The Bulldogs and Umpires: Time for a Royal Commission?

Remove this Banner Ad


Not surprised to see the Bulldogs fall down the ladder when the umpires stop gifting them all of the free kicks
images
 

Log in to remove this ad.

I’ve smashed you guys here a lot over years since 2016, pregame I wondered aloud who would get favoured, and boy, was it ever free kick hawthorn time again. Just wow at times
Third quarter I almost felt sorry for them. Libba got pinged for a throw while being tackled with no prior, and then 10 seconds later there's three consecutive tackles with incorrect disposals with no prior called play on for the Hawks like bang bang bang.

Almost
 
Third quarter I almost felt sorry for them. Libba got pinged for a throw while being tackled with no prior, and then 10 seconds later there's three consecutive tackles with incorrect disposals with no prior called play on for the Hawks like bang bang bang.

Almost
It must have been bad if even the Swannies almost felt sorry.
 
So about equal for the rest of the game, yet you lost the game in the 3rd qtr.
People continue to underestimate the influence that umpiring has on games.

Winning 7 Free Kicks is literally winning 7 Contests.

That's an enormous advantage - especially for a team with pretty much the whole list playing in their first final.

Lose 7 Contests in the first quarter, or even 4-5 of those, and the momentum swings entirely. For an inexperienced team, that makes a huge difference.


Culturally, it puzzles me why people don't recognise the significant impact umpiring decisions have on the results of football games.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Seven frees to nil in the first five minutes. That wasn’t why we lost but momentum was altered each time.
It was 7 free kicks total after 5 minutes. 5-2 Hawks way. They were all correct decisions too. Included summary with timestamps if you want to check.

Even arguing momentum shifts for any of them is laughable.

19:33 - English high contact against Meek in ruck contest.

18:15 - Free kick to Bulldogs, Darcy for being blocked off ball in marking contest by Frost.

17:47 - Vandermeer clear one handed throw to Bont.

17:33 - Richards chopped Nash arms in marking contest.

17:18 - Impey pushed out of marking contest early by Weightman.

16:40 - Another dogs free. To Duryea for high fend off from Meek.

16:14 - Williams clumsy high contact on Ginnivan defending a high ball.
 
The umpires definitely have a new favourite.

The dogs have been given the green light to throw the ball around as they please for almost a decade then suddenly Stevic and co start penalizing them for it just because they have a new fairytale to ride home.

You could see the look of absolute shock and betrayal in Liberatores eyes when he was done for it.

Cold.
 
It was 7 free kicks total after 5 minutes. 5-2 Hawks way. They were all correct decisions too. Included summary with timestamps if you want to check.

Even arguing momentum shifts for any of them is laughable.

19:33 - English high contact against Meek in ruck contest.

18:15 - Free kick to Bulldogs, Darcy for being blocked off ball in marking contest by Frost.

17:47 - Vandermeer clear one handed throw to Bont.

17:33 - Richards chopped Nash arms in marking contest.

17:18 - Impey pushed out of marking contest early by Weightman.

16:40 - Another dogs free. To Duryea for high fend off from Meek.

16:14 - Williams clumsy high contact on Ginnivan defending a high ball.
Oh dear. Ok. Enjoy.
 
It was 7 free kicks total after 5 minutes. 5-2 Hawks way. They were all correct decisions too. Included summary with timestamps if you want to check.

Even arguing momentum shifts for any of them is laughable.

19:33 - English high contact against Meek in ruck contest.

18:15 - Free kick to Bulldogs, Darcy for being blocked off ball in marking contest by Frost.

17:47 - Vandermeer clear one handed throw to Bont.

17:33 - Richards chopped Nash arms in marking contest.

17:18 - Impey pushed out of marking contest early by Weightman.

16:40 - Another dogs free. To Duryea for high fend off from Meek.

16:14 - Williams clumsy high contact on Ginnivan defending a high ball.
I think these types of 'they were all correct decisions' posts are futile and frankly, pretty stupid.

Pretty much every single decision and non-decision in AFL footy could be technically correct, and technically incorrect at the same time.
 
It was 7 free kicks total after 5 minutes. 5-2 Hawks way. They were all correct decisions too. Included summary with timestamps if you want to check.

Even arguing momentum shifts for any of them is laughable.

19:33 - English high contact against Meek in ruck contest.

18:15 - Free kick to Bulldogs, Darcy for being blocked off ball in marking contest by Frost.

17:47 - Vandermeer clear one handed throw to Bont.

17:33 - Richards chopped Nash arms in marking contest.

17:18 - Impey pushed out of marking contest early by Weightman.

16:40 - Another dogs free. To Duryea for high fend off from Meek.

16:14 - Williams clumsy high contact on Ginnivan defending a high ball.
The free Sicily got for ‘blocking’ against Bont was a disgrace.

Mind you, it was the only time we made physical contact with him all night
 
As a neutral i felt early on in particular a number of obvious free kicks for the Dogs were missed, and that if paid would have given the Dogs a lot of early momentum and contributed to a bigger early lead. Hawks overall were awesome though.

On a side note, thought Friday night was the best umpired game by a quite a margin
 
The umpires definitely have a new favourite.

The dogs have been given the green light to throw the ball around as they please for almost a decade then suddenly Stevic and co start penalizing them for it just because they have a new fairytale to ride home.

You could see the look of absolute shock and betrayal in Liberatores eyes when he was done for it.

Cold.
Well it’s been a legit pass for him forever!
 
Will be an interesting watch for sure over the next two weeks.
How much influence can/will the umpiring have to see a Cats vs Hawks GF eventuate?

Hopefully none but it will be an interesting watch and see.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

The Bulldogs and Umpires: Time for a Royal Commission?

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top