Not sure why we need to bring in a new set of rules every season. The game is so poorly officiated as it is. Paying HTB/Incorrect disposal would be a good start. And stop players holding up the opposition after a mark or free kick. The amount of time they get to sit on a bloke or give the ball back is ridiculous. Just let’s players flood back into space. And waiting for ruckmen to get to a stoppage, I bet they just waffle over as slowly as they can to get more time for players to set up.
Agreed any shenanigans after mark or free awarded where they sit on them, hold them up to slow play needs to be pinged. Its generally pretty transparent.
The biggest issue for me in terms of scoring is off the ball holding. In 2018 and 2019 Richmonds defensive game was built on this.
Its a grey area right? Who initiated contact def or fwd.
How far outside 5m range? They dont look for this when the balls just left the boot, in flight. Often thats when they would initiate the hold.
Its easy to spot on TV or replay, at ground level by the time an umpire picks up where its going its then difficult to determine with any certainty when fwd def are setting for the mark who iniated contact and the off the ball holding isnt really front of mind when we see these battles of strength regularly. Rance & Grimes, master and apprentice.
Further...
If they pick it up, even then umps are loath to give the free too often in fwd line, as they dont like blowing whistle stop/start flow and be seen as influencing the game. Supporters consider it over umpiring. "let the game go ya mug" - wasnt Sam Newman a big advocate for putting whistle away?
Therefore im sure Dimma or def coach play the grey area and the % of it actually being called
Say you do it all day, for easy equation, lets say 10 times def initiates early hold. If the umps call 2 frees against. Well thats 80% of entries to their opponent they have slowed held up or effected their run at the ball.
Strong bodied, tall defending team like Rich or WCE vs fast, lighter mosquito fleet, or just an agile key fwd that can expose their pace, then it plays into their favour more than most realise.
If your team doesnt have a lot of entries, Richmond style of ground gained and moving up def to lock it in, pressure in fwd half on defenders trying to find target on way out, to break fwd press, if not the def wall results in multiple repeat fwd entries. Its a war of attrition, wet weather footy in the dry.
If their opponent fwd line have been playing a precision kick into fwd 50, mark on lead type game, this makes it much harder for fwd line find space, clean leads, or create distance between themselves and defender. When their other defenders are also holding their fwds away from getting in and supporting their team mates at fall of ball. The extra work required, how effective your scoring from entries are is massive.
There was one game in 2018 Rance was holding Jayden Stephenson with one arm, sideways 🤛thats how much stronger he was. Bloody Stevo looked like an school kid trying to get away from security for shoplifting. He was literally treading water, the legs were going and Rance was vicelike you aint going nowhere ya skinny rat.
I was irate...screaming at my TV "Play Footy Tuggys Play Footy" (they did it to Pies twice in 2018, surprisingly they didnt in finals where big Cox kicked 5 and it was bloody surprising when they were so good at it????)
Further...
Depending upon the read of the incoming ball, Grimes will if coming in overhead use strength to tunnel under the ball.
This is often the difference between faster ball movement where fwds lead up (hold), and slower ball movement, like a free kick or entry that comes in overhead. Its all about upsetting the fwds timing.
If you think im telling porkies, you can look at Rich vs Brissy 2019. Grimes did it to Charlie Cameron, denied his speed, upset his rythm all game. Chria F#gan actully addressed it in the media and to umpires to be aware.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cameron-must-find-a-way-***an-20190903-p52nhm.html
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The other point i wanted to make was the 2018 and 2017 GFs this trend of umpires putting the whistle away in 4th qtr of GFs is a joke.
Again by doing this the smaller fast fwd lines are at a disadvantage to the tall big body defensive sides. You have the whole season 22g, 3 finals and 3/4 of GF officiated as per rules of game. Got best umps to ump the biggest game of season, putting whistle away for the most important qtr of the year? its crazy yeah?
Leigh Matthews said the umps had a choked, the pressure got to them. He said, the problem with non umpiring/whistle away is the ones you do call are then judged by the ones that you do.
My issue is how can you ever determine if the game has been comprimise in a betting scandal?
How long before Prem teams, coaches in the last notice the umps letting the rules slide, whistles away and coach accordingly.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...ires-says-leigh-matthews-20180930-p506x2.html
I honestly believe the coaches coach this grey area off the ball holding, and it has a major effects on the scoring.
Rather than extra mid ump, having fwd umps and use of 3rd fwd ump in the Review Hub looking for regular fwd 50 contests effected by off ball holding - that they can get a word down to umps on ground would help them determine if contact is initiated (how far off the ball/early) and who initiated between def & fwd.
Its holding the man. Bloody call it even if it results in 5 shots on goal enforce the rules as they were created. Instead of bringing in 25m kick in zones, and allowing the player run of the line of the mark while the bloke on it gotta stand still, what bull****
Quit fffkn with the game - cant even announce teams till day before bloody private school bastards
