Today, a new sponsorship deal was announced between AFL umpires and eye care organisation OPSM.
OPSM is a leading company in the eye care industry and after being established 78 years ago in 1932, it has branched out and has over 300 stores in both Australia and New Zealand. (more…)
Welcome to the second installment of my Weekly Bite. The week has been one that has not raised as many issues as before being the split round but here is my top and bottom four for this week in Football.
THE TOP FOUR
1. ROUND 14 SAINTS VS. CATS – Both sides remain undefeated going into round 13 of Football. Geelong play host to Port Adelaide at Skilled Stadium while the Saints encounter Richmond at Etihad Stadium. All things going well both teams should enter the round 14 clash still without a defeat which is the AFL’s dream. Despite the game not being played at the MCG it sill will be the biggest game of 2009 to date. Who do we think will take a victory away in round 14 and remain undefeated?
2. LIAM JURRAH – Another exciting debut in season 2009 with Jurrah having his first run for the Demons against Essendon. Really enjoyed his game and especially his first Goal in senior footy. Could have easily had a couple more. Showed a lot of poise and also class with his skills. Definantly one to watch in the coming years.
3. NATHAN BUCKLEY – Will he, wont he, will he, wont he. The speculation on Nathan Buckley coaching in 2010 is beginning to hit fever pitch with everyone talking up his prospects and what job he will take. Buckley has been in America furthering his coaching credentials for a tilt at one of the jobs on offer. Where will Buckley be in 2010 and will he be ready to coach at senior level?
4. BRENT PRISMALL – The ex-cat has made a successful return to AFL football after a knee reconstruction towards the end of 2008. In my eyes was always unlucky not to get more games down at the Cattery. Showed that he has the ability to run in the midfield with a very solid game Friday night for the Bombers. Got a lot of the ball and used it well throughout the night. Really happy to see this guy doing well.
THE BOTTOM FOUR
1. THE MITCH MORTON KICK – I am beginning to become increasingly annoyed with the Mitch Morton style of set shot. The opening of the angle and then snapping the ball through the Goals. I understand this can work well for many players but on Sunday I witnessed two Geelong players try this style. Tom Hawkins successfully and Gary Ablett not so. My point is guys like Gary Ablett have great skills and do not need to use this set shot style to kick for goal, so please don’t. I am sure Gary Snr had some advice for his son after the set shot.
2. UMPIRES – Don’t get me wrong I love when the umpires start to let the play go more and pay fewer free kicks. If this is going to be the case however can the umpires ensure that consistency is across all games and also both ends of the ground? Case in point was Fremantle vs. Geelong, too much inconsistency, if you are not going to pay them all day fine, but don’t then pay them late in games. What do we all think of the new relaxed umpiring?
3. SPLIT ROUNDS – The idea of the split round is beginning to wear thin with myself and many others in the Football community. I like the idea of teams having a break but why can’t it happen on the same weekend? This year has justified to me why I don’t think the split round should happen. Three games in the second week with no games at the MCG on a Saturday. An odd split that will advantage and disadvantage many clubs in this week coming. If the split round is to continue it needs to be a proper 4 and 4 split or just a straight out by. Why not in the by week showcase the TAC cup?
4. JACK WATTS – Unfair the criticism that is being leveled at young Jack Watts of the Demons at the moment. I understand he may look like a boy playing amongst men but surely that is a problem with the club and selectors and not the player himself. I would agree he probably should not be in the senior’s side as he has many other commitments during his final year of school (I and many others understand the pressure). If he is happy to play senior football and the club selects him I have no problem with that but I do have a problem with the level of criticism by Demon supporters especially.
Fremantle 11.9.(75)
Geelong 13.16.(94)
Geelong has continued its winning streak in season 2009 defeating a valiant Fremantle outfit. Fremantle were able to push an at times sluggish Geelong team but just could not come away with the points, eventually being defeated by 19 points. It looked as though the Cats may have gone into the round 14 clash with St Kilda with one defeat but the lesser likes of Byrnes and Varcoe helped to get the Cats over the line.
