish.

 

2 hours ago, Freddy Fuschia said:

When we played them over there a couple of years ago, they beat us by 6 points and our kicking for goal was, like last Sunday against the Swans, abysmal.

We were actually leading the free kick count till 3/4 time but in the heat of a close last quarter they got about 10 frees to 1.

The maggots got us that time.

The free kick count in the third term last week V the Swans was 8:2 against us. Almost as bad.

15 hours ago, FarNorthernD said:

I have been watching Melbourne play since the late 70’s. Over that time I have watched maybe 500 matches involving us and have honestly believed we got the better of the umpiring on maybe half a dozen times. This obviously can’t be right.

I consider myself to be relatively level headed but I must a significant bias. Sometimes I’ve woken up after a match and fully expected to find headlines screaming for a Royal Commission into how shafted by the umpires the Dees were the day before. Nothing. 

Umpiring is an impossible job and I reckon it has got harder over the years. They have to strip the rules back to the basics to make it less subjective (as someone else on here has suggested). 

 

 

Blimey you must have gone to the same matches as I did. Cannot remember it being any better in the early 70’s,  but we were very poor then,

i have umpired at a much much lower level,  it is difficult but the first instinct is usually correct. There are rules they do not apply anymore. Go back to the basics it’s not rugby with a rolling scrum, though that’s what it seems sometimes,

Good luck Dees, cannot remember too many wins over there though Jeff Farmer comes to mind, who can play like him, 

Go Dees