AFL can get Stuffed

[jackpot jim]

Went to the match at Tio stadium tonight in Darwin and everything was fine until i saw umpire Scott McClaren step onto the field and i immediately had grave concerns for my nights entertainment. And yes, with in 2 seconds of the opening bounce, there he was blowing his whistle and barking instructions and handing out a free kick for a ruck infringement. The rest of the opening qtr was just a joke as all the umpires were whistle happy and simply looking for free kicks to pay at every opportunity. the problem was that some of the frees just simply wernt there and then obvious ones were let go. Yeah Yeah, i know, we've heard it all before, BUT the viewing pleasure for the public is simply being eroded either by these blokes that have no feel for the game and no idea how to interpret the rules OR maybe they are just umpiring to instructions. The thing is that the GAME is for the players & spectators and both are just fed up with the way the game has evolved into state where no one seems to know what you can and cant do.
Anyway i think i've made my point and as a Paying customer i've come to the conclusion that i've finally had a gutfull of putting up with this crap and have NO intentions of paying good money to watch this rubbish anymore.
Just for the record, would anyone know how many frees were paid in the 1st term, it'd have to be close to some kind of record i would've thought.

[bloods08]

Went to the match at Tio stadium tonight in Darwin and everything was fine until i saw umpire Scott McClaren step onto the field and i immediately had grave concerns for my nights entertainment. And yes, with in 2 seconds of the opening bounce, there he was blowing his whistle and barking instructions and handing out a free kick for a ruck infringement. The rest of the opening qtr was just a joke as all the umpires were whistle happy and simply looking for free kicks to pay at every opportunity. the problem was that some of the frees just simply wernt there and then obvious ones were let go. Yeah Yeah, i know, we've heard it all before, BUT the viewing pleasure for the public is simply being eroded either by these blokes that have no feel for the game and no idea how to interpret the rules OR maybe they are just umpiring to instructions. The thing is that the GAME is for the players & spectators and both are just fed up with the way the game has evolved into state where no one seems to know what you can and cant do.
Anyway i think i've made my point and as a Paying customer i've come to the conclusion that i've finally had a gutfull of putting up with this crap and have NO intentions of paying good money to watch this rubbish anymore.
Just for the record, would anyone know how many frees were paid in the 1st term, it'd have to be close to some kind of record i would've thought.

I honestly didn't think the umpiring was that bad at all tonight.

[brod]

Went to the match at Tio stadium tonight in Darwin and everything was fine until i saw umpire Scott McClaren step onto the field and i immediately had grave concerns for my nights entertainment. And yes, with in 2 seconds of the opening bounce, there he was blowing his whistle and barking instructions and handing out a free kick for a ruck infringement. The rest of the opening qtr was just a joke as all the umpires were whistle happy and simply looking for free kicks to pay at every opportunity. the problem was that some of the frees just simply wernt there and then obvious ones were let go. Yeah Yeah, i know, we've heard it all before, BUT the viewing pleasure for the public is simply being eroded either by these blokes that have no feel for the game and no idea how to interpret the rules OR maybe they are just umpiring to instructions. The thing is that the GAME is for the players & spectators and both are just fed up with the way the game has evolved into state where no one seems to know what you can and cant do.
Anyway i think i've made my point and as a Paying customer i've come to the conclusion that i've finally had a gutfull of putting up with this crap and have NO intentions of paying good money to watch this rubbish anymore.
Just for the record, would anyone know how many frees were paid in the 1st term, it'd have to be close to some kind of record i would've thought.

Having lived in Darwin though..you know that you will JUMP at ANY chance to see high quality sport (AFL, NBL or cricket)

[prowling panther]

[/quote]I honestly didn't think the umpiring was that bad at all tonight.[/quote]

I dont follow either team, but probably lean a tad toward the Power, only because South players are in their team, I have to agree with JJ, the umpiring this season had been bloody terrible, I do think it is slightly biased towards the Victorian teams, and just knowing we are going to see McLaren bring the other umpires down to his level, is very off putting to say the least. Maybe the other two made the whole umpiring to look not that bad.