Big Moment
This was one game where the umpires had a massive influence at crucial times for both teams. During the last term Fremantle were on the attack after Geelong got the Jump early in the last. They moved the ball along the wing but James Kelly intercepted the pass on Fremantle’s half forward flank. Kelly played on and was tackled from behind and disposed of the ball incorrectly but no free was paid. Geelong was able to take the ball and the result was a goal to the Cats.
Key Players for Fremantle
Matthew Pavlich – Absolutely amazing for the Dockers having 31 disposals. 7 clearances for the Pav and 9 contested possessions and kicked 2 goals for the Dockers.
Aaron Sandilands – Killed the Cats in the ruck contest today well mainly Mark Blake. Had 37 hit outs and 5 clearances. The thing I really enjoyed about his game was the 12 contested possessions from a big man.
Greg Broughton – Loved his game today out of defence. 7 rebounds from 50 in his 29 disposals and 5 tackles. Really looked dangerous coming out of defence for the Dockers.
Key Players for Geelong
Shannon Byrnes – Best game in Geelong colours by far. In an inaccurate day for the Cats Byrnes kicked 5 goals 1 behind. 26 possessions with 5 inside 50s set up the win for the Cats with his running and now good skills.
Travis Varcoe – Only had 20 possessions but showed his class in the third and fourth quarters. Set up at least two goals one that he started at half back and laid a Sheppard in the goal square. 10 contested possessions and 4 inside 50s. Really helped Geelong get over the line.
Joel Corey – 30 touches in a very good return for Corey. Well rounded performance helping out both forward and back. 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s and 2 rebounds from 50. The impressive thing was his 8 tackles tried hard all day.
Musings from the Match
* Mitch Morton is starting some form of goal kicking revolution for better or worse. Tom Hawkins used the technique and succeeded but young Gary Ablett from only 20 metres out tried and failed. As a Cat fan not impressed as Ablett is such a good set shot.
* With the imminent return of Brad Ottens tough decisions need to be made on who is the 2nd ruckmen. Mark Blake is on shaky ground, doesn’t do enough around the ground.
* Fremantle’s early inaccuracy may have cost them a big lead at quarter time.
* Geelong’s later inaccuracy also may have cost them a big lead at three quarter time.
* So many mistakes from umpires. Examples to follow.
* Didn’t realise ruckmen can take the ball out of the ruck, get tackled and not get pinged for holding the ball.
* Holding the ball apparently didn’t exist for this game.
* Umpires have to not get sucked in by players in a contest and give away subsequent soft free kicks.
* Geelong now holds the record for interstate wins on the trot.
* Round 14 is still on.
* Perth teams are enjoying playing Geelong this year.
SuperCoach
Please don’t cry but Gary Ablett scored less than one hundred points, well down on his season average. He did have 29 possessions but a lot of handballs. Shannon Byrnes had a massive total of 145 well up on his average of 98. Joel Selwood was also well down on his season average. Sandilands as expected dominated the ruck and scored 140 points well up on his average for the season. Broughton also had a very good game with 119 points.
The Blues are back in town:
The Saints defensive pressure could not have been better in the first five rounds and they look like a unit finally starting to really understand Ross Lyon and his game plan, with Hudghton, Mcguire and eventually Sean Dempster to still slip back into the side and Jason Blake now able to stay back rather then ruck part-time, this backline is the key to the Saints finals aspirations. However it is not only the backline that has lifted, the midfield and forward lines have increased their defensive pressure immensely; the Saints are conceding an average of only 40 inside 50’s per week which has so far completely choked every side they have played, to put that figure into perspective Geelong over the past two years have conceded roughly 45 inside 50’s per game. They say premierships are built from the backline… Watch this space.
