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- #926
The points is going to be an interesting one. Huntly and North have really struggled to attract juniors ( not 17’s) this year by all reports. So if they are severely impacted down the line because of their past struggles, will they push for maybe a points allowance. That’s why the points system may actually have a flaw or two? Thoughts.
On the umpires. Clubs in the district are paying top dollar for “administrators”. Not sure how many employees are in the Mundy st offices, but it’s rumoured there’s quite a few, and that the salaries are attractive. Do they maybe push more money to officiate, and really chase hard, former players from around here. Much the same clubs chase players, why couldn’t the umpire associations dangle a slightly better carrot?
Ill start this by stating the obvious that the below isn't about umpire bashing, more a want for some basic changes to improve the standard of the game. I know umpires are hard to get but seriously, I am at the point it would almost make sense to chase an ex player for each team and let them umpire the game and move on from where we are at present.....which is as below dire at best.
In regards to chasing umpires who have played previously, I agree that would help as from what I see the ones being supplied now to the HDFL don't have game sense,awareness and know how to control a game. Pay free kicks and stop balling the ball up as this would help immensely. In a contested pack, you can watch 2-3 free kicks not paid only for the late 4th one to be done. Its extremely frustrating.
I have watched the umpires coach officiate at a few games and I don't hold much hope for junior umpires if he is supposedly teaching them. He usually cant pay a free kick in the forward line but is more than happy to pay the same one in the backline. JUST PAY THEM ANYWHERE ON THE GROUND. CONSISTENCY IS A GREAT START!
Maybe a back to basics approach in which they state we will umpire this way and pay every free we see and get some right and wrong. We aren't asking for perfection just to get it right maybe 50% of the time. At present it would be lucky to be 25%........and that's being kind.
On the payment scale I believe they are pretty well paid now and a major cost on match day for the clubs involved. Don't have any issues with paying more but the standard has to lift drastically and quickly. The old adage is "you get what you pay for". At present we are paying for a Mercedes and getting a goggo mobil.
RANT OVER.