locky801 wrote:Umpires get blamed for everything, it's a reality,
supporters very rarely acknowledge their side was not on song on the day, although a few Centrals fans have stated that their side wasn't up to scratch today, everyone picked North to be flogged today, they weren't guess that was the umpires fault

I think you'll be struggling to find any Centrals supporters that thought their side played well.
Umpires just call the game as they see it. This whole idea that they are biased against one side or another is just bollocks. If anyone wants to prove themselves an idiot with no idea, just say how they umpires always favour someone. Or better yet try to say a certain umpire "hates us". Sure there are mistakes. Maybe today they did make a few. Maybe a few of those mistakes went in North's favour. Certainly there were times I didn't think I saw something that was worth a free kick. But guess what? I don't see everything. Nobody does.
Overall, Centrals played well early, then just got themselves into a horrible mess. Alleway first the first time ever against Centrals managed to be more than a total waste of space. And he was really very good. Managed to get some space early, took toll, and went from strength to strength with the confidence he gained. Hardy wasn't able to slow him down after Sibenaler's ordinary start got him going and it took Obst to just put him off his game a little in the last, which probably saved us from him kicking 10 and winning the game. A bunch of our on ballers were well down. Thomas and Boyd in particular. But I thought Sutherland was superb in the ruck. The way he gets involved around the ground is amazing for such a big bloke. Probably the best tackler as a ruckman we've seen in years too. Barmby was good in defense, Sansbury continued his good run of form, Spurr was excellent. Thought Symes dropped in and out of the game a little. His best is magnificent, while his worst is awful. Gowans and Havelberg didn't dominate but had class all over what they did.
Most importantly, another 2 points. These games where we bank points without playing well just make such a difference to how you can approach things as the season progresses. For North though a massively dissapointing loss. The game was probably more important to North than it was to Centrals. North with their season on the line, fresh off a light training run last week where they could choose to rest anyone they wanted and in the game right to the end. May not over and the season is basically already shot. I don't think they'll win the spoon, but finals are a long, long way off now.