GreatEx wrote:
Normally I'd prefer my team's coach didn't whinge about the umpiring but since in AFL it works (Paddy's 7 frees, Hawthorn after every Clarkson tirade) I say @#$%&! it, whinge away.
Umpires paid at least 2 free kicks to West Coast right in front of goal when the Blues player had absolutely no prior opportunity.
A number of times during the game a West Coast player was tackled after taking two or three steps with the ball in hand before they wwere tackled - but this was considered no prior opportunity.
Other stand out incorrect calls were Ed's trip, NicNat being tackled then swung his foot at the ball but missed by 400cm but not called for incorrect disposal. On a few other occasions NicNat was tacked and did not dispose correctly but we were not awarded a free.
The umpires tend to umpire the more prominent players much more leniently than others. Examples are Nic Nat regularly disposes incorrectly (and he tackled Cripps without the ball as well as slamming him into the ground - no free), Dustin Martin punching the throat of tacklers but judged to be OK (Ed Curnows injury last year), Selwood regularly awarded free kicks for high tackles after he ducks or bends his knees to lower his body. Prominent forwards awarded free kicks for being held when both players are holding each other and it is clear that the backline players jumper is stretched by being held. Casboult having a free paid against him for "blocking" in a ruck contest when even the commentators said he just used superior strength bu nudging his opponent sideways - yet on many occasions Nic Nat grabbed his opposing ruckman and threw them sideways but no free.
Cain Liddle should edit the video of this weeks game, send it to the AFL and umpires coach and ask for an explanation as to why decisions were judged in favour of West Coast when they tackled a Carlton player, but when a Carlton player tackled a West Coast player in exactly the same manner it was either a free to West Coast, play on or a ball up. And the video should repeatedly play the trip to Curnow and the slam to the ground of Cripps by NicNat. Maybe if the umpires saw it repeated 30 or 40 times they might pick up the inconsistency.