Holding the ball

[gadj1976]

I don't know about anyone else but I can't work out the holding the ball decisions. Not that I can't work out why they are being paid, or not paid, but if the AFL are serious about slowing the game down by limiting interchange, then why keep persisting with this ludicrous holding the ball.

The reason to bring the rule in initially was to speed the game up so that body on body clashes didn't exist. Now with the change in ideaology of slowing the game down, aren't we better off with ball ups rather than this stupid pinging people for gaining possession and being tackled? I spose as a secondary point, isn't that against everything we know about the game, in that you wait for someone to gain possession and then tackle them to gain the free? Even the commentators seem to be dispondent at some of the decisions.

[brod]

My guess is that youve been watching some of the Hawks-Carlton game, some really poor decisions in the first half. The "shepard" paid against Williams has me still shaking my head.

[BUZZ]

I don't know about anyone else but I can't work out the holding the ball decisions. Not that I can't work out why they are being paid, or not paid, but if the AFL are serious about slowing the game down by limiting interchange, then why keep persisting with this ludicrous holding the ball.

The reason to bring the rule in initially was to speed the game up so that body on body clashes didn't exist. Now with the change in ideaology of slowing the game down, aren't we better off with ball ups rather than this stupid pinging people for gaining possession and being tackled? I spose as a secondary point, isn't that against everything we know about the game, in that you wait for someone to gain possession and then tackle them to gain the free? Even the commentators seem to be dispondent at some of the decisions.

I was at Alberton last night to watch the Maggies internal, the umpires were told not to pay any HTB decisions, the game was extreemly quicker and it was amazing to see how many numbers get to the ball in play when a tackle is laid. Better footy i rekon.

[gadj1976]

I have been watching the Hawks game, but this is a comment in general. I just cannot watch the AFL any more, it's so frustrating as a spectator and ex player of Aussie rules to second guess what's going on and also have to accept that gaining possession means you're likely to get pinged.

I'm a Carlton supporter but Campbell Brown should not get reported. I think it was Sam Mitchell should definitely NOT have been pinged holding the ball. What's going on in our game?!

[gadj1976]

I don't know about anyone else but I can't work out the holding the ball decisions. Not that I can't work out why they are being paid, or not paid, but if the AFL are serious about slowing the game down by limiting interchange, then why keep persisting with this ludicrous holding the ball.

The reason to bring the rule in initially was to speed the game up so that body on body clashes didn't exist. Now with the change in ideaology of slowing the game down, aren't we better off with ball ups rather than this stupid pinging people for gaining possession and being tackled? I spose as a secondary point, isn't that against everything we know about the game, in that you wait for someone to gain possession and then tackle them to gain the free? Even the commentators seem to be dispondent at some of the decisions.

I was at Alberton last night to watch the Maggies internal, the umpires were told not to pay any HTB decisions, the game was extreemly quicker and it was amazing to see how many numbers get to the ball in play when a tackle is laid. Better footy i rekon.

Hmm, two thoughts. One, if they let it go, that's good for the game. Two, if they balled it up for a stalemate, it would slow the game down (either way, it's good for the game!) Paying holding the ball just straight out annoys me when the idea of the game is to get it in the first place.

[MightyEagles]

No one can understand the umpires with the holding the ball. They change the rules every 30 minutes. It's one rule for one team, then when the exact same thing happens at the other end to the other team, it's a different rule altogether.

[Rik E Boy]

I thought the other extreme was in vogue for the Cats v Saints clash in Canberra. The umpys let a lot go generally and some very good tackling went unrewarded in my view. Then when I watched the Blues-Hawks match I was thinking 'hang on, is this the same game here?'.

regards,

REB

[MightyEagles]

Then they change the rules half way through the season.