Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Calling frees by the umpire

sue
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

Sorry to start a new topic, but I can't see where else to post this:

Can anyone enlighten me on why the umpires always call the nature of the free before calling out the name of the team getting the free.  It seems to me that it would better to call out the name of the team getting the free and saying what for afterwards.  That would make less confusion and easier for playing on (and in a way fair to both teams) and for players to take field position in response to the free earlier.   This is especially true when the players can justifiably have no idea which way the free is going - eg holding the man is often a toss up as both players are holding, or in the back versus holding the ball.  If there any advantage in calling it in the way they do now?

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
    • Love 1
     

    It is a great point Sue. Really they just need to say the player who is awarded the free kick and for which team. The explanation is really a mute point as they can signal it as they announce the person who is awarded it. I hate the one where all players from both teams run the wrong way, then to realise it was a soft free kick paid to the other team. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    This is only an issue when the team being awarded the free kick seeks to play on.

    The play on rule is open to abuse. Players take possession of the ball and run a bit and, if they are on the infringing team, so long as they don't kick the ball there are no 50m penalties imposed. If they are on the infringed team, they can get an unfair advantage because they are not tackled as play has apparently stopped.

    Until the rules are amended to allow only the player infringed upon to play on this will remain a sore point.

     

  • Quote
    •  
    24 minutes ago, SPC said:

    It is a great point Sue. Really they just need to say the player who is awarded the free kick and for which team. The explanation is really a mute point as they can signal it as they announce the person who is awarded it. I hate the one where all players from both teams run the wrong way, then to realise it was a soft free kick paid to the other team. 

    I wish all points were mute!!! Instead of moot😁

  • Quote
    • Love 1
    • Haha 1

    Don't get me started:

    "move it on".....no need, it's just play on

    "yours" or " mine"....no need, there are lines marked on the ground to see which umpire is controlling, and who cares when they can be over-ridden by the other

    " ball out" or "handballed" ....no need, no call has been made

    " 15 seconds".....it is the players responsibility to kick the ball before 30 seconds is up.  And there is a clock on the scoreboard.  At that point it is " play on".

     

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

    • Author
    1 minute ago, tiers said:

    This is only an issue when the team being awarded the free kick seeks to play on.

    The play on rule is open to abuse. Players take possession of the ball and run a bit and, if they are on the infringing team, so long as they don't kick the ball there are no 50m penalties imposed. If they are on the infringed team, they can get an unfair advantage because they are not tackled as play has apparently stopped.

    Until the rules are amended to allow only the player infringed upon to play on this will remain a sore point.

     

    I don't think it is only an issue when a team seeks to play on the way footy is played these days, though I'd agree it can be more significant when a team seeks to play on. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    32 minutes ago, tiers said:

    This is only an issue when the team being awarded the free kick seeks to play on.

    The play on rule is open to abuse. Players take possession of the ball and run a bit and, if they are on the infringing team, so long as they don't kick the ball there are no 50m penalties imposed. If they are on the infringed team, they can get an unfair advantage because they are not tackled as play has apparently stopped.

    Until the rules are amended to allow only the player infringed upon to play on this will remain a sore point.

     

    i remember a grand final where peter hudson equalled the record of 150 goals. ball was kicked into the square, umpire blew whistle for infringement to a team mate, within a second of the whistle hudson picked up the ball and kicked a goal. there was no play on rule then so umpire disallowed goal and forced the other teammate to take the free kick. 

    edit: actually i think there was a playon rule buy only if the umpire called play on, which he hadn't 

    edit2: he also missed another one from point blank range, the footy gods were determined to stop him breaking the record

    Edited by daisycutter

  • Quote
    • Sad 1
    1 hour ago, tiers said:

    This is only an issue when the team being awarded the free kick seeks to play on.

    The play on rule is open to abuse. Players take possession of the ball and run a bit and, if they are on the infringing team, so long as they don't kick the ball there are no 50m penalties imposed. If they are on the infringed team, they can get an unfair advantage because they are not tackled as play has apparently stopped.

    Until the rules are amended to allow only the player infringed upon to play on this will remain a sore point.

     

    I have often wondered why the AFL doesn't copy other sports such as hockey and soccer, where a free kick is only awarded if an infringement restricts play. In these other games, the referee signals that an infringement has occurred but only stops play if it is needed to assist the team infringed against. It would effectively replace the current situation where it's very confusing, and often unfair, when teams take advantage.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
     
    9 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

    Don't get me started:

    "move it on".....no need, it's just play on

    "yours" or " mine"....no need, there are lines marked on the ground to see which umpire is controlling, and who cares when they can be over-ridden by the other

    " ball out" or "handballed" ....no need, no call has been made

    " 15 seconds".....it is the players responsibility to kick the ball before 30 seconds is up.  And there is a clock on the scoreboard.  At that point it is " play on".

