For all those who are outraged by my personal opinion, I hereby resign from this thread , and thank you for revealing the error of my ways, particularly drysdale demon who’s outed me as a closet Collingwood supporter

Edited August 20, 20186 yr by joeboy

Let's think about this, there were two results the AFL needed to go a certain way last round;

1. Essendon beating Richmond, as this meant the Friday night Port vs Essendon game would've been a blockbuster, as one team would likely make the 8.  Now it's a dead rubber that I will have no interest in watching.  The umpires tried their best too - 27 frees to Essendon, 15 to Richmond.

2. West Coast beating Melbourne, would've meant that our GWS game on Sunday twilight would've required us to win to lock in a spot in the 8, with one of Essendon or Port missing out.

Because the results didn't go that way, the Top 8 is now locked and loaded, with some of the games in the last round more about shuffling of finishing positions, and the rest are dead rubbers.  From a ratings point of view, this weekend has gone from massive games/results everywhere, to minimal interest across the board.

So I ask this, would the AFL prefer feel good stories involving the Demons, or ratings bonanzas to continue to line Gill's pockets?

5 minutes ago, joeboy said:

As always , it’s not the number that are paid but where and under what circumstances they’re given

Give it a rest

13 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Good to see the umpires not sucked in by the crowd for a change. The crowd sensed this and the booing became even louder as they tried to force home town decisions. The psychology worked against them this time. We had a few go our way but so did a few more go their way but they were playing catch up footy and the crowd were frustrated.

This

I went into the game expecting to get the usual reaming by WA crowd/umpire decisions and was very surprised when it didn't happen and a few 50/50 calls actually went our way.

Certainly wouldnt go as far as to suggest it was rigged though. Sheesh.

1 minute ago, joeboy said:

As always , it’s not the number that are paid but where and under what circumstances they’re given

Sure, but it certainly doesn’t help your case when you’re claiming the result was doctored by the AFL. If that were the case, chances are we wouldn’t win the free kick count.

13 minutes ago, Webber said:

WC don’t SEEM to get a better ride, it’s an objective truth that they DO get a better ride. In this case, stats don’t lie. It’s a problem that the AFL has singularly failed to address, and for all its excellent equalisation measures, still unbalances the competition, week to week. I guess it’s why he made the OP, but for joeboy to suggest a 4 free kick deficit represents a ‘rigging’ in our favour, it’s not just ridiculous attention-seeking, it’s illogical. 

There are always outliers and aberrations in sport ... come to terms with it Webber otherwise you'll worry about something that probably isn't going to change for the rest of your life.

If it wasn't the West Coast it would be another team ... in fact I clearly remember when it was other teams.  Collingwood at Vic Park for instance and numerous  other teams in numerous other sports

And I formed my view oved 40 years ago.  I just watch the games and largely ignore the umpiring decisions.  You and others should try it ... have you ever tried doing that?

 

I think there's a definite ring of truth about all of this.

The results of our games against Geelong (both times), Port Adelaide and St. Kilda were all rigged and I'm very suspicious about the Swans game as well.

The worst bit of umpiring I saw on Sunday was the ridiculous free kick awarded to Cripps because he clashed with Vandemburg. And they got a goal out of it. 

If anything it was looking rigged the other way early with that free against AVB for contesting a ball. By far the biggest stinker of a decision I’ve seen. That was a disgrace that decision. How he could come up with that is so far beyond comprehension. It’s swings and roundabouts, we got absolutely stitched up vs Power and Saints, so we were due for the rub of the green. 

Was it rigged ? ummm No.

28 minutes ago, -Ⓥ- said:

Now that's very interesting - do you have data upon which this is based?

This was posted to reddit 2 months ago.

1 hour ago, joeboy said:

In my conspiracy theory, the AFL contrived a feel good story ending

In my conspiracy theory, the AFL are too incompetent to successfully organise a rigging of anything except the draw (and Gil's bonus package).

The umps were just overawed by the occasion and put in a shocker. Met their KPIs of randomness and inconsistency but barely made the main one of favouritism. They'll be offered counselling during the week, but they'll be umpiring in the bush if they do it again.

I think it is pretty obvious that the umpires were specifically directed to not get sucked in by the crowd noise given recent form

To round 14 the Free Kick count for WCE at home was 183-117 (156%) including RD1 losing the count to Syd by 8.

