Jump to content

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.

 
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.

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

 

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

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?


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. 

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

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.

 

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.

  • 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. 


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.

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?

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

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

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?

 


[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.

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.


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 ! !

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

 
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.


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...

Featured Content

  • NON-MFC: Round 09

    Round 9 kicks off out west with the Dockers hosting a Collingwood side resting several stars. Fremantle need to make a statement on their home deck after some disappointing form on the road, while the Magpies will be keen to maintain their Top 2 position. Friday night sees a must-win clash between two sides desperate to stay in touch with the eight. St Kilda have shown glimpses while Carlton are clinging to relevance after a flat start to the season. Saturday’s twilight game at Marvel pits the Bombers against a struggling Sydney outfit. Essendon can’t afford another close match against a lower-ranked side, while the Swans risk sliding down the ladder even further. Up in Darwin, the fourth-placed Suns will look to extend their stay in the top four. The Bulldogs have hit their stride with three big wins on the trot and will be very keen to consolidate on their momentum. The always fiery Showdown looms as pivotal for both clubs. Adelaide are eyeing a spot in the Top 4 with a win, while Port Adelaide’s season could slip away if they drop another game and fall further behind the pack. Sunday begins with a yawn fest between Richmond and West Coast. The Tigers need to bank the points to stay clear of the bottom two, while the Eagles are still chasing their first win of the year. The Giants face one of the league’s toughest road trips as they travel to GMHBA Stadium to face the Cats. With GWS at risk of a third straight loss, Geelong will be eager to consolidate their position inside the eight and start their climb up the ladder. The round wraps up with the top-of-the-table Lions heading to Ninja Stadium to take on the second-last Roos. The Lions should easily take care of the struggling Roos who might be powerless against the best in the comp. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

      • Thanks
    • 142 replies
    Demonland
  • PREVIEW: Hawthorn

    Melbourne and Hawthorn who face off against each other this week have more in common than having once almost merged and about to wear a blue jumper with a red v triangle and an embroidered picture of a bird on the front. They also share the MCG as their main home ground, their supporters are associated with the leafy suburbs of Melbourne and in recent times, James Frawley graced the colours of both teams. Even more recently, both have bounced back from disastrous five game losing streaks to start off a season. Of course, the Hawks turned their bounce into a successful leap from the bottom of the ladder into a finals appearance, making it to the semifinals in 2024 and this year, they’re riding high in third place on the AFL table. The Demons are just three games into their 2025 bounce back, and are yet to climb their way out of the bottom four although they are sitting a game and percentage out of the top eight. However, with the current sportsbet odds of $3.90 to win this week’s encounter, it seems a forlorn hope that their upward progression will continue much longer.

      • Thumb Down
      • Clap
      • Thanks
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PODCAST: Harvey Langford Interview

    On Wednesday I'll be interviewing the Melbourne Football Club's first pick in the 2024 National Draft and pick number 6 overall Harvey Langford. If you have any questions you want asked let me know. I will release the interview on Wednesday afternoon.

      • Clap
      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 35 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: West Coast

    On a night of counting, Melbourne captain Max Gawn made sure that his contribution counted. He was at his best and superb in the the ruck from the very start of the election night game against the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium, but after watching his dominance of the first quarter and a half of the clash evaporate into nothing as the Eagles booted four goals in the last ten minutes of the opening half, he turned the game on its head, with a ruckman’s masterclass in the second half.  No superlatives would be sufficient to describe the enormity of the skipper’s performance starting with his 47 hit outs, a career-high 35 possessions (22 of them contested), nine clearances, 12 score involvements and, after messing up an attempt or two, finally capping off one of the greatest rucking performances of all time, with a goal of own in the final quarter not long after he delivered a right angled pass into the arms of Daniel Turner who also goaled from a pocket (will we ever know if the pass is what was intended). That was enough to overturn a 12 point deficit after the Eagles scored the first goal of the second half into a 29 point lead at the last break and a winning final quarter (at last) for the Demons who decided not to rest their champion ruckman at the end this time around. 

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: Hawthorn

    The Demons return to the MCG to take on the High Flying Hawks on Saturday Afternoon. Hawthorn will be aiming to consolidate a position in the Top 4 whilst the Dees will be looking to take a scalp and make it four wins in a row. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Thanks
    • 332 replies
    Demonland
  • PODCAST: West Coast

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 5th May @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we analyse the Demons 3rd win row for the season against the Eagles.
    Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
    If you would like to leave us a voicemail please call 03 9016 3666 and don't worry no body answers so you don't have to talk to a human.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 25 replies
    Demonland