It's time we talk about the dogs getting favoured by the umpires

[YippeeYiYeo]

What made this grand final look so bad was a combination of biased umpiring and dogs tactics. Yes, the dogs got the #freekickHawthorn treatment, but their players have taken on West Coasts tactic of drawing freekicks. Hams, Shuey, Darling, Selwood would be proud of the Dogs ducking today.

Swans didn't stand a chance today, and Mclean is taking the high contact freekick to new lows. The AFL has been aware for years about players drawing high contact freekicks, and unfortunately it will take a broken neck/quadriplegic player before any real change is brought about.

 

[ZingerB]

Everyone is overreacting, there are no conspiracies in the AFL.
I think that all those people suggesting that there is one, are just part of an underground group of teenagers trying to overthrow Gillan and return the AFL to the people.

The conspiracy is a strawman of umpiring concerns. Keep in mind, how many times have we heard about the GWS / Sydney / Brisbane / GCS / WA homeground conspiracy theories from Victorians. There is no institutional design for teams to win. That doesn't mean having the majority of umpires come from Victoria, some with biases, some without (some that are frankly a disgrace) cannot influence results on a semi regular basis. There are several umpires that should not be umpiring and yet they continue to get finals and influence results (hell Nicholls got another PF and he couldn't officiate a church bingo game). It is simply not good enough that about 6 of the last 8 finals series have seen a team go out when they were reamed by the umpires. 3 prelims decided by less than a goal with the loser getting reamed. 2 teams got reamed last year. Sydney got reamed yesterday and no 'but but the Bulldogs were harder at the contests' is going to undo that. There were 5-6 decisions yesterday that had direct impacts on the score. Who knows maybe that would have made the Bulldogs dig deeper and they still would have won. Even if they still win by a point, then the umpires robbed us of the greatest GF of all time. As it stands we don't know because when the game was in the balance you could guarantee the decisions were going the Bulldogs way.

 

[ZingerB]

Oops did I hit a nerve?

No you are just a hypocrite.

 

[adammania9]

No you are just a hypocrite.

You can have Travis Cloke if you'd like... more then happy to see him walk our the door

Why should we have to travel ever 2nd week? There are 8 other teams in our city, sublime logic. Why should the grand final be played anywhere else? No other stadium could replicate anything close to a traditional MCG grand final; it's here til 2037 baby!

 

[ZingerB]

You can have Travis Cloke if you'd like... more then happy to see him walk our the door

Why should we have to travel ever 2nd week? There are 8 other teams in our city, sublime logic. Why should the grand final be played anywhere else? No other stadium could replicate anything close to a traditional MCG grand final; it's here til 2037 baby!

Nah will take him back when he was in his prime and won you a flag (clearly a tainted flag by your logic). On the rest, I take it advantages conferred to your team for commercial reasons are okay, but not for Sydney. At least in Sydney's case the COLA actually addresses a quite obvious inequity in that there is a clear cost of living issue in Sydney and they have fewer locals to draft. What's your excuse for playing 3 games a year interstate in the old 16 team comp? What is your excuse for not playing every non-vic team away and getting every juicy timeslot earmarked for you before the season has started? Tradition? Sydney has traditionally got the COLA so STFU.

 

[adammania9]

Nah will take him back when he was in his prime and won you a flag (clearly a tainted flag by your logic). On the rest, I take it advantages conferred to your team for commercial reasons are okay, but not for Sydney. At least in Sydney's case the COLA actually addresses a quite obvious inequity in that there is a clear cost of living issue in Sydney and they have fewer locals to draft. What's your excuse for playing 3 games a year interstate in the old 16 team comp? What is your excuse for not playing every non-vic team away and getting every juicy timeslot earmarked for you before the season has started? Tradition? Sydney has traditionally got the COLA so STFU.

If you hate Victorians so much go follow your stupid SANFL then.

 

[SuperSub17]

Nah will take him back when he was in his prime and won you a flag (clearly a tainted flag by your logic). On the rest, I take it advantages conferred to your team for commercial reasons are okay, but not for Sydney. At least in Sydney's case the COLA actually addresses a quite obvious inequity in that there is a clear cost of living issue in Sydney and they have fewer locals to draft. What's your excuse for playing 3 games a year interstate in the old 16 team comp? What is your excuse for not playing every non-vic team away and getting every juicy timeslot earmarked for you before the season has started? Tradition? Sydney has traditionally got the COLA so STFU.

Cool, this myth again.

Collingwood travelled just as much as any Victorian team did - at least those who didn't sell home games. 4 away games vs interstate sides, 4 home games vs interstate sides, 14 games with no home-state advantage. Net result: zero.

Interstate sides: 10 away games, 10 home games, 2 neutral games. Net result: zero.

Try to come up with a reasonable argument next time before going off on a rant.

 

[RainMachine]

If you hate Victorians so much go follow your stupid SANFL then.

your retorts are compelling and insightful

 

[Yolo Swaggins]

Shocking yesterday

 

[nylexbandit]

If the Swans didn't add them to their academy neither of them would be playing football at all.

What if the other clubs were allowed academies? Do you reckon they'd maybe still be playing but through a different clubs academy?

 

[ZingerB]

Cool, this myth again.

Collingwood travelled just as much as any Victorian team did - at least those who didn't sell home games. 4 away games vs interstate sides, 4 home games vs interstate sides, 14 games with no home-state advantage. Net result: zero.

Interstate sides: 10 away games, 10 home games, 2 neutral games. Net result: zero.

Try to come up with a reasonable argument next time before going off on a rant.

So you travelled less than half of much and therefore gained an advantage both in recovery and costs associated with travel ... got it.

