Jump to content

Whispering in the Umpires Ears

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

i think all afl staff and executives need to go on an education course about the meaning and importance of transparency.  long overdue.

  • Quote
    • Clap 1
     
    1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

    I wonder how many more secret changes to umpiring are festering at HQ.

    In the last month:

    • Revealed they had told goal umpires to score review just about everything, until they were exposed and the media started complaining ... fans had been doing so for a fair while. 
    • Admitted they coached umpires to extend 'reasonable time' and treat DTB as 'falling out in a contest' etc until coaches started complaining.
    • This 'whispering' in umpires ear and lord knows how many decisions were influenced. I just can't see any reason to do so in game.  The 'positive encouragement' is just bs. (btw very fitting that 'Whispering Jack' started this thread).

    HQ has walked back on those but the scary thing is they didn't tell anyone, not even the clubs. 

    I wonder what umpiring gem will be revealed next ... ?

    Frustration at umpires is part of the sport but the above just hangs them out to dry.

    I think the knee jerk reaction to this story is over the top, everyone has been talking about how bad holding the ball has been, this new interpretation is going to make it more simple, the over reaction of the new interpretation   is hyperbole.

  • Quote

    Goody likes this, says learning on the go is good. 

  • Quote
    •  

    I'm not sure why this is even a story, other than "Scoops" McLure and "Exclusive" McGuire thinking they are on to something new, which it isn't. 

    I used to have one of those "AFL sports ears" devices years ago, though which you could hear the umpires talking to the players and also talking to each other. There was also a voice from someone else up in the stand talking to the umpires during breaks in play such as stoppages or centre bounces.


    Edit - I wish they still had those sports ears things as it was really interesting to listen to, particularly the interactions bewteen player and umpires that you couldnt hear on TV.  That said, I most certainly did NOT enjoy hearing Razor Ray blowing his nose on to the ground or hoiking up whatever gunk he had in his throat before each centre bounce...  🤮

    Edited by JTR

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    Realistically there are only two important points out of this:

    1. Why only SOME coaches were aware (cue Scott bros.)

    2. Why not release recordings to coaches if requested?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Clap 1

    1 hour ago, Demon trucker said:

    I think the knee jerk reaction to this story is over the top, everyone has been talking about how bad holding the ball has been, this new interpretation is going to make it more simple, the over reaction of the new interpretation   is hyperbole.

    In what world is it reasonable to change the rules of a game in the middle of a season. 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    2 hours ago, Demon trucker said:

    I think the knee jerk reaction to this story is over the top, everyone has been talking about how bad holding the ball has been, this new interpretation is going to make it more simple, the over reaction of the new interpretation   is hyperbole.

    The HTB discussion is a different thread.

    My point was about the seemingly 'secret' instructions the AFL is giving umpires which they fess up to only when they become public, as per the 3 examples I gave.

    Edited by Lucifers Hero

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, DeeMee said:

    Realistically there are only two important points out of this:

    1. Why only SOME coaches were aware (cue Scott bros.)

    2. Why not release recordings to coaches if requested?

    Re your first point.  It seems Goodwin is one of those coaches that didn't know.

    In his press conf today he said 'he assumed' this was the case, several times.  Fair to read into that he didn't know.

  • Quote
    •  

    What I find amusing, yet not unexpected, is that the likes of Hardwick and Chris Scott have a sook and HQ immediately makes changes.

    If Goodwin said "look at my ruckman being hit in the head 90 times a game", he'd probably get a please explain and Gawn wouldn't get another free kick for the season.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Angry 1
    • Author
    1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

    What I find amusing, yet not unexpected, is that the likes of Hardwick and Chris Scott have a sook and HQ immediately makes changes.

    If Goodwin said "look at my ruckman being hit in the head 90 times a game", he'd probably get a please explain and Gawn wouldn't get another free kick for the season.

    I have a sneaking suspicion that the umpires against the Saints were paying Max frees on the weekend most likely based feedback from the club. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Just now, Demonland said:

    I have a sneaking suspicion that the umpires against the Saints were paying Max frees on the weekend most likely based feedback from the club. 

    Really? why suddenly are they taking our feedback? I doubt we only now decided to complain about the treatment he's been receiving for years.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    3 hours ago, JTR said:

    ...

    I used to have one of those "AFL sports ears" devices years ago, though which you could hear the umpires talking to the players and also talking to each other. There was also a voice from someone else up in the stand talking to the umpires during breaks in play such as stoppages or centre bounces.

