Roast Statement on Umpires

[Winmar]

It was diabolical, just diabolical! I'm glad fans of other clubs think the same thing, so it's not just put down as bleating Saints fans.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

whilst we are taking hand outs from the AFL and potentially looking at a priority pick next year, there is absolutely no way were going to upset the AFL with the threat of legal action

I still would rather us at least demand that the AFL explain to us why the decisions occur and demand that they improve the umps.

 

[Falchoon]

We have to change it.

Watters as the face of the Saints has to lay it on the line.

 

[Defacto]

I still would rather us at least demand that the AFL explain to us why the decisions occur and demand that they improve the umps.

has to be done behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. all you can do is ask for an explanation on each free kick and ask how they are going to make sure that doesnt occur again

you cant go in and demand things

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

has to be done behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. all you can do is ask for an explanation on each free kick and ask how they are going to make sure that doesnt occur again

you cant go in and demand things

We have asked numerous times and nothing has changed we need to try a different approach.

 

[sauce_head]

whilst we are taking hand outs from the AFL and potentially looking at a priority pick next year, there is absolutely no way were going to upset the AFL with the threat of legal action

How can we get a priority pick? Should the AFL!s integrity team not investigate the integrity of the AFL having discretion over something like a priority pick?

 

[Defacto]

How can we get a priority pick? Should the AFL!s integrity team not investigate the integrity of the AFL having discretion over something like a priority pick?

AFL's discretion but i reckon we might be in with a chance next year or the year after

 

[St Bongo]

If there existed in anyone's mind a shred of doubt that the umpiring fraternity have a set against us then that doubt is surely now well and truly dispelled. So the question is now no longer "if", the question is now "why".
Is it just because we are not playing that well at the moment and they favour who they think is the better team?
Do they have something personal against some of our players? (The Schneider sarcastic clapping?)
Could it even go back to the Grant Thomas days? (Whispers in the sky?)

Whatever the reason, it is incumbent on the club to find out why. The club must make a polite but firm inquiry to the AFL to ask what the club needs to do to make sure tonight's shameful treatment of our team by the umpires is never repeated. If this approach is given the usual brush off by the AFL then the club must go public.

The PC driven protection of the umpires from any public criticism is actually part of the problem. The umpires are well paid employees of the AFL and should be subjected to the same public scrutiny as administrators, commissioners, club presidents, coaches and players. I'm not suggesting hysterical, illogical abuse of the umpires but this notion that allowing umpires to be held accountable for their work performance will somehow result in young people not joining the umpiring ranks is without any fact based evidence. How many underage footballers decide they don't want to pursue their AFL dream because they heard their favourite AFL player being criticised for his performance?

 

[goodie23]

The PC driven protection of the umpires from any public criticism is actually part of the problem. The umpires are well paid employees of the AFL and should be subjected to the same public scrutiny as administrators, commissioners, club presidents, coaches and players. I'm not suggesting hysterical, illogical abuse of the umpires but this notion that allowing umpires to be held accountable for their work performance will somehow result in young people not joining the umpiring ranks is without any fact based evidence. How many underage footballers decide they don't want to pursue their AFL dream because they heard their favourite AFL player being criticised for his performance?

Lot of umpires are weeded out at the junior level by abuse, rabid parents are worse than an AFL crowd. Additionally there's the usual politics and who you know even at the youngest level.That's why I quit.

I've long thought the biggest problem is umpires aren't professional. Enlarge the ranks, make 'em full-time teach them properly and work to curb the vast variety of interpretations. And tell them to stop hating St Kilda.

 

[Ice-Wolf]

I reckon I was very close from jumping the fence and beating the crap out of Umpire #22 today. That was how frustrated I was.

We should have still won anyway but the umpires effected the game enough to change the result.

 

[Kildonan]

Spend some time reviewing the frees paid to WCE and you see a theme - they make it happen:

- they drop the knees when tackled and fall forward whilst locking the tacklers arm against them to draw the "in the back" free,
- they lever the tacklers arms high flipping them up over the shoulders to gain a "high contact" free,
- they wobble the head in a manner that has been well rehearsed (see Darling) so it looks as if there has been high contact
- they appear as if they are trying to get rid of the ball when they are caught in a HTB free
I could go on but the fact is that WCE are not the recipient of the most number of free kicks in the AFL (or the greatest positive margin) by accident.
They have rehearsed this over and over until they have it fairly believable.

