Umpiring 2008

[Punk Rooster]

I started watching the game between Essendon & St Kilda friday night, but turned off after being astounded by the umpiring performance.
I swear these guys think they are the 3rd team involved in the game itself, they certainly know how to impose themselves on the game & make themselves important.
I long for the day when umpires don't involve themselves in the game, & just stick to paying obvious frees.
Or better still, make it a carreer path for those footballers who get cut from an AFL list as say 22-25, offering them incentives to make the choice, & having a talent pool of umpires who'v actually played the game at the highest level.
The buck must also stop with the AFL themselves, as through the Rules Committee, they enforce their will on the collective umpiring group.
Don't over-officiate footy!

[mighty_tiger_79]

PUNK you would also be pleased to see the umpires have a team song that they want to be played every time they go out at the start of the match.

[Punk Rooster]

PUNK you would also be pleased to see the umpires have a team song that they want to be played every time they go out at the start of the match.

3 Blind Mice?

[Ian]

Couldn't agree more about Friday nights game, it was very over umpired. It's about time they realised that they are there to ensure that the game flows, and is played within the spirit/intention of the laws. They are not there to be a spectacle in their own right.

[SCD]

Under 8's need every single little free kick picked up - so everyone gets a kick and a catch hopefully.

Under 14's - 16's you sometimes need to over-officiate when things get heated, just to calm the kids down a bit

Seniors / SANFL / AFL - only obvious frees should be paid and the game should be allowed to run, so the best team wins and people enjoy the game more....

It's obvious that a number of AFL umpires are more interested in getting their face on TV then doing a good job

[locky801]

Been the same for the last few years, they try and be the third team on the Park and I cannot see it changing

[Dog_ger]

The Umps are always right...!

[Dog_ger]

When you hear that whistle...

It means "MAN UP"

It doesn't mean "STOP"

Never look the UMP in the eye.....

Always look at his shoes and "BE HUMBLE."

Your team depends on this....

How the umpire sees your attitude could have that 1 point bearing on the game....

Or that free kick, 50.5 metres out from goal after the final siren .....

[Mr66]

Don't blame the umps, blame the a-holes who keep changing the rules ie Demetriou & Anderson.

[Punk Rooster]

Don't blame the umps, blame the a-holes who keep changing the rules ie Demetriou & Anderson.

The buck must also stop with the AFL themselves, as through the Rules Committee, they enforce their will on the collective umpiring group.

[bayman]

Don't blame the umps, blame the a-holes who keep changing the rules ie Demetriou & Anderson.

whatabout bartlett & his cronies ? i believe they change rules/interpretations just to justify their positions

I SAY LEAVE THE GAME ALONE, although it doesn't worry me anymore as i've given up on the bfl (ballet` football league) altogether infact i didn't even renew my football park membership as the sanatised game & over zealous umpiring leaves me cold & boooooooorrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeddddddd & i know they'll tell us more & more are watching it well not me

[Mr66]

whatabout bartlett & his cronies ? i believe they change rules/interpretations just to justify their positions

Spot on Bayman, but the buck stops with Dumbmetriou (who coined this? Brilliant!)
and his shyte-eating comedy relief.

[westozfalcon]

AFL umpires strut out onto the ground like a group of performing seals at the start of every game…wired for sound to ensure nobody forgets they are there.

Something that’s always irritated me is the way they talk too much to the players, calling them by their nicknames, barking out instructions and even encouragement. It’s disrespectful.

Too often they try to CONTROL the game rather than UMPIRE it.

They tend to forget that people come to the game to watch the players, not them!

[stampy]

UMPIRING 2008? like previous years absolute shite to be dished up by the magots - that was obvious watching the first quarter of the crows v collingwood, i just cant believe that we are dished up their inept crap year in year out

[bayman]

UMPIRING 2008? like previous years absolute shite to be dished up by the magots - that was obvious watching the first quarter of the crows v collingwood, i just cant believe that we are dished up their inept crap year in year out

in the umpires defence they are only doing what they are told to do & i recall that an umpire told a player last year that 'i know it's soft but we have to pay them' i can't remember which player,club etc it was now

[Punk Rooster]

Exhibit B-
Last quarter Coll v Bris

Exhibit C-
Carlton v St K
Clarke (STK) rides a Carlton player to the ground, who'd barely come into possession of the ball- holding the ball.
F**king ridiculous.

[FlyingHigh]

Yep, from what I've seen, hasn't got any better this year.

Is Gerard Healy still on the rules committee? Makes me sick how he tries to justify the rules during his commentary.

How about McVeigh for Essendon last Monday - shouted a forceful, frustrated "HOW" at an ump, and got 50 against him.

And there's talk that we need umpires to be full-time professionals. What a joke. What we need is, rather than accountants and lawyers doing it for fitness and $$'s, are red-blooded, down-to-earth wharfies, brickies etc who can take a bit and give a bit back, like the old time umps.