 

[kangle4]

What if the other clubs were allowed academies? Do you reckon they'd maybe still be playing but through a different clubs academy?

Maybe GWS'. Doubt it though.

 

[compact72]

Still waiting for some keyboard warrior here to provide a clip about the free kicks. Also waiting on a free kick video for all the throws the Bulldogs do.

Too say Wood done a slide to take Sydney out is so laughable

Enjoy the week, I certainly will

 

[DT2000]

fyi:

2016 Top 3 positive free differential:

Bulldogs +99 - (+31 in the four finals)
Kangaroos +71
Magpies +39

Bottom 3

Crows -59
Giants -54
Cats -41

all others in between.

 

[Summer Nights]

I disagree.

Just because a team doesnt give away free kicks, does not mean they are favoured.

If you can list EVERY team's questionable free kicks all season, we'll judge which ones are incorrect then we'll tally up the results....

Spot on.

 

[Summer Nights]

OK then!
Here's my say on the matter.
We were always going to lose this game in my opinion so the right team won.
I love the game & have seen about 15 non Swans games at the MCG this year so have a reasonable grip on when an umpire has his vision blocked & can't make a decision because he never saw the incident.
There are 9 games every weekend, 3 umpires for each meaning 27 umpires get a gig every week.
From those 27, we would all have to assume that the 3 umpires that were chosen for the GF were the best 3 in the land as we speak.

Three decisions disturbed me yesterday! Forget that ALL the stats were even to 3 Q time & that the best 3 umpires in the land could only find 4 free kicks in the first, 0 in the second & 0 in the third to one of the combatants yesterday.

I am disturbed because one of our boys has a serious knee injury which shouldn't have occurred & wouldn't have if one these 3 best umpires in the land, paid the slide into the legs free kick from the first bounce. The precedent for the game on this decision was set early & Hanner's injury was the result.

Now not one of those umpires saw the free kick to Hanners but they somehow saw a free kick to Smith when he dropped his legs & was actually touched by his own player on the downward fall, if he touched him at all. It was a guess by one of the best umpires in the land. The perception was that he MUST HAVE been tackled high. SURELY he was! Why would such a brave player go down like that.

It was guess work by the 3 best umpires in the land. As too was the free against Rampe when he EASILY broke the soft tackle on the flank & got his handball away, & we were off & away when we were only a few points down.

We were never going to win this game because the Dogs are a terrific team & we would have been overrun any how, but looking forward to the next season, some players were not protected in this game. Hanners, I hope, doesn't need surgery, but the way games are adjudicated depending on the combatants & on how big a game it is, needs some serious off season surgery for the sake of all 18 teams!

Wood didn't slide at all though. He actually jumped and his body simply collided with Hannebery's leg. It was even above the knee. Correct decision to play on.

You lose.

 

[clogwearer]

Nah it's a great game.
**** the Swans. They get enough little benefits, would be delicious for free kicks to sink them.

One of the most bullshit responses I have seen. In one breath "it's a great game" and in the next "would be delicious for free kicks to sink them."

I'm not on the conspiracy trail, but I can't stand this attitude. The grand final was poorly umpired and this should be a concern for us all.

 

[bungwahl]

fyi:

2016 Top 3 positive free differential:

Bulldogs +99 - (+31 in the four finals)
Kangaroos +71
Magpies +39

Bottom 3

Crows -59
Giants -54
Cats -41

all others in between.

Footywire shows very different stats:

Top 3
Bulldogs +112
Kangaroos +72
Magpies +39
(5th: Crows +33)

Bottom 3
Sydney -50
GWS -54
Port -58

 

[Mootsy]

Looking back at the tape, a lot of their handballs are legit, there are times where the play is so fast they just don't get called, but that's a loophole that the Bulldogs have exploited, which is perfectly fine.

Most winning teams find those loopholes to work for them.

Hawks had a few tricks like that.

The best sports stars in the world tap into those loopholes..

 

[DT2000]

Footywire shows very different stats:

Top 3
Bulldogs +112
Kangaroos +72
Magpies +39
(5th: Crows +33)

Bottom 3
Sydney -50
GWS -54
Port -58

that's odd, top 3 still same order at least.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Looking back at the tape, a lot of their handballs are legit, there are times where the play is so fast they just don't get called, but that's a loophole that the Bulldogs have exploited, which is perfectly fine.

Most winning teams find those loopholes to work for them.

Hawks had a few tricks like that.

The best sports stars in the world tap into those loopholes..

Mate, you support Essendon. I wouldn't be pointing accusing fingers at other clubs for bending the rules if I were you.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

If you're new to Big Footy, this is how they say "Well done Bulldogs".

 

[footy75]

What made this grand final look so bad was a combination of biased umpiring and dogs tactics. Yes, the dogs got the #freekickHawthorn treatment, but their players have taken on West Coasts tactic of drawing freekicks. Hams, Shuey, Darling, Selwood would be proud of the Dogs ducking today.

.

Show me a game where Hawthorn got a free kick count like that..In fact better still show me a final?

I've never seen a final, especially a Grand Final with such a lop sided free kick count.

 

[JoeHawk]

The sliding free and fifty turned the game complete joke.

A what point did the Bullies player ever slide? Watch it again. He dropped directly on to the ball but collected the knee. Shit happens. Good call by the ump.

 

[Ultimatt]

A what point did the Bullies player ever slide? Watch it again. He dropped directly on to the ball but collected the knee. Shit happens. Good call by the ump.

Maybe, just maybe, he didn't slide because he crashed into Hannebery which stopped his momentum. Run towards a brick wall and drop to your knees, tell me if you slide or stop.