[FlyingHigh]

Last week was meant to be "Umpires Appreciation Round".
Fair enough, some people seem to go to the footy to just criticise the umpires, and the umpires deserve more respect than this.
BUT, if the AFL want us to respect the umpires, why don't those that run the game put in place rules that the footy supporters want to see and instinctively know how the game should be played.
The rules committee is just there for its own importance. How many of the rule changes going back to the mid-90's when they changed the time-off for out of bounds, have actually enhanced the game? Compare this to cricket, where there have probably been three major rule changes over the past 40 years, one to the games benefit, one so-so, and one rescinded as soon as they realised the mistake. Otherwise, despite the bagging some ex-players give them, the cricket administrators seem to let the game evolve as a game by itself.
This week will be all about Barry Hall. Sure, the headlock wasn't good. But compare the instances where players get right into his face (Mitchell in that 3 50's in a row last year, four Collingwood players going at him when the ball is no where near him in Round 1, several North Melbourne players lining up at him as he was dragged yesterday). In these instances, the players have no reason to go near him and aren't "in the contest" and he's meant to put up with that crap, yet if you're "not in the contest" and instinctively lightly grab a players guernsey after he marks, it's fifty metre penalty.
So, i agree, the AFL can get stuffed, but I don't solely blame the umpires.

[overloaded]

I agree totally over umpired. Its getting pathetic.

Whos playing in the NRL today?

[Rik E Boy]

Went to the match at Tio stadium tonight in Darwin and everything was fine until i saw umpire Scott McClaren step onto the field and i immediately had grave concerns for my nights entertainment. And yes, with in 2 seconds of the opening bounce, there he was blowing his whistle and barking instructions and handing out a free kick for a ruck infringement. The rest of the opening qtr was just a joke as all the umpires were whistle happy and simply looking for free kicks to pay at every opportunity. the problem was that some of the frees just simply wernt there and then obvious ones were let go. Yeah Yeah, i know, we've heard it all before, BUT the viewing pleasure for the public is simply being eroded either by these blokes that have no feel for the game and no idea how to interpret the rules OR maybe they are just umpiring to instructions. The thing is that the GAME is for the players & spectators and both are just fed up with the way the game has evolved into state where no one seems to know what you can and cant do.
Anyway i think i've made my point and as a Paying customer i've come to the conclusion that i've finally had a gutfull of putting up with this crap and have NO intentions of paying good money to watch this rubbish anymore.
Just for the record, would anyone know how many frees were paid in the 1st term, it'd have to be close to some kind of record i would've thought.

What a rant. That was a great game of Football.

regards,

REB

[AFLflyer]

Went to the match at Tio stadium tonight in Darwin and everything was fine until i saw umpire Scott McClaren step onto the field and i immediately had grave concerns for my nights entertainment. And yes, with in 2 seconds of the opening bounce, there he was blowing his whistle and barking instructions and handing out a free kick for a ruck infringement. The rest of the opening qtr was just a joke as all the umpires were whistle happy and simply looking for free kicks to pay at every opportunity. the problem was that some of the frees just simply wernt there and then obvious ones were let go. Yeah Yeah, i know, we've heard it all before, BUT the viewing pleasure for the public is simply being eroded either by these blokes that have no feel for the game and no idea how to interpret the rules OR maybe they are just umpiring to instructions. The thing is that the GAME is for the players & spectators and both are just fed up with the way the game has evolved into state where no one seems to know what you can and cant do.
Anyway i think i've made my point and as a Paying customer i've come to the conclusion that i've finally had a gutfull of putting up with this crap and have NO intentions of paying good money to watch this rubbish anymore.
Just for the record, would anyone know how many frees were paid in the 1st term, it'd have to be close to some kind of record i would've thought.

i have read this forum for about 3 years, congratulations this the poorest post i have had the displeasure in reading! mate, the umpiring is never going to be perfect, just concentrate on the footy and you will add years to your life. The last quarter was great and looks like you missed it, no one to blame but yourself. Don't blame maclaren, or the AFl your responsible for your own actions and reactions.