AFL or rugby?

[meher baba]

If the umps aren't instructed to go back to refereeing the game by the rule book for holding the ball, dropping the ball and incorrect disposal, football as we have known it is going to cease to exist. What the Bulldogs have gotten away with today is akin to rugby mauling and rucking. It's just a joke.

[Johnny Member]

It absolutely sickens me.

Its been the biggest blight on the sport for two years now.

[Mr Magic]

Those rules apparently no longer exist in these particular umpires minds.
It is galling watching senior players look bewildered at non-decisions being made.

[saynta]

Those rules apparently no longer exist in these particular umpires minds.
It is galling watching senior players look bewildered at non-decisions being made.

At one stage Joey went to town on one of the maggots non decision.

Also the doggies chuck the ball.

[jonesy]

Worst display of not rewarding the tackle I've ever seen today. Just don't tackle anymore,pointless if you are not going to get rewarded.

Needs to be an enquiry into it,there must of been 20-30 blatant holding the balls/incorrect disposal not paid today

[Johnny Member]

Also the doggies chuck the ball.

Isn't that the point of this thread?

[mullet]

Those rules apparently no longer exist in these particular umpires minds.
It is galling watching senior players look bewildered at non-decisions being made.

At one stage Joey went to town on one of the maggots non decision.

Also the doggies chuck the ball.

so do geelong.

If you watch the first game of the round you can see what they will concentrate on and what they will let go. Until next week when they throw the rule book up and pick out 3 pages willy nilly again. Dont jumper punch.... unless you are trent cochin then do as you like

[saynta]

Also the doggies chuck the ball.

Isn't that the point of this thread?

Wouldn't have thought so.

[Enrico_Misso]

The rules change every week.
They actually got the deliberate rule right today, whereas their interpretations earlier in the season were ridiculous.

Just saw in the Rich/Ess two players both get 50% of a mark but the umps called a ball up, whereas for the last century you always paid that to the man in front!

[terry smith rules]

I would say Hawthorn invented the throw it on at all costs a few years before the dogs.

It is exactly like rugby union where the tackled player just puts, drops, throws or whatever the ball out, hate it

The worst non decision was Tom Hawkins in the last quarter, tackled, threw the ball up in the air and then punched it one handed , it was no sleight of hand. I figure if the umpire can't pay those ones then the ones agaisnt the dogs... no chance

[Scollop]

I couldn't believe that the umps all missed that throw from Hawkins and at the same time, the commentators for Channel 7 were also silent on the throw.

Now this is just my opinion, but from what I've seen in quite a few Friday night/Saturday night matches over the last couple of years (and Thursday nights now) I'd say that Channel 7 commentators can be heard in one of the ears of the field umpires. This is just a theory based on some really late decisions and also some clearly obvious frees that seem to be simultaneously ignored by the umpires and also the commentators at the same time. It's been happening far too often imo to just be a co-incidence.

I've seen a few occasions where Bruce or Darcey might pick something up and you'll see the central umpire come in late ( probably due to all field umps being blind sided ) and call a free kick because Bruce said something like "that was 'clearly' holding the ball". I hope I'm wrong, but if Channel 7 has this much power and the AFL has allowed them to have their broadcast heard by one of the central umpires then that is giving way too much power and influence in the hands of the mouthpieces. I think it's dangerous territory and the umps might be falling into the habit of trusting what they're hearing rather than just relying on their own eyes and their training. If true, this needs to stop.

[desertsaint]

The contrary nature of umpiring holding the ball and incorrect disposal is a very big problem to those clubs (i.e. us) that have a game plan that revolves around tackling pressure.

[SemperFidelis]

Also the doggies chuck the ball.

Isn't that the point of this thread?

Not ALL of them were chucking, JM, many of the howling non-decisions involved a pretty spectacular interpretation of no prior opportunity (I recall one where Gilbo had the bloke in a tackle so long he moved about 5 metres; "my ball") ...

[stevie]

one I noticed at the end of the swone/Dawks game - Dawks had the 6 point lead with 20 seconds to play. one of their guys got the ball on the forward flank, ran at a swine, went to ground deliberately to soak up precious seconds, made no attempt to get rid of it, was tackled - as clear cut as holding the ball as you will see. Even the Dawk player must've been surprised not to be pinged as the ump blew for a ball up. Ok, it wouldnt have perhaps changed the result but it should've been a free to Shitney and they have had time for a last kick into the forward line. It was laughable

[Johnny Member]

The contrary nature of umpiring holding the ball and incorrect disposal is a very big problem to those clubs (i.e. us) that have a game plan that revolves around tackling pressure.

This is a very, very good point.


This is what undid Hawthorn against the Dogs last year, and injuries to key players aside - what also undid Sydney in the GF.

In any other season, the Dogs would have been mauled due to the fact that they would have pinged about 50 times for 'holding the ball' and/or 'incorrect disposal'. I know it threw Longmire and Clarkson big time. They were both flummoxed as to how they could lay as many effective tackles as they did - yet get slaughtered in the free kick count.


This is also why Kobe Stevens copped 1 week. GWS were tossing it around like a hot potato against us. Rochardson addressed the players at 1/4 time about making the tackles stick....nek minnut Stevens is slamming a Giant into the turf. Funnily enough, it got a free kick. That's actually what it took to actually get a 'holding the ball' call!


Not only has this recent interpretation made the game incredibly difficult to watch for me - I think you're right about it impacting our game. If your strategy revolves around tackling - but the rules now say that tackles aren't rewarded....where does that leave you?


The AFL said after the GF last year that they would crack down on throwing this season, but it's actually now worse than ever.


I know why they've done it, but I don't agree with it at all. They've done it to keep the game moving, and avoid those 'ugly' scrimmages where both the tackler and the 'tacklee' pretend they're trying to get it out, when they both are trying to force a stoppage. The AFL figure that it's the better of two evils to just let the bloke throw it out and keep the game moving.

For mine, that's sacrificing a key element of the the game for the 'product'. Handballing and/or disposing of the ball correctly and legally, is a key element of Australian Rule football. It's a fundamental. You can't change that, you just can't. If you want the game to look nicer to the theatre going TV audience - find a different way. Find a way that doesn't sacrifice the core of the game in the process.