THE BLOODY UMPIRES.

[Booney]

I think that the SANFL umpires watch to much AFL and try and copy what those umpires.

Well they are primarily umpiring the same sport! It is only "interpretations" that differ.

[FlyingHigh]

I wonder just how much AFL umpiring and rules are being pushed onto the SANFL, it seems like alot more now to a few years ago, if this is so, does the SANFL umpiring fraternity detail these changes and interpretations to the clubs as the AFL do at the start of the season?

Like the players, given there is more time, money and professionalism put into AFL umpiring than SANFL umpiring, shouldn't we be encouraging SANFL interpretations to be more simple and less technical than AFL interpretations?

[SnappyTom]

I see Shane regularly at the footy, and chat to him often.

Umpiring is a bloody tough gig. We have in the SANFL, unlike the AFL, two team perspectives, which means they are going to have more scrutiny over every decision made; we see some things one way, the other supporters see it the other.

While I think overall they've done a pretty good job over the decade or so I've been going to footy, there are two major issues pertaining to umpires that I have seen change:
o AFL umpiries mixed with SANFL umpires at SANFL level (and their differing interpretations)
o the style of football being played in 2010 versus 2000, and earlier

The game at times resembles the mini league. 36 players at times in a 50 arc, making it impossible for straight forward viewing for any umpire (only one can be in that zone, the other two are in the centre and twiddling thumbs 60m off play). Traffic galore.

We have players playing for frees more than ever before, and players that know how to milk frees. I like to see players playing the ball rewarded, not the soft-c0ck frees we see from time to time.

The 25m penalty has gone beyond ridiculous. Buckets little 5 minute session in Round 1 testament to that. I don't condone players having a dig at umpires, but 5 25m penalties from the same ump against the same player got comical.


All up it's a tough gig, with no reward. They get most of it right. I'd like to see them let it go more, instead of the soft stuff, but without them we have no game.

Good luck to Mitchell (little Shane) on his career in umpiring.

ST...

[Go Legs]

The 25m penalty has gone beyond ridiculous. Buckets little 5 minute session in Round 1 testament to that. I don't condone players having a dig at umpires, but 5 25m penalties from the same ump against the same player got comical.
ST...

ST, I would suspect that the player should have shut up after the first penalty, but to get 4 more straight away, suggests he needs the derision, not the umpire.

On the rest of you subject I agree, has anyone noticed that the closest AFL umpire now is positioning themselves between the actual play and the centre, time and time again I witnessed a player looking to go back down the centre corridor only to have his vision blocked by the umpire???

Cheers

[gadj1976]

Most of the problem stems from the some unwritten selection criteria IMO.

A mate of mine decided he wanted to umpire, and became a goal umpire. I said to him, do you have a chance of making AFL. He said "no" and then told me because he was too old. He's about 33.

Field umpires aren't selected if they have good knowledge of the rules, it's about how far and fast they can run, what position they're in etc. And yep, that is definitely a positive, but I'd pick a guy who's played, who might not be able to cover the ground like a whippet in front of a 18yo kid who runs like the wind but has never played, and has to interpret rules they've never been on the 'other end' of.

So it looks like my mate mightn't make it, not on ability, but some weird criteria laid down by the fraternity of either the SANFL or AFL. I don't understand that mentality.

[Wedgie]

I think that the SANFL umpires watch to much AFL and try and copy what those umpires.

I wish they did, would be an improvement. Much less frees in AFL games I watch, more free flowying footy and not a plethora of those ridiculous 25 metre penalties.

[CK]

The interview in last Friday's Sportsbeat with Shane Harris answers some of these questions.

[topsywaldron]

I think that the SANFL umpires watch to much AFL and try and copy what those umpires.

I wish they did, would be an improvement.

You musn't have seen the Geelong Collingwood game then, another typically baffling display from the umpires.

[Wedgie]

I think that the SANFL umpires watch to much AFL and try and copy what those umpires.

I wish they did, would be an improvement.

You musn't have seen the Geelong Collingwood game then, another typically baffling display from the umpires.

I didn't, hardly watch FTA TV.

[twosheds]

the game is faster & they see less, get one of the field, the boundary umps have more time to see things as well, because they don't have to worry about positioning themselves so much.

"the game is faster" - this sounds like AFL media-speak for any perceived "issue' -how do they see less ?
Two field and four boundary umpires gives you six blokes with potential for disagreement, less consistency, six egos possibly looking to be massaged

Ive seen it trialled once and it resulted in more consistency and was the best display of SANFL umpiring Ive seen in the last 10 years. It results in more consistency as a person who can actually see what's happened can have input into just about every decision as opposed to the constant guessing there usually is in a game.

Cant see it myself but hey I'm old and cynical, I'll take your word for it though - I agree there is too much guessing but no matter what system you have the umpire should never guess, but they do.!

