When it comes to AFL umpires, ‘ego’ is not a dirty word

 

Roar Guru

By Best Clubman, 29 Jul 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Guru

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 AFL, Geelong, Geelong Cats, umpires, umpiring

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According to legendary Australian glam rock band Skyhooks, ‘ego is not a dirty word’. Based on the ridiculous mannerisms, the constant patronisation of players, and the perpetual need to be at the centre of the game rather than just a part of the game, ‘ego’ is not a dirty word for AFL umpires either.

After events on the weekend, one word which apparently is dirty to the umpiring fraternity is ‘cheat’.

Despite putting up with all manner of abusive language and obscenities being unfairly hurled at them week after week, the ‘women in uniform’ prancing and preening around an AFL game near you on the weekend do not, somewhat incongruously, take too kindly to being called ‘cheat’ if umpire Michael Vozzo’s 50m penalty handed to Geelong’s Paul Chapman on the weekend is any indication.

Umpiring boss Jeff Gieschen reiterated the stand of the men in white when it comes to being called a ‘cheat’.

“It gets right to the heart of the integrity of what they’re on about,” Gieschen said while possibly being misinformed that the words ‘sycophantic’, ‘self-indulgent’ and ‘narcissistic’ had been thrown the umpires’ way.

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