The Dees can’t catch a break at the moment. Injuries have hurt and they are breeding a whole new team at the minute. They won unexpectedly against the terrible Tigers but I can’t see them registering another win for some weeks. With the GC17 draft concessions the Dees are going to have some trouble getting the best new talent in the next few years which they so desperately need, unfortunately it will be a while before we see the Demons back on par with the rest of the field.
Another grey area for the AFL has reared its ugly head AGAIN.
Brett Kirk was fined for making contact with an umpire in an almost unavoidable situation a couple of weeks ago Paul Roos was interviewed during that week and said that Brett Kirk had asked him what else he should do in that situation next time. Roos answered that he had no idea. Adding that to there have been more inconsistent outcomes with Heath Shaw’s suspension for lightly pushing an umpire ever so slightly off balance and the clearing of Max Rooke for tugging an umpire’s shirt. Situations like this highlighted another area in which players are running around not knowing what to do in these UNAVOIDABLE situations. On the flip side during the NAB cup an umpire made accidental contact with St.Kilda player Robert Eddy. Eddy only returned this week after recovering from the injury. In this case the umpire was found to be in the wrong place but was not punished, seems a little inconsistent to me.
There has not been a day go by this season where I have not spoken DreamTeam or SuperCoach nerd talk to another fellow football geek, I found myself talking to my hairdresser about the ins and outs of the SuperCoach game until I was almost halfway out the door, it makes games more exciting and you find yourself barracking for not just teams but individual players… I find myself thinking “GIVE IT BACK TO HIM” every time one of my guys gets the ball!
Ok, so I am totally contradicting myself here after I gave this rule a big fat fail when reviewing it after the NAB cup but from all the footy I have watched in the last few weeks (Which I might add is a damn lot), I have been really happy with the way the rule has panned out. It turns that last line of defence from a walk over the line into an absolute scramble to get just an inch of space, so far I haven’t seen my own team suffer from the rule which probably contributes to my opinion though!
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Only five rounds in and each week we learn more about each club, feel free to comment on the above lessons or share ones you have learnt so far this season.
With the pre season competition there are always some new controversial rule changes, I’m going through and rating each one and deciding if it will work in the season proper.
1. Behind the Umpire is a No Go Zone
Rule: There will be a zone behind the umpire that players are not permitted to enter in order to protect umpires from being injured/colliding with players
Verdict: UNCHANGED
I fail to see the difference between this and the normal season, players are expected to keep out of the way of the umpire this rule comes up from time to time but then drifts away, I wouldn’t be expecting to see to much change this year.
2. Rushed Behinds results in free kick
Rule: A free kick will be awarded from the spot where the behind was rushed from.
Verdict: FAIL
You cannot let two games (Joel Bowden rushing the ball over the line from a kick in, in the dying minutes of a game and the Grand Final where Hawthorn rushed so many behinds) from last year change the rule completely, If Hawthorn had of lost the Grand Final by a few points people would be saying that it was their own fault for rushing so many points. I think the rule should stay as is but if you really disliked Bowden’s tactics perhaps it should be a free kick if you rush it directly from a kick in but in general play it should be acceptable.
3. No Touching After Disposed of the Ball
Rule: Automatic free kick and 50m penalty if a player tackles, holds or makes high contact to an opponent after they dispose of the ball.
Verdict: FAIL
Hitting a player after he has disposed of the ball should be penalised however I think a down field free kick is sufficient in these cases.
4. Substitute Players
Rule: During the preseason there are eight interchange players and two of these are designated as ‘substitutes’. Substitutes can be brought onto the field at any time however the player a substitute replaces can take no further part in the game.
Verdict: FAIL
Good format for the pre-season competition so we can see the best players playing for half a game or so however I could not see it working in the season proper, 4 interchange players is enough and injuries are part of the game.
5. Distance for a kick to be awarded a mark at 20m instead of 15m.
Rule: Kicks must travel 20 meters rather then 15 meters to be awarded a mark.