Since then it is 93-76 (122%)

Also, would love to see the stats on 50m penalties for encroaching on protected area - thos rule was 'changed' after the appalling Harmes free kick a month ago. It must have dropped 80% or more.

just when you thought you've read everything on DL, this rubbish pops up

55 minutes ago, rjay said:

In all honesty 'joeboy', I think the AFL put in a senior panel that was less inclined to be influenced by the home crowd.

A smart move as it was an important game for both clubs as well as shaping the 8.

The decisions you talk about could easily have gone against us but there were many others that could have gone our way.

The crowd were angry at the performance of their 23rd man though, they didn't get a clear run at it.

Rigged? no... but I think it was either a smart move or luck that the AFL seemed to address the home town decisions with the selection of the umpires.

I think this is a brilliant point.We often seem to get the worst umpires - i think because often our games are not considered 'big'.

For big games you really need the best umpires and i though they did a terrific job all in all. The  best umpires seem to often let 50 50 ones go (like the OMac call), whereas average umpires often seem to want to impose themselves and pay everything - or worse are inconsistent tin what they pay (particularly in games at the Adelaide Oval or in Perth. Where the crowd becomes a factor)

We were lucky not to get pinged a few times, as were they (one comes to mind that made me laugh - Vander gets legged and the WC fans are baying for holding the ball, despite him getting handball off - and then go crazy when a couple of seconds later Tmac goals).

I find it crazy the AFL are considering radical rule changes when they could improve the game overnight by biting the bullet and having professional umpires. It would make the game better instantly. 

As for conspiracy theories? Is it 1 April? Is this a satirical thread? 

Joeboy’s 3 words on the umpires.

Cheated for us.

1 hour ago, -Ⓥ- said:

Probably the fairest umpiring I've seen in ages

 

1 hour ago, joeboy said:

My point exactly.. and that’s what’s mind boggling considering what’s preceded it

Let me get this straight.  You said the umpiring was "rigged".  Then you said it was mind boggling that it was fair.  And this after saying in the OP " and (I)still can’t comprehend how we were awarded frees, or at least not penalized for many blatant errors".  I know you've now opted out of responding but how do you reconcile these comments? 

On the other hand, perhaps I can see why you have run away.

We had a few go our way on Sunday, they had a few go their way.  "Rigged"?  You can't be serious.

Aside from the VDB free, there was an incident with a blatant front on spoil  without looking for the ball  to stop a certain mark by one of our players  by I think Barrass in the second quarter close to the goal square that was never paid. 

Edited August 21, 20186 yr by america de cali

Are the umpires in interstate games usually the same umpires? For example do Adelaide games usually have the same pool of umpires and Perth games have their own pool?

I heard murmurings from the dills around me on the weekend that the umpires in this particular game were shipped in and weren't the "usual" gang.

Yes the umpiring was indeed strange. But what I actually noticed were some glints in the grass on certain angles reflecting sunlight. This could only indicate the use of magnets and may also explain why some players were continuously falling over......ditto the Sydney game.

1 minute ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Yes the umpiring was indeed strange. But what I actually noticed were some glints in the grass on certain angles reflecting sunlight. This could only indicate the use of magnets and may also explain why some players were continuously falling over......ditto the Sydney game.

I wonder if a Weagles supporter posts with guilt after every home game, year after year ?

 

I wonder.

I hope so because we might be the feel good story that the umps contrive to get a flag to.

13 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Are the umpires in interstate games usually the same umpires? For example do Adelaide games usually have the same pool of umpires and Perth games have their own pool?

I heard murmurings from the dills around me on the weekend that the umpires in this particular game were shipped in and weren't the "usual" gang.

Yes they do usually have atleast one that just does local games. I know that female Goal umpire has done Freo/WCE games all year

1 hour ago, dl4e said:

The worst bit of umpiring I saw on Sunday was the ridiculous free kick awarded to Cripps because he clashed with Vandemburg. And they got a goal out of it. 

What?

2 hours ago, joeboy said:

I’ve watched the replay 3 times and still can’t comprehend how we were awarded frees, or at least not penalized for many blatant errors, despite the howls of abuse throughout the game from an overwhelmingly anti Melbourne crowd.

The non payment of a free kick against O.Mac ,when he took on the tackler by dropping his head into an oncoming chest, was just one of  many mind boggling decisions surprisingly in our favour.

In my conspiracy theory, the AFL contrived a feel good story ending

Did you see the Vandenberg Free kick against the dees? Did you watch the game properly? Gawn getting held in the ruck contest all day.

Come on Joeboy your better than that.