The feel of the game

[Stuart]

I was at tonights game, unfortunately!
One thing I noticed, I've always been right into my footy, was I have lost the feel for the way the game is adjudicated. Every time a contest was on. I was thinking is a whistle going to sound, when it did I was thinking what for.
The AFL in their wisdom has decided over summer to play around with the rules.
What I don't understand is, who are the rules being changed for. In the media, players & coaches don't seem impressed. Supporters are confused & not supportive.
I did notice there was more contests tonight, but they weren't footy contests, they were like rebounds in basketball, where who ever can jump the highest wins. Now in my eyes, that is why I am not a basketball fan, I like players to have to have to contest with phsicallity, strength & leap, judgement- everything that goes towards a traditional AFL (aussie rules, I think they are now becoming a different product) mark or loose/hard ball contest.
All in all the game is now super soft. The changes by the AFL have been made. Who they & why they have been made is anyones guess, but I am yet to come across anyone or a majority of a body say they are step in the right direction.
Why does the AFL insist on making our game so over officiated & soft?

 

[bigster]

Couldn't get to our game this evening having to work night shift but I did see a bit of the Geelong & doggies game. A perfect example of your comment on how the umpiring is making the game soft was just before 1/4 time when Brad Johnson received a free kick about 50m out after a contested marking situation which ultimately cost Geelong a goal. All players in the contest had eyes only for the ball but because Johnson landed heavily after being crunched in the air from the side he received the free. The irony of it all was that the Geelong player that 'crunched' him in the spoiling attempt remained on the ground for quite some time and required attention from the trainers before continuing. There was absolutely nothing in the contest resembling a free kick. It is just the AFL trying to soften the game so that Mums won't be deterred from allowing their little boys from playing the game. Weak As *smile* on the AFL's behalf IMO. No wonder the game has disintegrated to a game of keeping off; as soon as it looks like there will be a contest the umpire is looking to give free kicks so that it doesn't look like someone might get hurt.
What is really irksome is the way in which every other level of football is umpired in the old fashioned style.

 

[Bunnerz85]

agree, game is getting less and less entertaining

 

[Anduril]

Why has a throw become a handpass?

 

[feisty tige]

Why has a throw become a handpass?

It is only when the opposition do it it is a handpass, when we handball, this is now a throw.

RFC Crucified.

 

[Anduril]

Of all the rules the AFL should be looking at these so called handballs should be the one. I'm old enough
( just ;D ) to remember the furore over Ted Whitten and the "flick pass".

 

[RFC4eva]

I have a theory as to why the umps are so whistle-happy, and why they are paying such soft free kicks (especially around the packs.)

It is so the game has less stoppages. Notbecause it looks any better for spectators, but because they don't want to get embarrased when they stuff up the bounce of the ball :-[

They don't want to have their bad ball bounces being highlighted in the media, or win the "tool of the week" award.

Umpires, stop being whistle-blowing sooky-la-las and bounce the ball if you need to. We're sick of soft frees and want the players to be allowed to contest the ball

 

[feisty tige]

Heard on SEN that they reckon the AFL don't want stoppages seems like they don't want a contest, sounds to me like we should be playing Gaelic footy because that is what they want...

:

 

[craig]

Also having these clowns miked up for TV has made em more intent on self promotion, just like that clown Goldspink who couldnt shut his pie hole.

Un plug these duds and put em back to where they used to be - seen not heard, i;m sure taking their profile away would make a difference i guarantee it.

As for the histrionics and BS clown performances by Goal Umpires SPARE ME FFS.

 

[Hey Pesto!]

The game seems to be evolving, our boys seemed a bit lighter, more athletic. They certainly run a bit more.

Because of this the umps cant keep up and keep making dodgy decisions.

 

[RFC4eva]

Didn't they introduce more umps because of the speed of the game?? I don't think it's a matter of them keeping up, the problem is they are over-officiating the game to get attention. We can see you!!

They are probably annoyed that the don't get their heads on kid's footy cards