Umpiring getting worse?

[MalteserMan]

Is it just me or is the umpiring just getting worse and worse.

I only caught one game this w/e, Crows v Saints.

The umpiring was extremely ordinary, both directions. Poor holding the ball decisions paid, obvious high tackles or holding frees not paid...

Nothing worse than seeing a guy get chased down, tackled and not be done for holding the pill.

This was the only game I saw but I hear it was pretty bad in other games too... surely the AFL have to do something.

[Alex7089]

Definitely getting worse, they are acting like fools and it is becoming a big problem.

[bunyip]

There doesn't seem to be any consistancy in their decisions. Maybe the rules are too complex now. I can't work out this holding the ball rule. They seem to only pay it when it suits them. Maybe just go back to a ball up when a pack forms.

[valkorum]

The one rule that is really frustrating me this year is the incorrect disposal.  It seems they dont pay it if a player makes an attempt to get rid of the ball.  WRONG.... regardless if they make an attempt or not if they do not dispose the ball correctly it should be a free kick

[MalteserMan]

There doesn't seem to be any consistancy in their decisions.

Yep, this pisses me off.

A Saints player gets chased down, stripped of the ball - no free.

Dangerfield gets tackled as he bounces the ball, at this point the trigger happy umpire blew the whistle.... the tackle didnt stick and the ball (as it does when you bounce it) bounces back up to him and he runs off.... freekick? plz.


Its just sad and annoying.

[Bluke]

Or the 50m rule for overstepping the mark. Such a stupid rule when players almost always play on.

The rule changes the AFL have made over the year haven't helped the game one bit. Shame on them.

[reesbr]

Yep.

The advantage rule as well

[thornz23]

i have definately noticed a decline in umpiring standard this year. the main one like u guys say is incorrect disposal/holding the ball. i could have sworn the rule was if u r tackled and drop the ball that is incorrect disposal.. it happens so often and is called like 1 in 3 times. i reli dnt like the dragging the ball in rule aswell. so often i see a tackler pinning the ball to the player and they get pinged for dragging it/ making no attempt.. very annoying

[McRooster]

They have got to look at the third player in at the base of a stoppage. This player prevents the pill coming out and flow continuing. Let's keep it moving Umps and ping the third player in! Not an official rule yet as I understand but one that needs looking at.

[kalani]

maybe we should employ umpires who arnt blind ;D

[Alex7089]

Well, if it's possible, the umpires just got worse again. This is ridiculous, maybe the crowd should just have a poll on every decision to bypass the umpire completely?