Umpire Richard Williams - 400 games

[cd]

Personal Post Only

Congratulations Richard.
Without a doubt STILL THE BEST UMPIRE IN THIS LEAGUE.

(having umpired across country SA for over 29 seasons I believe I can offer a fair judgement on umpires and I have no doubt Richard is our best - doesnt mean I always agree but 400 games says it all - a great effort!)

Col D

[Chambo100]

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

....or played it?

Can only say yes to part a)

But can anyone on here who attends games say they have never bagged umpires?
It isn't the general run of the decisions that riles people up, but when they umpire as if we come to see them.

That is when they influence the contest in a manner not in the spirit of the game.
..and it does nothing for the spectacle.

[MightyEagles]

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.

Well done, umpired well in the 1993 GF.
As for Rowston not having a League or Reserves game. Sometimes League umpires will umpire underage games, for example Williams umpired an U19s game that involved the Eagles.

[prowling panther]

Answer A, I,ve read the rule book

Answer B, I,ve umpired for 5 years, but not at SANFL level

I'm not the be all and end all, but I feel I have a good appreciation of the rules and interpretations

The main difference between umpiring and spectating is the spectator only sees from 1 position, the umpire has to always be moving, it is sometimes impossible to see what is happening because of obscured vision by other players.

Williams will always be a Dick!

[redden whites]

I,ve read the rule book

AM Bays to thread....AM Bays to thread

[am Bays]

I,ve read the rule book

AM Bays to thread....AM Bays to thread

One wonders if he's read the Law book - Laws of Australian Football....

[mighty_tiger_79]

williams on saturday made sure everyone knew he was the centre of attention

[dedja]

I'm sorry, I actually think it's quite funny how there's quite a bit of agro against not only Richard Williams, but a few other umpires.

I say good on him for umpiring for so long.

To be honest, I don't look up who's going to umpire and don't really care. I might not like a decision here or there but have never thought about it after the game. If they do a good job then I don't remember who umpired the match.

I went to listen to the huddle at lemon time at the Bay yesterday and I wonder how it makes people feel better to slag the guy in the centre square. Good on him for looking around and laughing about it.

I'm pretty sure they go out and call it how they see it without prejudice ... if they stick to that mantra and make a few mistakes along the way then I can live with that.

[mighty_tiger_79]

well DEDJA when an umpire tells ya that a decision that goes against your team doesnt matter cos of where we are on the ladder, then i feel that there are prejudices involved.

umpires have favourite players and less fav players its obvious, as well as teams

[dedja]

Mate, I just believe in not worrying about things you can't control ...

There's plenty of ifs and buts, maybes, could of and should of in a match from the blokes who play to dictate the result ... just my opinion though.

[mighty_tiger_79]

gotta blame someone though!!!!!!!!!!!

[dedja]

gotta blame someone though!!!!!!!!!!!

That's better ... I knew I'd get the answer out of you eventually.

[mighty_tiger_79]

gotta blame someone though!!!!!!!!!!!

That's better ... I knew I'd get the answer out of you eventually.

but umpires do have prejudices though as well

[Columbo]

Nice big write up about Richard in the paper today

[prowling panther]

he got more of a write up than the teams that actually played, figure that one out.

[Booney]

Well done, 400 games of playing is one thing, but 400 games of putting up with the crap umpires put up with is remarkable.

[Wedgie]

Well done, 400 games of playing is one thing, but 400 games of putting up with the crap umpires put up with is remarkable.

That's a good point, some of the umpiring Richard has had to put up with and not let it drag his standard down, Peter Williams comes to mind.

I constantly giggle at the people who have no idea about the game who criticise Richard (many North fans included) who has been clearly the best umpire in the last 15 years, Ive seen him have one bad game in that time, wish I could say the same about the footballers I go to watch every week.

Also a special mention to those who abuse him when he's umpiring at another ground, Ive seen it happen dozens of times.

[ElizabethVCRThief]

Well done, 400 games of playing is one thing, but 400 games of putting up with the crap umpires put up with is remarkable.

That's a good point, some of the umpiring Richard has had to put up with and not let it drag his standard down, Peter Williams comes to mind.

I constantly giggle at the people who have no idea about the game who criticise Richard (many North fans included) who has been clearly the best umpire in the last 15 years, Ive seen him have one bad game in that time, wish I could say the same about the footballers I go to watch every week.

Also a special mention to those who abuse him when he's umpiring at another ground, Ive seen it happen dozens of times.

Stating opinion as fact. Nice one.

[wycbloods]

Well done, 400 games of playing is one thing, but 400 games of putting up with the crap umpires put up with is remarkable.

That's a good point, some of the umpiring Richard has had to put up with and not let it drag his standard down, Peter Williams comes to mind.

I constantly giggle at the people who have no idea about the game who criticise Richard (many North fans included) who has been clearly the best umpire in the last 15 years, Ive seen him have one bad game in that time, wish I could say the same about the footballers I go to watch every week.

Also a special mention to those who abuse him when he's umpiring at another ground, Ive seen it happen dozens of times.

Wedgie did you ever ask Dean Howard his opinion of Richard Williams? He certainly wouldn't give him a glowing endorsement. If Williams let his umpiring alone do the talking then maybe i could agree and say he has been the best umpire IMO but knowing what he has said to numerous west players in the past i will reserve my judgement of him.

[Wedgie]

Well done, 400 games of playing is one thing, but 400 games of putting up with the crap umpires put up with is remarkable.

That's a good point, some of the umpiring Richard has had to put up with and not let it drag his standard down, Peter Williams comes to mind.

I constantly giggle at the people who have no idea about the game who criticise Richard (many North fans included) who has been clearly the best umpire in the last 15 years, Ive seen him have one bad game in that time, wish I could say the same about the footballers I go to watch every week.

Also a special mention to those who abuse him when he's umpiring at another ground, Ive seen it happen dozens of times.

Stating opinion as fact. Nice one.

Not just opinion, his Golden Whistles, GF appearances and selection over 400 games shows that the people who know how to judge an umpires performance (a lot more so than biased one eyed fans) also agree. Those accolades are fact.