     

    "no holding in the ruck" and "siren has blown - don't play on" 

    Both well known rules - just bloody enforce them, don't coach the players. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    9 hours ago, daisycutter said:

    i remember a grand final where peter hudson equalled the record of 150 goals. ball was kicked into the square, umpire blew whistle for infringement to a team mate, within a second of the whistle hudson picked up the ball and kicked a goal. there was no play on rule then so umpire disallowed goal and forced the other teammate to take the free kick. 

    edit: actually i think there was a playon rule buy only if the umpire called play on, which he hadn't 

    edit2: he also missed another one from point blank range, the footy gods were determined to stop him breaking the record

    Didn't he also kick one into the man on the mark?

  • Quote
    • Shocked 1

    Umpires explain the nature of the free kick first because few people have any idea what it is for. Justifying the decision straight off the mark is better than trying to explain it after play has moved on. Otherwise they just look ridiculous 

    I have found umpiring this year inconsistent, with many obvious frees not paid. I think the AFL have put too much onus on umpires to adjudicate using nuance and fine interpretation that (of course) changes during the season. Hardest job in the game by far.

    FMD, how many professional sports require the umpire/ref to have a skill with the ball (ie. bounce)?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Author
    27 minutes ago, Stiff Arm said:

    Umpires explain the nature of the free kick first because few people have any idea what it is for. Justifying the decision straight off the mark is better than trying to explain it after play has moved on. Otherwise they just look ridiculous 

    I have found umpiring this year inconsistent, with many obvious frees not paid. I think the AFL have put too much onus on umpires to adjudicate using nuance and fine interpretation that (of course) changes during the season. Hardest job in the game by far.

    FMD, how many professional sports require the umpire/ref to have a skill with the ball (ie. bounce)?

    Maybe I misunderstand you but calling out “Melbourne, in the back” explains the free kick just as well a “in the back, Melbourne “ does. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    1 hour ago, loges said:

    Didn't he also kick one into the man on the mark?

    that was the one from point blank range i mentioned, iirc

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    7 hours ago, loges said:

    Didn't he also kick one into the man on the mark?

    He’d been pretty much KO’d by Cowboy Neale. In today’s environment he’d have been off the ground with concussion.

  • Quote

    Excellent observation. It seems to go in line with the way they motion ie free kick signal then arm pointing the way of the free. I do think it would clear up some confusion. I might actually give them the benefit of the doubt on this though, I'm sure there is some kind of reason for this.

  • Quote

    5 hours ago, Fanatique Demon said:

    He’d been pretty much KO’d by Cowboy Neale. In today’s environment he’d have been off the ground with concussion.

    Yes happened right in front of me.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • AFLW PREVIEW: Richmond

      Round four kicks off early Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields, as the mighty Narrm host the winless Richmond Tigers in the second week of Indigenous Round celebrations. With ideal footy conditions forecast—20 degrees, overcast skies, and a gentle breeze — expect a fast-paced contest. Narrm enters with momentum and a dangerous forward line, while Richmond is still searching for its first win. With key injuries on both sides and pride on the line, this clash promises plenty.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 5 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW REPORT: Collingwood

      Expectations of a comfortable win for Narrm at Victoria Park quickly evaporated as the match turned into a tense nail-biter. After a confident start by the Demons, the Pies piled on pressure and forced red and blue supporters to hold their collective breath until after the final siren. In a frenetic, physical contest, it was Captain Kate’s clutch last quarter goal and a missed shot from Collingwood’s Grace Campbell after the siren which sealed a thrilling 4-point win. Finally, Narrm supporters could breathe easy.

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 2 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Williamstown

      The Casey Demons issued a strong statement to the remaining teams in the VFL race with a thumping 76-point victory in their Elimination Final against Williamstown. This was the sixth consecutive win for the Demons, who stormed into the finals from a long way back with scalps including two of the teams still in flag contention. Senior Coach Taylor Whitford would have been delighted with the manner in which his team opened its finals campaign with high impact after securing the lead early in the game when Jai Culley delivered a precise pass to a lead from Noah Yze, who scored his first of seven straight goals for the day. Yze kicked his second on the quarter time siren, by which time the Demons were already in control. The youngster repeated the dose in the second term as the Seagulls were reduced to mere

        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW PREVIEW: Collingwood

      Narrm time isn’t a standard concept—it’s the time within the traditional lands of Narrm, the Woiwurrung name for Melbourne. Indigenous Round runs for rounds 3 and 4 and is a powerful platform to recognise the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sport, community, and Australian culture. This week, suburban footy returns to the infamous Victoria Park as the mighty Narrm take on the Collingwood Magpies at 1:05pm Narrm time, Sunday 31 August. Come along if you can.

        • Thumb Down
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 9 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW REPORT: St. Kilda

      The Dees demolished the Saints in a comprehensive 74-pointshellacking.  We filled our boots with percentage — now a whopping 520.7% — and sit atop the AFLW ladder. Melbourne’s game plan is on fire, and the competition is officially on notice.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Collingwood

      It was yet another disappointing outcome in a disappointing year, with Melbourne missing the finals for the second consecutive season. Indeed, it wasn’t even close, as the Demons' tally of seven wins was less than half the number required to rank among the top eight teams in the competition. When the dust of the game settled and supporters reflected on Melbourne's  six-point defeat at the hands of close game specialists Collingwood, Max Gawn's words about his team’s unfulfilled potential rang true … well, almost. 

        • Thanks
      • 1 reply
      Demonland
    View All

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.