Verdict: FAIL
People are whinging about the handball overtaking the kick and we wonder why, it has gone from 10 to 15 and now to 20 meters, leave it at 15.
6. No mark paid if the ball is kicked backwards in the defensive half of the ground
Rule: A line is drawn straight across the ground and if you are in your defensive half of the ground a mark is not paid if the ball travels backwards.
Verdict: FAIL
Again good for the pre-season competition however not suited to the season proper, if you don’t want teams chipping the ball around, ditch the zone and play man on man.
7. Ball to be thrown up around the ground
Rule: Ball is thrown up instead of bouncing for ruck contests around the ground.
Verdict: SUCCESS
Common sense finally prevails. Introduce it and stop the bad bounces that cause so much controversy, the bounce is an important part of the game and I never want to see it banished but leave it for the centre square after a goal or to start a quarter.
8. Umpire able to recall the centre bounce if it favours one team to much
Rule: Umpire can recall centre bounce if it is not deemed to be fair.
Verdict: SUCCESS
Again common sense wins out, pretty much the same explanation as above the classic example being Collingwood vs. North Melbourne last year where a bad bounce changed the result of a match, if it’s a shocker then bring it back.
As you can see from above I think why fix something that isn’t broken? Common sense rules should be changed but all in all the game needs to be left alone.
I would welcome any comments you may have on the subjects.
I hate it when the AFL screw around with the rules, especially when there’s nothing wrong to begin with. A case in point was the ‘hands in the back’ rule, which was designed to address a problem that was insignificant at best. Another overreaction to a minor issue came in the modifications to interchange rules, with a free kick being awarded in front of goal if the correct interchange paperwork had not been completed. Bureaucrats might have liked it, but footy fans certainly didn’t.
Therefore, I was surprised when the AFL announced changes to the rules regarding centre bounces on Monday. Umpires will now be able to call back wayward centre bounces and then throw the ball up second time around. Something just doesn’t feel right about this decision by the AFL. Perhaps it’s the fact that it displays and uncharacteristic amount of common sense? Or maybe it’s the fact that it will be good for football?
This rule change has been a long time coming, but I firmly believe the AFL should go one step further and restrict the bounce to the start of quarters and after goals. Why? Because bouncing a football is bloody hard and ultimately serves as a distraction from umpires’ main role—to officiate the game. Of course umpires are struggling to pick up all frees around the stoppages, because at present the main one spends much of the ruck contest looking at the ground.
In addition to this, the bounce is robbing the AFL of decent umpiring talent. Take former Essendon player Mark Fraser for example. After working his way up through the ranks, he became widely regarded as a strong decision maker. He also had the added advantage of having “been there and done it”, which would have earned him some respect from those who accuse umpires of being out of touch with the game. So why didn’t he umpire last year’s grand final, or even any games at all? He’s crap at bouncing (although it should be noted that injury played a major role also)! As someone who once harboured vague aspirations to umpire at the highest level, I can categorically say the Fraser situation was not a one off, with many other talented umpires being brought undone by bouncing over the years.
Don’t get me wrong—I have a soft spot for the bounce, and I do think it has a valuable part to play in the spectacle of starting matches and quarters (something, albeit minor, would feel wrong if the ball was not bounced at the start of a Grand Final). But it is also important that we get our priorities right, and surely getting the best umpires to make the right decisions should come first. That’s just common sense.
See also:
League announces rule changes, trials (AFL website)
The AFL is set to trail a raft of new rules for the 2009 pre-season cup in an effort to make the game ‘better’. There are projected plans for new protection for umpires, four field umpires, frees after disposal incur a 50m penalty and many more. Amongst the proposed rules change is one about deliberate rushed behinds. There are two possible solutions that are being touted to solve the omnipresent rushed behind problem. Most people agree that the rule should be changed, but the arguments start when the two options of the result of a rushed behind are put forward. One of the options is to have a bounce at 25 meters out and the other is a free kick being awarded.
