I’m sorry but the state of umpiring is best described by a 15yo with limited experience umpiring the senior grand final. Good luck to him in getting the game but he realistically has umpired one year of senior football. Whilst we have all discussed the virtues of the senior coach (no need to go back there) surely a teenager needs more time to develop and gain experience to be appointed to these games. Exposing him to that level at a young age may see him walk away from umpiring for good due to a bad experience. That’s not good coaching or development.
Umpiring is in trouble everywhere unfortunately. It is a tireless and thankless task and they work in a primarily negative environment and they are realistically never correct. It is easy to ‘bag’ them but rarely people come up with a solution. The poor quality of coaches everywhere is due to many not wanting to do the job due to the time commitment, constant criticism and poor remuneration. I know of a number of real,y good people who would do the jobs if the conditions were better.
Why can clubs pay players a fortune and often way above market rate (and ability) but scream when an increase in wages for umpires/ better coaches is suggested. Then they complain incessantly about having to pay more to their respective leagues to try and improve the situation. What then happens is the loudest/ majority wins and umpiring continues to suffer the same issues.
This is not just an Outer East situation, it is everywhere. I am told the umpiring in the Eastern premier grand final was poor too.
The AFLOE has good umpires unfortunately the umpires boss ignorantly selected others for finals. No way should a young kid have been umpiring a senior GF. Don’t insult our intelligence by trying to say he’s in the best 3 umpires up here. The game yesterday was ruined due to one umpire over officiating and one just far too inexperienced to make correct calls. When you have an umpires boss that believes every time body contact occurs it’s a free kick we are doomed. To then see him assisted by one of the worst umpires for making the game about himself my god.
I’d say the AFLOE would have a record amount of 25 meter penalties downfield send offs and reports.
Completely lost any feel for the game.
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