SA Footy

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/u ... 5856620927

Umpire backed as the big men's elbows fly

THE AFL has given the nod to a fiercely criticised free-kick paid against Sydney's Shane Mumford at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

A review of Round 4 matches has supported umpire Matthew Nicholls' call that contact by Mumford to North Melbourne opponent David Hale was illegal.

The decision to penalise Mumford for jostling before a ruck contest sparked howls of protest among commentators, including Tony Shaw - who classed it as one of the worst he had seen.

"That's not it, tell me that's not it," he said when the replay was shown.

"Please, now this umpire (Nicholls), I don't think he'll be umpiring for a fair while. I'm stunned."

But AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen yesterday confirmed the action was "prohibited contact" and backed Nicholls, who had a perfect view from 15m.

"We have given that decision a tick," Gieschen said.

"It was prohibited contact. It was at the lower end of the scale, but it was a free kick.

"You can't throw a forearm or elbow back into a player. It can incite confrontation. The players know they can't do it."

Mumford made light contact with his forearm or elbow to Hale's midriff midway through the first term of Saturday's clash at Etihad Stadium and Nicholls was quick to intervene, deeming there was enough force to warrant a free.

It looked a lineball decision, but the umpiring department supported the experienced Nicholls.

Sydney coach Paul Roos yesterday declined to comment.

But other Fox Sports commentators at the game and Monday night programs on Channel 9 and Channel 10 attacked the decision.

Fox's Gerard Healy called the incident "basic ruck work."

Gieschen cited an incident between Western Bulldogs defender Brian Lake and St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt in the 2009 preliminary final as another example of "prohibited contact".

Lake had a free paid against him for bumping into unsuspecting Riewoldt, costing the Bulldogs a goal.

I wish there was more decisions like this when I rucked.
The sad part about it is even with frees like this the AFL are handing out a lot less free kicks than they do at SANFL games which gives you an idea as to how badly the SANFL is travelling as a spectacle at the moment.

Are we going to see 140 free kicks given for this this weekend because that how many times we'll see it happen through all 8 games.

Voice wrote:Are we going to see 140 free kicks given for this this weekend because that how many times we'll see it happen through all 8 games.

Perhaps, it's on the cards if the AFL allows the umpires to continue to make these stupid, little decisions.

Wedgie wrote:I wish there was more decisions like this when I rucked.

I'm not sure what era you played Wedgie, but they never needed to give free kicks to ruckman when I played because they rarely made contact until the ball was in the air. These days they wrestle each other to the ground as the umpire is bouncing the ball, making for a very dull spectacle.

If anyone wants to know what drives me nuts about AFL footy, get a copy of tonight's St.Kilda v Port Adelaide game ... an absolute shocker, totally devoid of highlights.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

Wedgie wrote:I wish there was more decisions like this when I rucked.

I'm not sure what era you played Wedgie, but they never needed to give free kicks to ruckman when I played because they rarely made contact until the ball was in the air. These days they wrestle each other to the ground as the umpire is bouncing the ball, making for a very dull spectacle.

If anyone wants to know what drives me nuts about AFL footy, get a copy of tonight's St.Kilda v Port Adelaide game ... an absolute shocker, totally devoid of highlights.

Possibly one of the worst games I have seen this year, both teams are serving up crap, and are being directed to it by coaches who will do anything to hang onto their jobs, the AFL brand at the moment is utter crap, why people waste good money to watch what is being served up is beyond me, maybe its about time the crowds stayed away until 'their product' is better

prowling panther wrote:the AFL brand at the moment is utter crap, why people waste good money to watch what is being served up is beyond me, maybe its about time the crowds stayed away until 'their product' is better

Those of us who have watched football for many years understand it is crap these days, no question. However, a lot of today's footy fans are younger people, and other people who have only become interested in the past few years. They don't understand it's crap because they have nothing to compare it with, and they are sucked in by AFL propaganda telling them the game has never been better.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

prowling panther wrote:the AFL brand at the moment is utter crap, why people waste good money to watch what is being served up is beyond me, maybe its about time the crowds stayed away until 'their product' is better

Those of us who have watched football for many years understand it is crap these days, no question. However, a lot of today's footy fans are younger people, and other people who have only become interested in the past few years. They don't understand it's crap because they have nothing to compare it with, and they are sucked in by AFL propaganda telling them the game has never been better.