[PhilH]

With a little experience as a Gridiron official I guess I understand the need to have multiple views of things.

One issue in SANFL is that what the crowd near the play sees if often 180 degrees different than what the field umpire sees.

[hottie]

At Glenelg vs Sturt today,i always thought Richard Williams was the only umpire to be hated by all nine clubs supporters,but Tony Dey must be a chance of catching up,a Sturt supporter said he always dislikes Sturt and gives the opposition frees,15 minutes later a bay supporter was claiming the same happens to Glenelg.

[redandblack]

At Glenelg vs Sturt today,i always thought Richard Williams was the only umpire to be hated by all nine clubs supporters,but Tony Dey must be a chance of catching up,a Sturt supporter said he always dislikes Sturt and gives the opposition frees,15 minutes later a bay supporter was claiming the same happens to Glenelg.

I'm a well-known fan of Tony and I claim he hates Westies most of all

Any other bids

[Adelaide Hawk]

I think that the SANFL umpires watch to much AFL and try and copy what those umpires.

I think you are on the money there. I've lost count of how many times this season alone that everyone in the crowd has seen an obvious free kick, and the only three people who apparently missed it were the field umpires.

Like their AFL counterparts, the SANFL umpires now seem more intent on refereeing games rather than umpiring them .. full of interpretations, more worried about 25 metre penalties rather than just paying a free kick when they see one.

If someone pushes another player in the back, it's a free. Don't worry about what else may have been happening .. it's a free. Same goes for high tackles. If it's above the shoulders, it's a free. I think umpires themselves, or at least those instructing them have lost sight of the fact that an umpire's job is to pay free kicks according to the rule book.

They also need to clean up the advantage rule. Players have no freaking idea of when they can play on or not. We saw the ridiculous situation at Unley last week when a Norwood player was freed, the ball spilt loose to Phillips on the run, heading for a shot on goal. One umpire called advantage, another one blew the whistle for the free. Phillips stopped and looked back to see what the whistle was for, tackled .. holding the ball!! Lack of common sense. It was clear Phillips didn't know if he could play on or not, but they pinged him anyway.

I really think umpires (or at least some of them) lack appreciation for the predicament of the players. Remember umps, it's not about you.

[JK]

Was in the Port clubrooms a few hours after the game yesterday, and they replayed the 99 Grand Final ... Interestingly at 3/4 time they showed the stats and they had paid a total of 17 free kicks for the game.

I noticed it and spoke aloud to myself about it being how it should be and immediately the Port lads near me said spot on.

I know it was wet yesterday and that means bodies sliding in everywhere, but the ABC stats department made it more than 60 free kicks for the game, amazing how times change.

[philcas]

I Feel the instructions given at AFL level is the main culpret for the display of umpiring being poor at both AFL & domestic levels.
The constant holding the ball decsion against the player first to the ball has created the mind set of rewarding the player second to the ball . I thought SANFL last year from the few games i saw were alot more leaneant to the player first to the ball and it seemed it had to absolutely no question the player was making no attempt to dispose.I thought that they even seem to have made sure the tackle was legal/Correct (no push in the Back or over shoulder)These does not seem to come into account now which has come into SANFL now so holding the ball is the first option not the last.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can someone tell the NOBS incl AA OF AFL& SANFL that one of the basic fundamentals & one of the unwritten rules for the lifetime of the game is that the player going for the ball should be given every opportunity to play the ball & any doubt should be given to the player with the ball.

It does seem the commentators have started to mention something has to change with this interpretation. So i hope the light sw at afl house may have been found now& they only need to workout how to turn the bloody thing on.

CAS

[brown undies]

what a load of complete bullshit from eveyone. you all think you have the answers, too many umpires, not enough umpires, wrong side of contest, use ex-players (players dont know the F%$#n laws), games too quick, they it in for my team, too many 25m.

The fact is, if your players didnt f$%^ up so much, the umpire wouldnt be in a positon to blow his whistle... simple.

Leave it be as it has been for 100 years, enjoy the game for what it is.

or better

ring the SANFL (8268 2088) and register your name to become an umpire if you have the answers to making the world a better place!!

[Adelaide Hawk]

what a load of complete bullshit from eveyone. you all think you have the answers, too many umpires, not enough umpires, wrong side of contest, use ex-players (players dont know the F%$#n laws), games too quick, they it in for my team, too many 25m.

The fact is, if your players didnt f$%^ up so much, the umpire wouldnt be in a positon to blow his whistle... simple.

Leave it be as it has been for 100 years, enjoy the game for what it is.

or better

ring the SANFL (8268 2088) and register your name to become an umpire if you have the answers to making the world a better place!!

Richard Williams, is that you?

[stampy]

could be tony dey

[Pseudo]

could be tony dey

More likely it's Tony Dey's mum.