Best AFL Umpires. Your thoughts?

[loges 6,251]

22 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Two words…

RAZOR [censored] RAY!

He’s not only the best and most consistent umpire, but he’s the most interesting. Yes he loves the attention and he’s a bit of a showoff, but he thoroughly deserves it.

At one of our W games last year we were out on the ground waiting to raise the banner. The umpires always come out first (before the players) and as they came onto the field, led by Razor, and many of them quite young and new to it, we all started to clap and cheer. We were yelling out “Yeah, Raze!” and “Loveya Raze!” He was absolutely chuffed. He flashed us a smile, and a look that said ‘Oh stop it now, except don’t stop it coz I’m loving it.’ 😂

Regularly makes 1 howler a game and for the rest of the time he's usually spot on 

[Deebauched 1,219]

54 minutes ago, Jibroni said:

Umpires make mistakes which I can tolerate but there is a bias in decision making depending on where the game is played, teams and players involved. This is the part that annoys me.

 

 

Check out the last 2 minutes of the Adelaide Crows v Fitzroy game back around 1991. Probably the most  incompetent bias umpiring in the history of aussie rules.

Makes you glad the goal umpire stuffed up the Crows chance of playing in this years finals. They could have gone deep in Sept considering how things panned out.

Edited November 9, 2023 by Deebauched

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

This is like trying to compile a list of Bucks Fizz's greatest hits. They had hits?

There are "best" umpires?

As long as the entire umps department is compromised by the fickleness and arbitrariness of their bosses ... as long as they are encouraged to umpire by this week's rule-du-jour [*] ... as long as they are confronted with a poorly-worded rule book ... as long as there are rules that require "interpretation" (unique amongst sports) ... as long as they remain amateur ... as long as they do not form "squads" that always umpire together and learn each others' style and idiosyncracies ... then the umps' quest for excellence will be akin to wading upstream against a flash flood of incompetence.

 

2 hours ago, dpositive said:

i have said for many years that MFC should invite the umpires down to our training session to discuss what we are doing wrong in our tackling or ball handling.

Sounds great until tested in the heat of battle on game day. See 3rd para above. We are probably doing nothing wrong with our tackling or ball handling.

 

[*] I am aware of the contradiction in terms.

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

28 minutes ago, Deebauched said:

Check out the last 2 minutes of the Adelaide Crows v Fitzroy game back around 1991. Probably the most  incompetent bias umpiring in the history of aussie rules.

Still remember that. The "affirmation of noise" is very real.

 

The "funny" (or disturbing) part of that Crows game is that every round of footy these days brings howlers every bit as bad.

Edited November 9, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[WalkingCivilWar 33,527]

23 minutes ago, Deebauched said:

Check out the last 2 minutes of the Adelaide Crows v Fitzroy game back around 1991. Probably the most  incompetent bias umpiring in the history of aussie rules.

Makes you glad the goal umpire stuffed up the Crows chance of playing in this years finals. They could have gone deep in Sept considering how things panned out.

There isn’t a single incident from the past that would make me glad this happened. I don’t particularly like the Crows but no matter the team, this incident was outrageous. For mine this was the worst umpiring mistake for the year, and there’s plenty to choose from. The AFL apologised afterwards, but what good is that. I can’t begin to imagine how Crows fans must’ve felt. 

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,110]

Other than Razor Ray, I couldn't name any.

Actually surprises me how many people know who they are.

[Deebauched 1,219]

45 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

There isn’t a single incident from the past that would make me glad this happened. I don’t particularly like the Crows but no matter the team, this incident was outrageous. For mine this was the worst umpiring mistake for the year, and there’s plenty to choose from. The AFL apologised afterwards, but what good is that. I can’t begin to imagine how Crows fans must’ve felt. 

The AFL is such a mess the umpires will probably even up the score for Crows home games next year. If Tex is 'on form' again the Crows should finish top 4.

No sympathy from me for Crows being robbed after kicking 2.8 in the last quarter. Swans went to sleep  after 3 qtr time. The kick for goal shouldnt of mattered. Game should of been well over by then.

[WalkingCivilWar 33,527]

8 minutes ago, Deebauched said:

The AFL is such a mess the umpires will probably even up the score for Crows home games next year. If Tex is 'on form' again the Crows should finish top 4.

No sympathy from me for Crows being robbed after kicking 2.8 in the last quarter. Swans went to sleep  after 3 qtr time. The kick for goal shouldnt of mattered. Game should of been well over by then.

But that’s not the point. It doesn’t matter who was playing, who was winning, who kicked well etc. What matters is that incident, in isolation. It was an absolute travesty.

PS I fully agree about Adelaide next season. I think they’ll go far. 

[layzie 29,782]

Love the idea but I don't know enough umpires. The end. 

[jane02 3,465]

I love David Rodan as goal umpire. I love the wry grin when the Dees kick a goal. Also a lovely guy away from footy.

[Willmoy1947 3,814]

On 09/11/2023 at 10:02, Jibroni said:

Umpires make mistakes which I can tolerate but there is a bias in decision making depending on where the game is played, teams and players involved. This is the part that annoys me.

 

 

And crucially the timing of the Free Kicks. Whether it be their forward line in the last qtr, combined with a very close game. Or in our forward line where we are on a run on, like when Brayshaw got mown down or of course the worst decision of the Year.... Petracca's.

[BigBadBustling 228]

I was always raised to say nothing if you've nothing nice to say. So I'm shtum!

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,426]

Stevic, Rosebery and Meredith are the most reliable of the current crew.

[Lexinator 877]

Razor Ray for sure. Has a bit of charisma. Favourite moment was the 'talk to the hand' moment when he awarded a double-50 against Stephenson this year 😁 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-fans-blow-up-at-rare-double-50-metre-penalty-against-jaidyn-stephenson-c-10497518.amp

 

[WalkingCivilWar 33,527]

17 hours ago, jane02 said:

I love David Rodan as goal umpire. I love the wry grin when the Dees kick a goal. Also a lovely guy away from footy.

Oh, I forgot about David, (wasn’t thinking about goal umpires). He’s awesome! We love when he’s up our end, he’ll occasionally give us a small and/or a wink.

There’s this one goal umpire and we groan when we realise we’ve got him up our end. Dude just does not stop moving. He paces, he steps from side to side, he stretches. He moves around for the entire time but especially when the play is up the other end. The goal and point posts obstruct our view, but at least they’re static. If he moved in a pattern we could get used to it, maybe. But he moves unpredictably which is super annoying. The good thing is I’m pretty sure we only get him in Adelaide.

End of whinge. Thank you. 😁

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,122]

On 08/11/2023 at 16:51, chook fowler said:

Hairy Beitzel.

Harry was a complete legend @chook fowler - good get. His career post umpiring was spectacular. Had a brilliant grasp of the game, terrific report with the key people in the game, always respectful and dignified. Worked hard. Interviewed the 12 coaches every Friday then played the interviews Satdee on 3AW before the game. Sensational. His calling of 'Snake' Baker in '77 were probably the best footy calls I have ever heard.

Special mention to Stevic - his handling of that $%^& wit Green was brilliant.

Edited November 11, 2023 by Queanbeyan Demon