SA Footy

Stunned
Bewildered
FFS
Another rule change

This wonderful game of ours is being tampered by a few egocentric AFL officials

Here we have it during the finals a bloody rule change
We now have 2 extra boundary umpires officiating in the finals
Thats right a change in a finals series [not used in the Minor round]

Not that I disagree with the extra umps, it will speed up the game
BUT
Why during finals ?

The slower older ruckmen are at a disadvantage ?
The game speeds up suiting some teams not others ?
Coaches now having to change game plans ?

Why oh why could'nt they wait until the start of 2009 for the extra boundary umpires

Sorry Mal I hadn't even noticed the extra boundary umpires

Has something specifically happened or is it the principle of it?

I really don't think a couple of extra boundary umpires will have much bearing on the result of the games ... although Collingwood supporters would have liked extra boundary umps in the 1979 GF

I agree with you AH, but I also agree with the point of principle I think Mal's trying to make ... Personally I think 4 boundary umps is a great idea, but I would have thought the playing field in terms of rules and officiators should be identical for an entire season, although they've already changed the rules part way through the year once already, so whats another one lol

hondo71 wrote:Sorry Mal I hadn't even noticed the extra boundary umpires

Has something specifically happened or is it the principle of it?

It may not have made a scarp of difference to the results
But it may have altered the pattern of the games
Lets face it the ball is retrieved and thrown in quicker in theory
That must alter the pattern of play by definition

But PRINCIPLE is my gripe
What gives a mob the right to change rules so late in the season

It's not a rule change Mal, just an extra couple of boundary umpires.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:It's not a rule change Mal, just an extra couple of boundary umpires.

Its a defacto rule

The extra boundary umpires came in for round 21, and were used in all eight games over the last two rounds of the minor round in round 21 and 22. they have since been used for all finals.
The clubs were all told after the Hall of Fame game, in May, that it would apply for the last two rounds and the finals, to try and cut down any errors for ball being in / out.
the media was also told in May, but most people simply didn't notice until the last week or two, as the journos didn't seem to think it was important enough to tell people, albeit that the clubs felt it was appropriate that they get three months notice.

And a tribute to the change is that seemingly hardly anyone has noticed the change. I would imagine it would be a welcome one to the boundary umpires. How they've managed to sprint up and down that line for an entire match amazes me. Even footballers get to rotate off the bench for a rest.

Spider Everitt noticed the change. He couldn't keep up and missed multiple boundary throw ins as a result.

So the life of a ruckman is further shortened.

Must admit I didn't notice the change until I sat near the top of the Olympic stand last night, the night before when I was on the premium tier I didn't notice it, BUT I did notice the night before how there was 2 or 3 times when there was no (or 1) ruckman at contest but I didn't put 1 and 1 together at the time.
I think its great and should have been in earlier.
Well done to the AFL!

smac wrote:Spider Everitt noticed the change. He couldn't keep up and missed multiple boundary throw ins as a result.

So the life of a ruckman is further shortened.

That could be a good thing. All ruckmen do these days is wrestle each other to the ground anyway. What's the point?

Does anyone see the point of it all
Clubs spend pre-season drafting players for specificness
If SS were aware of this rule change after the drafts were concluded would they have perhaps given Spida Everitt the bullett ?
Would any club with dinosourish ruckmen perhaps look for alternatives in thier ruckers ?

It would have been nice to tell the clubs pre-draft of this occurence
Its too late to re-structure your ruck divisions so late in a season
Its simply not fair and square
Piss poor in my opinion by some glory seeking AwFuL officialites

Adelaide Hawk wrote:I really don't think a couple of extra boundary umpires will have much bearing on the result of the games ... although Collingwood supporters would have liked extra boundary umps in the 1979 GF

The extra ump just would've confirmed the ball was in.....

Wakey Wakey Lads................old news

SJABC wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:I really don't think a couple of extra boundary umpires will have much bearing on the result of the games ... although Collingwood supporters would have liked extra boundary umps in the 1979 GF

The extra ump just would've confirmed the ball was in.....

At least TRY to be serious. Even Wayne Harmes won't deny it was a bad decision.