Opinion Rant!
- Thread starter PC
- Start date
I started to reply and realised I really needed to vent, so I have taken my reply to the rant thread.
I'm not one to usually rant on here, but inconsistency in the AFL has all but spoiled my love for the game. Many recent aspects have removed me from attending or even watching games on tv. I have literally watched about 1 game in total time this season, usually just a few minutes of any one game is all I can handle.
There-in lies my biggest problem with the AFL and not just at the tribunal. Every umpiring decision is inconsistent, when you see 1 free kick paid for a push/holding the ball/high tackle/deliberate out of bounds or almost anything and then the exact same indiscretion is called "play on" 5 minutes later. How is it possible? Either both indiscretions are free kicks or neither. The game is played where 40 free kicks is normal and the biggest issue is "umpires interpretation" being allowed rather than a strict guideline of rules. The incorrect decisions made by umpires almost always result in zero consequences and the AFL will back them up tooth and nail.
- Changing rules every season confuses players and umpires. I can understand small rule changes or cementing new terminology to make rules more clear but large scale changes like 6-6-6 need some sort of proper trial period. Not just a handful of games in the pre-season, but maybe a full season in the VFL and see the long term affects of the changes. This 6-6-6 rule was meant to increase scoring by allowing more flow and less players at centre bounces, what we have actually seen is teams play more defensively and scoring has been the lowest in 52 years. That's right, lowest scoring in 52 years as of May 10th.
- 50m penalty is way too big, bring back 15m for most transgressions and let the 50m rule be for serious incidents. A player jogging 8m away from an opposition player who had taken a mark gives away a 50m penalty. That's a joke right?
- Review system is only available at some grounds and when it is available errors are still occurring very often. How a billion dollar organisation can't implement this system properly is beyond me.
- Rule crack downs randomly during the season. Some weeks it appears we see a crack down on certain rules after a poor decision the previous week. I cannot attest to it this year as i haven't watched any games, but in previous seasons we have seen "ducking", "deliberate out of bounds" and "rushing a behind" targeted for free kicks even though the AFL will deny it. Week to week rules and interpretations should not change.
- Players and coaches are limited in what they can say regarding the umpiring and the AFL in general. God forbid a player or coach have an opinion on the umpiring during a game in which they took part in. Actually they are allowed an opinion, but the opinion must be positive or they will be fined.
- Umpires are too involved (Sam Newman has said it for many years and I hate to say it, but he's right). The game is not about the umpires and yet they are mic'd up like they are centre stage at a rock concert. As far as i'm aware their job is not to warn players that they are close to giving away a free kick but rather to give good, clear, clinical decisions. Razor Ray talking to a grown man like a child. If the player (Shaun Grigg on this occasion) hasn't done anything to warrant a free kick or a further penalty, the umpire should shut up and stay out of the game until something does happen that warrants an umpires involvement. The biggest incident this season, the goal post climb. Give the player a warning rather than pay a free kick. If the umpire felt a warning was the right option, he knew the player was doing the wrong thing, which means it's a free kick. If the player was not doing the wrong thing, the umpire should not even speak to the player. During the last 30 seconds of the North Melbourne vs Sydney game (I actually watched the last 2 minutes of this game), you can clearly see Goldstein being held by his jersey at the 6:30 mark. How can this not be a free kick? It boggles my mind.
The best games of football are the games where the umpires are not noticed because they've done their job very well.
- Security at games. Mid season there is higher security at Blundstone arena with guards walking up and down in the stadium isles and also more security around the field of play. A scuffle breaks out between 2 players and a security guard walks onto the field of play thinking it's his job to stop the scuffle. The umpire who was already on the spot tells the guard "you can't come on here" and points for the guard to get off the field of play. How this can happen beggars belief. What if this was a melee with 10 players? Would 4 or 5 guards have come on? Or would that one guard thought the danger was more imminent and disregard the umpire? In that situation there are many crazy things that could happen. A player could mistake the guard for another player and involve the guard in the melee. Do the guards have insurance if they're hurt or injured inside the field of play when going outside of their hired job?
The fact umpires, rules, score reviews are constantly in the news or spoken about, is a massive issue and yet it falls on deaf ears at the AFL.
Anyway, rant completed.
I'm not one to usually rant on here, but inconsistency in the AFL has all but spoiled my love for the game. Many recent aspects have removed me from attending or even watching games on tv. I have literally watched about 1 game in total time this season, usually just a few minutes of any one game is all I can handle.
There-in lies my biggest problem with the AFL and not just at the tribunal. Every umpiring decision is inconsistent, when you see 1 free kick paid for a push/holding the ball/high tackle/deliberate out of bounds or almost anything and then the exact same indiscretion is called "play on" 5 minutes later. How is it possible? Either both indiscretions are free kicks or neither. The game is played where 40 free kicks is normal and the biggest issue is "umpires interpretation" being allowed rather than a strict guideline of rules. The incorrect decisions made by umpires almost always result in zero consequences and the AFL will back them up tooth and nail.
- Changing rules every season confuses players and umpires. I can understand small rule changes or cementing new terminology to make rules more clear but large scale changes like 6-6-6 need some sort of proper trial period. Not just a handful of games in the pre-season, but maybe a full season in the VFL and see the long term affects of the changes. This 6-6-6 rule was meant to increase scoring by allowing more flow and less players at centre bounces, what we have actually seen is teams play more defensively and scoring has been the lowest in 52 years. That's right, lowest scoring in 52 years as of May 10th.