Thats exactly right AH, the dumb leading the gullible

dumb + gullible = $$$$$$$$$

Tonight was certainly the least enjoyable match I've attended. Absolutely tedious, error ridden, defensive minded garbage served up by 44 'professionals'. I took my GF along for her first AFL game in 3 or 4 years, and even she was wondering why neither side thought that having a CHF line (or even a centre line) when the ball was in the opposition 50 could be a good idea.

Agree on the comment regarding the younger generation attending AFL matches, and not having anything to compare the current standard too. I'm in my mid 20s so dont go back as far as some of you I guess, but the difference between the game now and just 8-10 years ago is immense as we all know. But I have a lot of mates you have only really taken an interest in the past 3 or 4 and years and they consider me a grumpy old man

The Giesch has to go at the end of the year. If he'd been done for that free kick last week back in his day, he would have been livid. On the topic of Umps, what is the point of having a rule (the Deliberate Rushed Behind rule), if it is not going to be enforced in the most blatant of circumstances? The non decision on Josh Carr with just minutes to go tonight summed up a laughable evening really.

Dont get me wrong, at its best nothing beats the game of Aussie Rules (the two St K v Geelong matches last year, even last week's game V Freo was memorable for the right reasons), but for every gem there is a lot of crud.

Yep, still pissed about tonight Sorry.

Dont worry about the AFL driving you nuts ,did anyone hear the Cornes/Rowe interview with Jeff Gieschen this arvo?...It was staggering.

Cornes rants regarding Porps mark last week then Gieschen explains the law or interpretation has not been changed in years....Cornes 100% wrong

Rowe asks why not 1 person has been pinged for the "2nd man in (tackler)dragging the ball into the player with the ball" law during the season when a dvd given to the media pre -season said it was a free.Gieschen replies that it only applied as a trial during the NAB cup and the DVD said as such.That explained why no-one has been pinged all year ....Rowe 100% wrong

Rowe asks why a player around a ruck contest takes on a tackler from 1m and the ball spills free and it is not deemed incorrect disposal.Says he sees it 20 times a week and it never gets paid. Gieshchen says that in that example (a scramble of players around a ruck contest a few feet apart) it is not deemed prior opportunity from such a short range ;so if the ball spills free via a non legitimate disposal it is play-on and you WOULD see that 20 times a game.....Rowe 100% wrong

Cornes then declares an interest and says Kane has been reviewed for "diving" or staging for free kicks twice this year. He then expresses shock that not 1 player has been" reported or penalised" all year for diving when there was meant to be an AFL clamp down.Gieschen then explains the umpires have no right to" report or penalise" for diving and never have.It is a match review panel responsibilty that was kept away from the game-day umpires by the AFL from day 1...Cornes 100% wrong
Laughable

that game last night bulldogs v saints is whats wrong with football today my god what a joke this great great game is turning in to

Terrible game yes. The Port/St K game all over again. Ironic that 5 minutes of attacking, risk taking and forward running footy was enough for St K to pinch it. The Doggies would be livid.

carey wrote:that game last night bulldogs v saints is whats wrong with football today my god what a joke this great great game is turning in to

Could not agree more. Will Demetriou come out and have a crack at ST K and their ultra defensive game style, like he did in 2005 when he got stuck into the swans? I doubt it very much.

carey wrote:that game last night bulldogs v saints is whats wrong with football today my god what a joke this great great game is turning in to

Yeah isn't wasn't the best advertisment for the game was it

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

Wedgie wrote:I wish there was more decisions like this when I rucked.

I'm not sure what era you played Wedgie, but they never needed to give free kicks to ruckman when I played because they rarely made contact until the ball was in the air.

When I rucked checkside rucking was still allowed at centre bounces, there was a lot more jostling prior to the bounce than there is now.

you can blame the 1979 VFL preliminary final for the way rucking is done today. The players didn't give an inch are were wrestling all the time. But since then knee injuries in ruckmen have gone up. Why because ruckmen regularly clash knees when trying to go for the ball.

Ian wrote: When I rucked checkside rucking was still allowed at centre bounces, there was a lot more jostling prior to the bounce than there is now.

You would have been the Mick Nolan (Galloping Gasometer) of ADL in your day big fella!