Umpire Richard Williams - 400 games

[Big Phil]

I know we all don't like the umpires and Dickie is certainly a crowd favourite to get stuck in to (even when he isn't there) ibut t should be acknowledged, like Tim Pfieffer earlier in the year, that Richard tomorrow officiates in his 400th league game down at the Bay.

He made his debut in league ranks back in 1990 and had a brief stint in the AFL but it is a good effort of umpire that many games and should be acknowledged for his efforts.

Well done Dickie...

As an interesting side note, I got my Budget early tonight when in town and noticed that after a pretty average game officiating last week, fan favourite Colin Rowston isn't down for any games this week, not even in the reserves. I assume he will be at the Bay with his Glenelg supporting family cheering on the Tigers.

[Thiele]

Congrats Dickie.

[Columbo]

Well Done Richard, along with Tim Pfieffer probably the best two in the league and probably both in their last season.

Certainaly attracts the attention of the fans like you said Phil even when he isnt to blame, had to laugh at a guy in the stand at Unley a couple of weeks ago...he was going off at a decision and ended his abuse with something along the lines of "open your eyes Williams"...if only he had done the same he would have noticed Richard standing about 100M away at the opposite end of the ground!

As for Mr Rowston....would appear he has been "Rotated"...but to who knows where?? Maybe he is just the scapegoat for the interesting decision making in last weekends game.

[harley d]

Obviously shows a lack of depth in the SANFL umpiring ranks.

[prowling panther]

We have to agree with you Phil, 400 games is a terrific acheivement for any person.

I hope that this is his last season, I watched him last week and the pace of the game has surely taken whatever speed he has left in him, right out of him, he is afraid to make the correct decesions and waits for the crowd or the players to make a call for him then goes in their favour, no wonder the opposition fans dont like him, and cant work out which rule book he is working from each week, have you ever taken any notice of his ball ups, he has this little wobbly throw up that hardly reaches 10ft high, it gives the ruck from each side no chance of competeing evenly for the ball, the players hate it when he has a ball up, yet nothing has been done about it over the last 5 years or more since the umpires have been allowed to throw the ball up.

To be perfectly honest, he is very lucky to have so many games under his belt, and should have given it away when he got dropped from the AFL panel, because he has not improved since then.

[harley d]

You are right he is afraid to make a correct decision. !!!!

[stampy]

about 399 too many, any magot who gets disrupted by supporters and acknowledges it aint worth his salt imho, his displays in the 94 and 95 gf when his bias towards port was blatantly obvious was diabolical and will from a neutral always supporter stick in my craw

[eaglehaslanded]

400 games is a fantastic effort - but it won't stop me despising the little white so and so.

[am Bays]

Whilst I think he isn't umpiring as well as he normally does he is still one of our better umpires and up until this year eaily our best and most consistant umpire.

[Rucciangelo]

Break a leg Ritchie...do us all a favour!

[Tassie Blues]

400 gee hope he starts getting it right soon

[Pseudo]

Well his 400th was not one to remember. Not one of the three umpires looked up to the task at Brighton Road today. Called some right, called as many wrongly, and failed to make a call on as many again. No bias, it went both ways, was simply arbitrary and inconsistent.

[stampy]

arbitary? kiss method is required on this site psuedo

[ElizabethVCRThief]

This guy is a stain on our great league and the sooner he's gone the better.

[Groucho]

400 games too many, time to RETIRE.

No better at his day job, when running a Supermarket you think it would be a given to keep the freezer running.

Great combination today, Williams & Dey all we needed was Rowston to complete the set.

[Chambo100]

So he doesn't just influence the outcome of Blues games?

Dicky knows we pay our 10 bucks to watch him. Shirt tucked in, wrist bands straight, hair impeccable, socks up. If this isn't so, why would he umpire the way he does?

400 games is a long career for being indulged to influence contests.
I guess we can all sit back and consider whether the influence has been fair or otherwise.

[phantom57]

Maybe time to pursue a career as a Harris Scarfe catalogue model?????

[am Bays]

I wonder how many on here criticising Williams have a) actually read the laws of Australian football and b) umpired the game??

[JAS]

Hear, hear am Bays...congratulations to him on reaching a milestone.

The comments probably say more about the baggers than the bagged...the thread is supposed to be recognising a specific achievment...if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all...you'll have plenty of chances to do your bagging on the post game threads.

Regards
JAS

[Brucetiki]

Maybe time to pursue a career as a Harris Scarfe catalogue model?????

or Elvis impersonator