McBurney's GF umpiring

[OldStyle2007]

Was anyone else concerned about McBurney's umpiring?

I found it strange on a number of occasions that he would be umpiring the play in the back third of the ground, and when play moved on (for example, by him paying a free kick) he would call himself through to the middle third, and then when play moved on again he called himself through to the forward third of the ground

This effectively meant that he was the controlling umpire for much of the play, especially in the first half

I would like to know if there are any umpires out there who could comment on this? Is it poor form to continually call yourself through to where the ball is?

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Very interesting.

Is it usual practise for unpires to stay in a third?

 

[nohairandfair]

That first half of umpiring was simply atrocious.

McBurney's attempts to exert his will on the game came straight out of the Briatore code of ethics.

 

[OldStyle2007]

Very interesting.

Is it usual practise for unpires to stay in a third?

No they are not meant to stay in a third. They call each other through at stoppages so they can see both sides of the contest as well as not get stuck in one place of the ground

But they are NOT supposed to chase the ball around like a midfielder

 

[ManInWhite]

What you'll find is that the umpire in the midzone will hand over play to the umpire in the endzone as play heads towards the goals. Often if the endzone umpire pays a free or mark around the 50m arc (and especially) if it's towards the flank, he will call the midzone umpire through to the goals. This will give the appearance that the same umpire has kept play all down the ground.

 

[boncer34]

What you'll find is that the umpire in the midzone will hand over play to the umpire in the endzone as play heads towards the goals. Often if the endzone umpire pays a free or mark around the 50m arc (and especially) if it's towards the flank, he will call the midzone umpire through to the goals. This will give the appearance that the same umpire has kept play all down the ground.

Exactly. If the ball is pushed out wide for a long range shot then the umpire taking the mark will tap the other bloke through. Saves the umpire from having to set the mark then turn and sprint to make a decision in the opposite pocket 10 seconds later.

I didn't pay close attention but I did think McBurney had a lot of the play. But usually I saw him being tapped through by the other umpires.

 

[Meow]

I was ropable with the umpiring for three quarters, particularly with McBurney's performance. You can't umpire Grand Finals like he did yesterday. Didn't worry me after that though; hey, how could I possibly complain and worry if the Cats had won a Grand Final?!

 

[-CG-]

I've also considered him to be the worst umpire in the AFL. He always over umpires

 

[Generalissimo]

First half was shockingly over-officiated. The second was better because they let things go.

 

[Il Naso De Gastev]

McBurney is a disgrace. One of those blokes who simply has no feel for the game whatsoever, and umpires straight out of a rulebook, paying the most trivial free kicks which have no bearing on the game. If only he'd let the game go and pay only the obvious free kicks which actually affect the game, which most other umps seem to be pretty apt at doing (Vozzo, McLaren and Chamberlain aside).

The Milburn double-goal was absolutely deplorable. I don't care what was said, the fact that it's a GF and the stakes are the highest possible, he chooses to put himself above the game and award a team a goal because he is offended by something. The low point of an otherwise great game.

The worst part about the whole McBurney situation is that Geischen obviously applauds his performance, and has rewarded him with GF selection. He continually ruins games of football with his over-officious, pedantic nature.

 

[Books]

I was ropable with the umpiring for three quarters, particularly with McBurney's performance. You can't umpire Grand Finals like he did yesterday. Didn't worry me after that though; hey, how could I possibly complain and worry if the Cats had won a Grand Final?!

Winning makes all the other stuff easier to cope with, doesn't it?

(At least, that's how I remember, it's been a while.... lol).

 

[TheBloods]

McBurney was shocking and that disgraceful decision just before half time summed up his performance.

 

[SCARD]

There is a difference between a correct decision and a common-sense one. Some umpires and the AFL don't seem to understand this.

 

[borgsta2006]

the game wasn't as bad as everyone saw. There were two major decisions (the demonstrative one and the poster) it evened out, no one was robbed.