- 50m penalty is way too big, bring back 15m for most transgressions and let the 50m rule be for serious incidents. A player jogging 8m away from an opposition player who had taken a mark gives away a 50m penalty. That's a joke right?
- Review system is only available at some grounds and when it is available errors are still occurring very often. How a billion dollar organisation can't implement this system properly is beyond me.
- Rule crack downs randomly during the season. Some weeks it appears we see a crack down on certain rules after a poor decision the previous week. I cannot attest to it this year as i haven't watched any games, but in previous seasons we have seen "ducking", "deliberate out of bounds" and "rushing a behind" targeted for free kicks even though the AFL will deny it. Week to week rules and interpretations should not change.
- Players and coaches are limited in what they can say regarding the umpiring and the AFL in general. God forbid a player or coach have an opinion on the umpiring during a game in which they took part in. Actually they are allowed an opinion, but the opinion must be positive or they will be fined.
- Umpires are too involved (Sam Newman has said it for many years and I hate to say it, but he's right). The game is not about the umpires and yet they are mic'd up like they are centre stage at a rock concert. As far as i'm aware their job is not to warn players that they are close to giving away a free kick but rather to give good, clear, clinical decisions. Razor Ray talking to a grown man like a child. If the player (Shaun Grigg on this occasion) hasn't done anything to warrant a free kick or a further penalty, the umpire should shut up and stay out of the game until something does happen that warrants an umpires involvement. The biggest incident this season, the goal post climb. Give the player a warning rather than pay a free kick. If the umpire felt a warning was the right option, he knew the player was doing the wrong thing, which means it's a free kick. If the player was not doing the wrong thing, the umpire should not even speak to the player. During the last 30 seconds of the North Melbourne vs Sydney game (I actually watched the last 2 minutes of this game), you can clearly see Goldstein being held by his jersey at the 6:30 mark. How can this not be a free kick? It boggles my mind.
The best games of football are the games where the umpires are not noticed because they've done their job very well.
- Security at games. Mid season there is higher security at Blundstone arena with guards walking up and down in the stadium isles and also more security around the field of play. A scuffle breaks out between 2 players and a security guard walks onto the field of play thinking it's his job to stop the scuffle. The umpire who was already on the spot tells the guard "you can't come on here" and points for the guard to get off the field of play. How this can happen beggars belief. What if this was a melee with 10 players? Would 4 or 5 guards have come on? Or would that one guard thought the danger was more imminent and disregard the umpire? In that situation there are many crazy things that could happen. A player could mistake the guard for another player and involve the guard in the melee. Do the guards have insurance if they're hurt or injured inside the field of play when going outside of their hired job?
The fact umpires, rules, score reviews are constantly in the news or spoken about, is a massive issue and yet it falls on deaf ears at the AFL.
Anyway, rant completed.
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- North Melb.
- Joined
- 22 Oct 2014
- Messages
- 7,882
- Likes
- 41,731
- AFL Club
- North Melb.
Scored 2294 after projection was to score 2470 at the beginning of the day. This means my 10 players scored 176 points lower than projected (none of which were unrealistic).
Trades in this week of Bontempelli and Shaw combine for a grand total of 113 points. Bont also must be in some doubt with an ankle. This was after last weeks trade ins of Jelly and Lycett both got injured.
Lost all main leagues after being in a strong position overnight because I don’t own Dunkley and they all do. Now can’t make finals in main money league and unlikely in second money league.
Sick to death of feeling like this every Sunday night and reading all the high scores on this site when on paper I have team that should get much closer.
Hate this game and totally over 2019. Season end can not come quickly enough.
Trades in this week of Bontempelli and Shaw combine for a grand total of 113 points. Bont also must be in some doubt with an ankle. This was after last weeks trade ins of Jelly and Lycett both got injured.
Lost all main leagues after being in a strong position overnight because I don’t own Dunkley and they all do. Now can’t make finals in main money league and unlikely in second money league.
Sick to death of feeling like this every Sunday night and reading all the high scores on this site when on paper I have team that should get much closer.
Hate this game and totally over 2019. Season end can not come quickly enough.
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- Collingwood
What a joke naming teams has become. If they arnt right to go on Thursday night then what’s the point naming someone if they really arnt going to be any better in 48 hours time. AFL needs to stamp this out by having a $100,000 penalty for any late change unless adequate proof can be given. E.g been spewing all morning and cannot play or does his calf in a warmup not this late change crap we have to deal with now. Hours before the game is due to start. I’m 100% sure they could of just ruled him out on Thursday night
(Maybe this should have been in the rant thread)
(Maybe this should have been in the rant thread)
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Was keen to trade in Howe as a low cost, low ownership option with decent prospects on the run home with our outs.
Baulked and went Luke Ryan in the end.
Flat as a tack, hammy first up and a dreadful score to boot.
Had already been forced to field Milera without a loop due to outs.
Breaks your neck, that sort of stuff.
Baulked and went Luke Ryan in the end.
Flat as a tack, hammy first up and a dreadful score to boot.
Had already been forced to field Milera without a loop due to outs.
Breaks your neck, that sort of stuff.
