Round 1 - Essendon vs Adelaide Pre-Game Build-Up Thread

[WaynesWorld19]

WE GOT IT WRONG

Sam Edmund

THE AFL has admitted its umpires have been over-zealous in policing the protected zone, with Richmond scorched by the stricter ruling in Thursday night's season-opener.

With rival coaches left stunned by the spate of 50m penalties in the Tigers-Blues clash, the league announced only two of five decisions were actually correct.

Richmond were hit with five 50m penalties - four of which led directly to Carlton goals - but the AFL said the decisions against Josh Caddy and Shai Bolton were wrong, while Kamdyn McIntosh was described as a "marginal call".

An AFL memo sent to all clubs on Friday afternoon stated "all field umpires would be briefed on these particular instances prior to the rest of this weekend's games". The letter also highlighted the AFL's gratitude to Richmond coach Damien Hardwick for how he reacted to the decisions in his post-match press conference.

The admission came after Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, Port Adelaide's Ken Hinkley, St Kilda coach Alan Richardson and Geelong's Chris Scott all expressed their surprise at how fierce the umpires enforced the rule.

"We'd been told by (umpires coach) Hayden Kennedy that was going to be a real focus, to keep the game flowing. They wanted to free up that area of the ground, but there were a couple that were probably a little bit over the top," Richardson said.

"It was probably adjudicated a little bit tougher than it had been in JLT, so it probably took particularly the Tiges by surprise. We had a bit of a chat about it with our guys in the meeting pre-training."

Hinkley, speaking ahead of the Power's Round 1 meeting with Fremantle, did the same.

"It did look very hot, didn't it? We're aware of it and we take notice and we try and make sure we don't infringe in areas of the game that the rules say you shouldn't," Hinkley said.

"The AFL have been really clear during the summer through Steve Hocking that they were certainly looking to protect that area."

Like Hinkley, Clarkson said the AFL was always going to be tight early and appeared to be curious as to whether the rule would be policed as harshly in Round 21 as Round 1.

"It always is (enforced strictly) early in the year and then it seems to taper off a little bit," Clarkson said.

"So the real interesting part is just whether that's maintained over the course of the season. We're obviously mindful of that and need to educate our players a little bit, just making sure they're wary of an infringement being incurred because it's a significant punishment as we saw last night."

Geelong coach Chris Scott sympathised with the umpires, but added: "One positive of playing late in Round 1 is that you get to see the other games."

"I think the competition understands why it’s in, but it’s just such a heavy penalty when effectively if it’s your forward half, generally it ends up costing the opposition a goal.

"Sometimes I think we overlook the fact the umpires are a bit nervous. Round 1 is traditionally really hot around the ball early, error-riddled and the players are exhausted towards the end. I tend to think the umpires are a bit the same."

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Jeez. It feels like Richmond are the new Hawthirn. Anything to appease them. I seriously doubt the AFL would have conceded the error of their ways if we were on the end of all those 50’s

 

[1990crow]

Jeez. It feels like Richmond are the new Hawthirn. Anything to appease them. I seriously doubt the AFL would have conceded the error of their ways if we were on the end of all those 50’s

100% they wouldn’t. The comp is so contrived it’s a joke.

 

[Rotayjay]

Murphy to play! Beauty!

 

[ams4crows]

Mackay to have 24 disposals and cut through the zone on mutiple occasions earning him a gold pass for the entire year.

 

[Scorpus]

Mackay to have 24 disposals and cut through the zone on mutiple occasions earning him a gold pass for the entire year.

He has played his best game for the season in round 1 a couple of times before

 

[ams4crows]

He has played his best game for the season in round 1 a couple of times before

I know that and Mackay knows exactly when to pull his finger out and when he can safely play with it in..... tonight is one of those times

 

[Peter Doherty]

SEN pregame is on now, Fages will be interviewed.

 

[Elite Crow]

**** channel 10 are saying Talia has a cracked rib but will play.

 

[Knighthawk]

Hey guys, do you know the reason why Lynch isn't playing and is he likely to be back next week? Cheers.

 

[Jesseb]

Talia in doubt? Tom browne says so

 

[FR0GGY]

Hey guys, do you know the reason why Lynch isn't playing and is he likely to be back next week? Cheers.

Side strain back next week according to Douglas

 

[Thetrader15]

Jeez. It feels like Richmond are the new Hawthirn. Anything to appease them. I seriously doubt the AFL would have conceded the error of their ways if we were on the end of all those 50’s

Gee, I wonder who Richmond play next week

 

[Thetrader15]

Mackay to have 24 disposals and cut through the zone on mutiple occasions earning him a gold pass for the entire year.

Spot on...except for the 24 and zone bits

 

[FR0GGY]

Talia not out there apparently?

 

[Jesseb]

Talia not out there apparently?

Was reported a few hours ago apparently

 

[Thetrader15]

Will Murphy maintain his spot next week do we think?...i assume it doesn't matter how he plays

 

[Jesseb]

Was reported a few hours ago apparently

That would have to give bombers some chance now

 

[dogs105]

Otten in?

 

[Knighthawk]

Side strain back next week according to Douglas

Thanks mate.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Otten in?

 

[dogs105]

Ta.

Talia not out then.

 

[FR0GGY]

Was reported a few hours ago apparently

Is playing, been confirmed now, but Gibson is out Greenwood is in

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Ta.

Talia not out then.

Nope !

 

[CrowBloke]

1) There is no way Cameron's primary function was to kick goals , that's a crazy assertion.
2) Leading the league for forward half turnovers doesn't happen by chance , and finishing minor premiers is no coincidence.
3) Richmond winning flag on back of forward half pressure doesn't happen by chance

"Crazy"?? Exaggerating, much?
1) When CC was on the half-forward flank (not on the ball/bench, not roaming) his PRIMARY function was to kick goals, which he did poorly more often than not except for the handful of games where he put in (29.25 in 2017 --- let's face it, it's serviceable, but underwhelming). When forward Tex, JJ, Gov, Eddie, Fog, Murphy have the same PRIMARY function.
Like every other player on the team, CC was expected to apply pressure/tackle/bump/shepherd/block/smother etc. Forward pressure is no more or less important than mid-pressure or backs-pressure. When the Crows pressured all around the ground, especially with contested ball, they were very hard to beat. To his credit, CC was our 6th-best tackler (4.3/game), but I'm not unhappy he's gone (too inconsistent). I'll bet Murphy will fill his place very well.
2) Those are the Crows' team stats, not CC's. CC didn't lead the League for forward turnovers, nor finish Minor Premier .
3) There are MANY more reasons why Richmond won the Flag than just their forward pressure:
--- Dusty factor, he re-signed, got the Brownlow and MVP and inspired them at the biz end of the season
--- they played their best three games at the right time. Kudos to their coaches and fitness staff.
--- AFL factor, giving them a Home QF vs Geelong. I despise Geelong, but still think they deserved a home final, as we did.
--- not just forward pressure, but pressure all over the ground made the Crows fumbly and hesitant
--- Crows factor, team disunity (Lever) and 2 of our best 6 players injured
--- Umpires factor, well-documented in post-GF thread,
and so on, many more.
*wiggled out of strait jacket while I typed the above*