The problem with the 25 meter out bounce is that it will not stop clubs from rushing behinds; it could even have the opposite effect. If the game is close then a rushed behind and a bounce would not be that dire, because the defending team could just flood the ball up if they were in front. According to Terry Wallace, Richmond Coach, this could mean that teams would have “all 18 players come inside the back half” trying to clog up the play, exactly the opposite of what the AFL is trying to achieve. Not to mention that teams could intentionally rush behinds if they were the better ruck-roving team. If they had a freak ruckman and a decent on-ballers it could be more beneficial for the rushing team to have a bounce and gain the extra 15 meters (kick out line is 10m out).
The problem with the free kick rule is that it could be perceived as too harsh a penalty. Some club officials have drawn the comparison that “It’s like being sent to jail for stealing a loaf of bread”. Furthermore this would bring in yet another interpretation the umpires have to deal with, in this case the definition of ‘deliberately rushed’. How can you tell if a spoil from the side is a deliberate rushed behind? We have shocking inconsistency already in the way deliberate out of bounds is adjudicated. Do we really want a 50/50 rushed behind deciding grand finals? I have to wonder if the umpires have been consulted very extensively, the general message from them over the last few years has been desires to reduce interpretation not add more to their officiating duties.
If a player is deliberately rushing behinds and they know that it will result in a free against them they would be foolish to do it. This rule would almost always rule out the rushed behind and would result in much more holding the ball decisions around the goals when players have no options.
The AFL should give the free kick rule a go in the NAB cup to see if it works and to see how the players, fans and umpires like it. Not that it matters what I think, the AFL make up their minds then ‘consult’ (make everyone else agree with them).
See Also:
It’s the last week of September in the year 2109, and Melbourne is abuzz with Grand Final fever. Thanks to rising sea levels, the MCG and Docklands are long gone, and instead this year’s match is being played at the newly-built seaside home of the AFL, McGuire Park in Broadmeadows (cryogenics have come a long way, and a freshly-thawed Eddie is now in charge of the league).
This year’s match between Western Sydney and Outer Western Sydney promises to be a cracker, but unfortunately the lead-up has been overshadowed by more controversy over umpiring, with North Queensland coach Michael Voss IV directing strong criticism at officials after his onballers received some extremely close tagging during their narrow Preliminary Final loss.
Umpires’ boss Eugene Fevola, who is still red-faced over the failed trial of robotic goal umpires, today acknowledged that some infringements were missed during the game and that it may be time to consider the introduction of a 13th field umpire.
Okay, so perhaps the AFL will never have 13 field umpires, but it will be well on the way if the mooted introduction of a fourth field umpire goes ahead. Obviously, it is the playmakers like Judd, Ablett and Kerr that make AFL so exciting, and hence they should receive adequate protection from taggers that bend the rules. However, a quick look at the statistics from 2008 reveals that in fact these three players all ranked in the top 10 for Frees For, with all of them regularly receiving four or more frees per game. Of course, this is not to say that frees aren’t still being missed, but clearly these players aren’t being impeded from plying their trade effectively since they are almost always at the business end of Brownlow Medal tally board.
But even if the league’s premier midfielders are getting a rough deal, why is the addition of an extra umpire seen as the solution? It seems like whenever a chorus of complaining about umpiring standards erupts, the league makes the knee-jerk response of adding another umpire. This generally calms things down for a few years until the whole cycle starts again.
This is not to say that we shouldn’t seek improvement in umpiring standards, but what most football fans desire from officials is consistency, and the addition of extra umpires will deliver the exact opposite, as another umpire just means another interpretation of the rules. As it stands, there are three field umpires, one of which is always parked in one fifty metre arc doing nothing at all. Surely better use could be made of the third umpire, or the existing boundary umpires, before the league goes and expands the panel.
See also:
2008 Frees For statistics (Footywire)