    ...

    That is interesting. Isn't the AFL saying it's only during breaks between quarters?

  • Quote
    3 minutes ago, sue said:

    That is interesting. Isn't the AFL saying it's only during breaks between quarters?

    no, they said they give encouragement chats during play but they said they were not decision specific like yes/no

  • Quote

    All this is a Media driven "shriek factor Story" .

    This is the same mob who are demanding that players have to talk to BT OR ELSE.

    Why can't the Umpires Coach talk to the Umpires ?  If you can tell me that somebody watching on screen can comment to an umpire EARLY enough to affect a decision then i will go jumping !!

    Football coaches talk to the Footballers and supposedly provide positive feedback. As mentioned in the press the umpires coach/supervisor provides feed back

  • Quote
    31 minutes ago, dimmy said:

    All this is a Media driven "shriek factor Story" .

    This is the same mob who are demanding that players have to talk to BT OR ELSE.

    Why can't the Umpires Coach talk to the Umpires ?  If you can tell me that somebody watching on screen can comment to an umpire EARLY enough to affect a decision then i will go jumping !!

    Football coaches talk to the Footballers and supposedly provide positive feedback. As mentioned in the press the umpires coach/supervisor provides feed back

    So keep the question and concerns about what is going on…….simply….why do they need to be miked? …… When feedback, like with coaches can be done at end of quarters?

     

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    [censored] whats next, interpretations rules on what can an cannot be whispered.

    Im just waiting for the day AI to take over and robots umpiring the whole match.

  • Quote
    5 hours ago, Demon trucker said:

    I think the knee jerk reaction to this story is over the top, everyone has been talking about how bad holding the ball has been, this new interpretation is going to make it more simple, the over reaction of the new interpretation   is hyperbole.

    I would have no hesitation in agreement with that, but the problem is like always who will receive the most benefit fairly.

    The game will be sped up. The problem is the elephant in the room, and that is, popular clubs will not be penalised as much, will not get rid of the ball correctly and will definitely drop it repetitively.

  • Quote

    3 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

    So keep the question and concerns about what is going on…….simply….why do they need to be miked? …… When feedback, like with coaches can be done at end of quarters?

     

    Spot On ! !

  • Quote
    11 hours ago, MT64 said:

    So if the "suit" upstairs calls decisions, and if he is working to the TV vision, then he should be calling throws as well as non disposal of the ball. It's clear to us watching. I have been saying this for years about the "fifth umpire" and cannot believe that club officials are in the dark about it. Yet another nail in the coffin for me attending/watching games. Don't take us/me as fools AFL. You will lose us.

    MT64 - they have already lost me.  I used to watch multiple games each week on TV, and even attend "neutral" games at the G.     No more.   Occasionally I watch the end of a game especially if Geelong, Collingwood or Carlton are getting done, but otherwise it is only MFC.

    I love footy, but hate the AFL especially when they go on about integrity etc.

     

    PS - now 2235 Thursday night - didn't even realise that there was a game on tonight.  That is how much I despise the organisation known as AFL.

    10 hours ago, daisycutter said:

    i think all afl staff and executives need to go on an education course about the meaning and importance of transparency.  long overdue.

    But who would educate them?

    PS - does Nathan Brown update the odds to them during the game??

    Edited by monoccular
    PS

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    17 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

    What I find amusing, yet not unexpected, is that the likes of Hardwick and Chris Scott have a sook and HQ immediately makes changes.

    If Goodwin said "look at my ruckman being hit in the head 90 times a game", he'd probably get a please explain and Gawn wouldn't get another free kick for the season.

    Very likely unless checked by these revelations. I think we are all in disappointed awe of the omnipotence of those in (secretive) power over game outcomes.

  • 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

    • GAMEDAY: West Coast

      It's Game Day and the Demons have a chance to notch up their third consecutive win — something they haven’t done since Round 5, 2024. But to do it, they’ll need to exorcise the Demons of last year’s disastrous trip out West. Can the Dees continue their momentum, right the wrongs of that fateful clash, and take another step up the ladder on the road to redemption?

      • 53 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • FEATURE: 1925

      A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: West Coast

      Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

      • 1 reply
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 08

      Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

        • Like
      • 180 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: West Coast

      The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Clap
        • Haha
        • Like
      • 563 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Richmond

      The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All