Are the AFL about to open a can of worms?

[Adelaide Hawk]

I see today that the AFL is reviewing, and seriously considering altering the official result of the St.Kilda v Fremantle draw on the weekend. Are they being serious? Do they understand the can of worms they would open should they elect to do this?

Sure, it appears Fremantle were robbed due to an umpiring error. But this isn't the first time a controversial umpiring decision determined the result of a match, and it certainly won't be the last. We've all seen many games where incorrect decisions were made in the dying seconds of a game. My club Hawthorn lost 2 matches in a row earlier this decade thanks to disgraceful goal umpiring decisions, we've even seen a VFL Grand Final decided by a boundary umpire's inability to keep up with the play. We saw a night GF in 1980 (I think) where play continued after the siren and the Kangaroos kicked a goal to defeat Collingwood.

Nothing was done about these results because we've always accepted the element of human error in football. Why is this being challenged? Are the AFL trying to tell us it is perfectly okay for umpires to make errors of vision, but if their ears fail them it is unacceptable?

I honestly feel should the AFL elect to overturn the result of this game, they would usher in an avenue for clubs to make all sorts of appeals that will reach ridiculous proportions for that high tackle that wasn't paid, or the ball that was touched on the line etc. We only have to see the number of appeals made in the tribunal system to know this would happen.

I can just imagine Eddie Maguire wanting to see the AFL in court over Chris Tarrant being held without the ball, costing Collingwood the game. The AFL are a bunch of clowns, now they want to turn football into a complete circus. The game is litigious enough, please leave it alone and teach us all to accept the laws of the game and the umpire's decision. After all, it's only a game.

[sydney-dog]

No one disagrees that Freo have been hard done by, but ulimately we need to keep the control of the game in the umpires hands....

Given that spineless Anderson has referred this to the AFL Commission, it seems more likely now that Freo will be given maximum points......

The AFL are just about to open a can of worms that we all may regret

[Punk Rooster]

I see today that the AFL is reviewing, and seriously considering altering the official result of the St.Kilda v Fremantle draw on the weekend. Are they being serious? Do they understand the can of worms they would open should they elect to do this?

Sure, it appears Fremantle were robbed due to an umpiring error. But this isn't the first time a controversial umpiring decision determined the result of a match, and it certainly won't be the last. We've all seen many games where incorrect decisions were made in the dying seconds of a game. My club Hawthorn lost 2 matches in a row earlier this decade thanks to disgraceful goal umpiring decisions, we've even seen a VFL Grand Final decided by a boundary umpire's inability to keep up with the play. We saw a night GF in 1980 (I think) where play continued after the siren and the Kangaroos kicked a goal to defeat Collingwood.

Nothing was done about these results because we've always accepted the element of human error in football. Why is this being challenged? Are the AFL trying to tell us it is perfectly okay for umpires to make errors of vision, but if their ears fail them it is unacceptable?

I honestly feel should the AFL elect to overturn the result of this game, they would usher in an avenue for clubs to make all sorts of appeals that will reach ridiculous proportions for that high tackle that wasn't paid, or the ball that was touched on the line etc. We only have to see the number of appeals made in the tribunal system to know this would happen.

I can just imagine Eddie Maguire wanting to see the AFL in court over Chris Tarrant being held without the ball, costing Collingwood the game. The AFL are a bunch of clowns, now they want to turn football into a complete circus. The game is litigious enough, please leave it alone and teach us all to accept the laws of the game and the umpire's decision. After all, it's only a game.

Your argument was made with some intelligence, until you resorted to throwing in the tired old "Eddie/Collingwood " bashing. Really, grow up- it's got nothing to do with Collingwood.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I see today that the AFL is reviewing, and seriously considering altering the official result of the St.Kilda v Fremantle draw on the weekend. Are they being serious? Do they understand the can of worms they would open should they elect to do this?

Sure, it appears Fremantle were robbed due to an umpiring error. But this isn't the first time a controversial umpiring decision determined the result of a match, and it certainly won't be the last. We've all seen many games where incorrect decisions were made in the dying seconds of a game. My club Hawthorn lost 2 matches in a row earlier this decade thanks to disgraceful goal umpiring decisions, we've even seen a VFL Grand Final decided by a boundary umpire's inability to keep up with the play. We saw a night GF in 1980 (I think) where play continued after the siren and the Kangaroos kicked a goal to defeat Collingwood.

Nothing was done about these results because we've always accepted the element of human error in football. Why is this being challenged? Are the AFL trying to tell us it is perfectly okay for umpires to make errors of vision, but if their ears fail them it is unacceptable?

I honestly feel should the AFL elect to overturn the result of this game, they would usher in an avenue for clubs to make all sorts of appeals that will reach ridiculous proportions for that high tackle that wasn't paid, or the ball that was touched on the line etc. We only have to see the number of appeals made in the tribunal system to know this would happen.

I can just imagine Eddie Maguire wanting to see the AFL in court over Chris Tarrant being held without the ball, costing Collingwood the game. The AFL are a bunch of clowns, now they want to turn football into a complete circus. The game is litigious enough, please leave it alone and teach us all to accept the laws of the game and the umpire's decision. After all, it's only a game.

Your argument was made with some intelligence, until you resorted to throwing in the tired old "Eddie/Collingwood " bashing. Really, grow up- it's got nothing to do with Collingwood.

I don't understand why you need to be so abusive, OR where my comments were "Eddie/Collingwood bashing". I could have used any administrator as an example, but for effect I used the highest profile club administrator in the land. I really take exception to being told to 'grow up'. Just exactly who do you think you are?