Umpire Cards - $50 well spent?

[gadj1976]

Personally I think it's THE most stupid thing ever done by the AFL. If the AFL are looking to increase the umpires profiles, then I would fear personal retribution outside the playing arena from some loony hell bent on revenge (even though we know this shouldn't happen, it could!).

Question - does any other sport put their officialdom on a pedestal like we try to in the AFL?

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Ump cards 'stupid' - Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett

Rebecca Williams | June 16, 2009 10:27pm
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JEFF Kennett has already been fined $5000 for comments about umpires this season, but that hasn't stopped him taking aim again.

The Hawthorn president yesterday ridiculed the decision of the AFL Umpires' Association to release a set of umpire collector cards.

Kennett said the collector cards showed the umpires did not understand their position in the game.

Kennett's latest umpire lashing comes after he was fined $5000 by the AFL six weeks ago for saying the officials were "almost bigger than the game".

He chose the fine rather than attend umpiring school.

Despite the fine, Kennett did not hold back.

"I think the move by the umpires' association to put out cards with umpires and boundary umpires on it is the height of stupidity," Kennett told SEN radio.

"Umpires are not the reason people go to watch a game of football. They are there to adjudicate efficiently and quietly, and I'm afraid and fear these cards are going to be the best non-sellers of the year.

"It's a failure of appreciation by those who are trying to manage their affairs that umpires are not and should not be the focus of the game, and I think it will be embarrassing when so few people purchase them. Why would you do it?"

Kennett appears safe from sanction, with AFL spokesman Patrick Keane saying the former Victorian premier's latest outburst was not an issue for the league.

"The decision to introduce the umpires cards is not an AFL one, it's an AFL Umpires' Association decision," Keane said.

"So if Jeff's critical of it, it's a matter for the umpires' association as to whether they agree or disagree.

"We have no role in it."

AFLUA chief executive Bill Deller did not want to honour Kennett's comments with a response.

"I would not be bothered even commenting on that," Deller said yesterday.

The AFLUA has released a series of 72 cards featuring field, goal and boundary umpires in match-day action shots.

The set, available through the AFLUA website, costs $50.

[Dog_ger]

Set to become an investment item....

Buy the full set...

The entire World is looking now...

[rod_rooster]

Quite remarkable that the umpires association has put out cards. Honestly who the f*ck do they think would spend $50 for umpire cards?

[gadj1976]

Quite remarkable that the umpires association has put out cards. Honestly who the f*ck do they think would spend $50 for umpire cards?

themselves? their kids/family - only as a joke though.

[dedja]

LOL, thats really funny ... I wonder how many they've printed the dicks.

This should be in the SANFL History Forum, but while we're talking about umpires, who remembers Vin Camporeale (I believe he's Scott's Dad) the SANFL boundary umpire? He was a legend and even had his own supporters who'd turn up to matches ... IIRC they even had banners for him.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I'm no umpire basher by any means, I realise it's a tough and necessary job they do. However, I really do wish they would understand their place in football in the eyes of the general supporter. We don't know them, don't want to know them. All we ask is they do their jobs so well we don't even know they are out there.

The AFL amaze me in that they do everything possible to draw attention to umpires .. numbers, cards, microphones, etc, and then they get upset when people criticize them.

[FlyingHigh]

Kennett appears safe from sanction, with AFL spokesman Patrick Keane saying the former Victorian premier's latest outburst was not an issue for the league.

"The decision to introduce the umpires cards is not an AFL one, it's an AFL Umpires' Association decision," Keane said.

"So if Jeff's critical of it, it's a matter for the umpires' association as to whether they agree or disagree.

"We have no role in it."

So such cards are not an issue for the AFL, even though everything else has to be specifically licensed by the AFL? ie the "Official Burger", the beer that can and can't be served at Footy Park.
Surely the AFL umpires operate under the banner of the AFL.
Typical AFL wanting to distance themselves from anything for which they might even be mildly questioned.

[Barto]

I used to think there was a possibility that the umpires werent really big noting themselves and trying to be part of the match focus, that people were saying that just as another reason to abuse them.

I was wrong.

[JK]

LMFAO

[dedja]

for those that are keen, here's the order form ... http://www.aflua.com.au/pdf/AFLUA%20Col ... 202008.pdf

even better, here's the umpire's theme song lyrics ... http://www.aflua.com.au/pdf/The%20Umpir ... 20Song.pdf

Jeez, I feel like doing a Gra Gra crow call

[Leaping Lindner]

Kennett said the collector cards showed the umpires did not understand their position in the game.

Neither it seems do some Club Presidents.

[nuggety goodness]

for those that are keen, here's the order form ... http://www.aflua.com.au/pdf/AFLUA%20Col ... 202008.pdf

even better, here's the umpire's theme song lyrics ... http://www.aflua.com.au/pdf/The%20Umpir ... 20Song.pdf

Jeez, I feel like doing a Gra Gra crow call

so do they sing the song when they set a PB in the amount of times they blow their whistle? or how many times they are Booed by the crowd?

next thing they'll stop on the boundary after the game to sign kids yellow/red/orange shirts...

absolute waste of money.

[Dogwatcher]

So, if I buy these umpires cards, I might be able to do a trade of say......Richard Williams for Brian Sheehan?

[westozfalcon]

Kennett appears safe from sanction, with AFL spokesman Patrick Keane saying the former Victorian premier's latest outburst was not an issue for the league.

"The decision to introduce the umpires cards is not an AFL one, it's an AFL Umpires' Association decision," Keane said.

"So if Jeff's critical of it, it's a matter for the umpires' association as to whether they agree or disagree.

"We have no role in it."

So such cards are not an issue for the AFL, even though everything else has to be specifically licensed by the AFL? ie the "Official Burger", the beer that can and can't be served at Footy Park.
Surely the AFL umpires operate under the banner of the AFL.
Typical AFL wanting to distance themselves from anything for which they might even be mildly questioned.

Exactly.

There's no way these cards would have been produced unless the AFL itself had ratified it.

[NFC]

Cmon guys, I bought a pack of these cards today.









































What a joke this is. Maybe it's some kind of plan. Whoever buys them is surely mentally unstable?

[saintal]

Funniest thing I've read in a while

[Squawk]

I can think of one benefit - depending on the action shot used, you might actually get a closer look at some of the female goal umpires.

Next we'll have AFL journo cards featuring Caro, Hutchy, Rucci, etc. In fact, why don't they just put out journo mugs on a dart board - they might just sell a few!

[Adelaide Hawk]

Next we'll have AFL journo cards featuring Caro, Hutchy, Rucci, etc. In fact, why don't they just put out journo mugs on a dart board - they might just sell a few!

Shhhh!!! Don't give them ideas. Journos already think they are more important than the game itself. If they DO issue journo cards for the dart board, put little sacks of red paint behind them for extra effect.

[dedja]

Next we'll have AFL journo cards featuring Caro, Hutchy, Rucci, etc. In fact, why don't they just put out journo mugs on a dart board - they might just sell a few!

Shhhh!!! Don't give them ideas. Journos already think they are more important than the game itself. If they DO issue journo cards for the dart board, put little sacks of red paint behind them for extra effect.

How about effigies so that we can throw mud at them? ... just a thought

[wycbloods]

Very funny. Umps need to learn where they sit in their roles as an umpire and it aint of footy cards .