I consider this approach to be against the spirit of the game and I can see why people might consider it cheating.
An analogy might be a wealthy man using loopholes in the tax law to avoid paying his fair tax payment.

The good umpires let these non-frees go and in doing so sometimes miss a genuine free kick.
The bad umpires and newbies are sucked in and pay these non-frees over and over in case they miss a real free.

We all know that when umpires let the game go and don't overofficiate, the game is more attractive and enjoyable and everyone is happier (except the tax dodgers).

The umpires need to let things flow, the rules committee need to ensure all new laws introduced into the game are designed without an element of umpire discretion i.e. make sure the rules are black and white - and do not require any degree of interpretation that may vary from one person to the next.

 

[archereleven]

Yeah, couldnt believe that Priddis free in the context of the game. I ****in hate that team of duckers and the 2 duckwoods that play for them... It shits me to tears the media are to scared to say anything either, they all just sweep it under the carpet and blow hot air up the arse of the team that wins...

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

I couldn't actually believe it would get worse this year....

Wow.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

I find it funny how they complain for Darling and yet ignore the fact that Glass uses the same tactics.

 

[Plugger35]

I find it funny how they complain for Darling and yet ignore the fact that Glass uses the same tactics.

West Coast supporters are the most deluded twits in the AFL.

Some of them have the hide to claim they were robbed by the umpires.

This is the reason they get favoured every week.



The AFL is about making money these days, running a fair competition doesn't enter the equation.

 

[Plugger35]

Ain't it sad.

 

[sauce_head]

The AFL are making a rod for their own back with the constant rule changes. As much as I hate it you cannot blame WCE for taking advantage, you can only blame the inept administration for allowing to to go on. Perhaps a fine for a first initiating a free (like diving) would help but I really can't see how that would work. Name and shame perhaps? If Melbounre can be done for disrepute for not trying hard enough then surely WCE can be done for disrepute for abusing the rules?

 

[Winmar]

I really like the tax dodging analogy. Just because something is within the rules doesn't mean it's not shameful.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

I reckon I was very close from jumping the fence and beating the crap out of Umpire #22 today. That was how frustrated I was.

I think there was quite a number at the ground thinking on doing the same thing.

To be quite frank it's going to happen one day. It's no longer a case of if but when. It will be a sad day in football when it does.

 

[Ice-Wolf]

I think there was quite a number at the ground thinking on doing the same thing.

To be quite frank it's going to happen one day. It's no longer a case of if but when. It will be a sad day in football when it does.

I'm at the point of think we should instruct our players to "clean them up" accidentally of course i.e. woops didn't see you there umpire, can i help you up, (starts to help umpire up, lets go half way) sorry lost my grip, let me help you again.

Let the umpires know that there will be consequences for their bullshit, at the moment they like the little shits who bully someone and then run and hide behind someone bigger to avoid the repercussions, in this case the AFL.

 

[Plugger35]

Watters needs to march in to Gieschen's office tomorrow morning with Robbie Muir to demand some answers, it has gone way beyond a joke.

Worsfold said after the game that it was a frustrating game to watch and they won, how do you think Watters and us Saints supporters felt Woosha?

 

[LuckyBounce35]

Watters needs to march in to Gieschen's office tomorrow morning with Robbie Muir to demand some answers, it has gone way beyond a joke.

Worsfold said after the game that it was a frustrating game to watch and they won, how do you think Watters and us Saints supporters felt Woosha?

He cant see Geischen apparently he is on annual leave for 8 weeks?

 

[LuckyBounce35]

Watters may aswell go and say something, I mean it can't get any bloody worse can it?

 

[Dusty Cotch]

I reckon I was very close from jumping the fence and beating the crap out of Umpire #22 today. That was how frustrated I was.

We should have still won anyway but the umpires effected the game enough to change the result.

I said it yesterday his non paying of the holding the ball in your goal square was the most insipid gutless decision I have seen all year. It made a mockery of the holding the ball he had paid against Steven minutes earlier. Eagles & North are the biggest charity cases week after week it is proven.

 

[goodie23]

Watters may aswell go and say something, I mean it can't get any bloody worse can it?

It can. It always can.