ELVs advocate Matt Goddard calls it quits
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By chief, 30 Oct 2009 chief is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Ian Smith, Matt Goddard, rugby referees, Rugby Union, steve walsh
Referee Matt Goddard officially retired today because of chronic injury. A few of you may in fact be jubilated by this, but you will actually realize it’s a bad thing when you see the new referees who are in line for Super 14 duties next year.
Goddard, an ambassador for the ELVs, dished out five yellow cards and a red earlier in the year, which came under much scrutiny, and he was destined for great things, aged, 34 with major games under his belt.
I am deeply saddened by this, but I look to the future, as his replacement will be Steve Walsh, one of the best referees in the game.
The retirement of Goddard and the future retirement of Dickinson really does question who we have coming up as future Australian referees:
1. Steve Walsh — you all know why he’s leading
2. James Leckie _ We might see him on the IRB International panel next year
3. Paul Marks — Will probably be on the panel, maybe not receiving many games, however
4. Ian Smith — Has plenty of experience under his belt
5. Nathan Pearce
6. Damien Mitchelmore — Have seen him referee plenty of times this year and he has only let me down once
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Yikes said | October 30th 2009 @ 12:54am | Report comment
Well, I don’t know exactly why Goddard was such an ambassador for the ELVs. No more or less than any other ref I’d say. Odd headline. He came under heavy criticism for that game, much of which I think was unwarranted. Some days the players don’t listen or learn.
Unfortunately, you will not see Leckie at all next year. Far from being on the international panel, he was dropped entirely by the ARU and will not referee a game next year in S14. The Australians in S14 will be Dickinson, Walsh and Pearce. Smith and Marks will probably get a few games each.
chief said | October 30th 2009 @ 7:13am | Report comment
They dropped Leckie? I really didn’t see that coming, he was on the IRB development panel and Merit panel. I met the bloke once seemed like a genuniely nice bloke. How did you hear about Leckie being dropped?
So I take it Mitchelmore will probably be promoted to ‘A’ panel or Lees. Not sure, fingers crossed for Mitchelmore.
Cattledog said | October 30th 2009 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
Chief, is that Jason Lees?
Yikes said | October 30th 2009 @ 2:56pm | Report comment
Saw him at the Catchpole Medal.
Brett McKay said | October 30th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment
It’s good to see Steve Walsh getting back to a decent level. Whatever problems he may have had, he’s too good a ref to be ignored at that level…
True Tah said | October 30th 2009 @ 7:39am | Report comment
I dont think the Kiwis, and Hurricanes fans in particular, will be missing Goddard.
Bay35Pablo said | October 30th 2009 @ 7:56am | Report comment
Refs nowadays are being overmanaged. It is in the pursuit of consistency, but we end up with robots. Goddard overreacted with the cards because he was critiqued for his game the week before for being too soft.
Yet another example of a lack of depth in Aussie rugby, because of the lack of an ARC. The step up from club rugby to Super 14 is just as big for refs as players. They need an intermediate level to blood them.
Jack Petro said | October 30th 2009 @ 8:27am | Report comment
PB35 .. give up on the ARC concept … it was flawed and failed. The reason we have little depth with referees is that there is little support for them in the game. I know my sons don’t want to referee and many of my mates would say the same thing … different species!
If the young up-and-coming referees were supported and promoted, given opportunities, etc., we may see that some of them would flourish; hang on that sounds like the same thing for player development? We need the 2nd Grade Shute Shield referees given a chance at 1st Grade THROUGHOUT the season as part of their professional development – not just in the last week!
The problem is, for a referee to improve, he must fail at some time. Unfortunately, the rugby public (referees panel et.al.) can’t accept that – look at the backlash at Matt Goddard after the “cards” incident; pity the public didn’t realise he was still injured when he was appointed to that match; blow the whistle and slow the pace down so you can keep up … almost a park-rugby mentality isn’t it!
Hansie said | October 30th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Goddard was a good referee with a good sense of humour – his games were generally enjoyable to watch. I think Walsh is the logical replacement. Hopefully the circumstances of his departure from NZ will reduce his on-field arrogance, which was always his shortcoming.
True Tah said | October 30th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
I thought his shortcoming was he got on the drink too much?
Dean Pantio said | October 30th 2009 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
Good riddance to him.
Cattledog said | October 30th 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
Now that’s a good, positive comment that will do much to further the discussion on referees and referee replacemets. NOT! He’s obviously refereed games where the outcome has not been to your liking. It’s very obvious you have never been behind the whistle so would have no idea whatsoever about the processes that occur constantly on the field. So you are in no position to make such a lame remark.
If you have been behind the whistle, then your comment is a disgrace and certainly Matt Goddard doesn’t need to hear such tripe from someone not qualified to make such a remark. I don’t know Matt Goddard but have seen him referee games the same as others have. He’s had better games than others, as does every referee and player for that matter. He doesn’t, however, deserve such comments on his retirement. Understand what ‘constructive’ critisicm is and use this, if necessary.
Let’s see if your big enough to repeal the comment and wish him well in his future endeavours.
Cattledog said | October 31st 2009 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Dissenting opinions and the tripe you wrote are two different things. Just as I thought, unqualified to make such an absurd comment (you offered nothing to substantiate your quals) so be constructive. He’s better than Ayoub! If that’s your lame attempt to repeal the comment, it’s a dismal failure. You and Robbo would make a good pair, if your not one of the same.
Dean Pantio said | October 31st 2009 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
Again with the assumptions. I made no attempt to repeal anything. I stand by my original comments. Go cry elsewhere if you don’t like what I have to say.
BTW, the contraction of you are is you’re,not your.
Cattledog said | October 31st 2009 @ 5:42pm | Report comment
You’re absolutely correct…just as punctuation marks have a space after them!! LOL
John said | October 30th 2009 @ 1:58pm | Report comment
I’ve also heard a similar thing regarding Leckie being droppped completely by the ARU, but my understanding of it was so that Walsh would be able to be offered a full time contract (i.e. the space made up for by Leckie). Now that Goddard has retired, perhaps Leckie will be re-offered his place?
I certainly hope so, I believe Leckie is actually a good referee and deserves a chance to go further. Not really sold on Marks, however, both Nathan Pearce and Ian Smith have been to NZ and SA respectively to referee in their domestic competitions. Agree about the comments with Lees and Mitchelmore the most likely ‘fresh blood’ to come through, however, there are some other referees on the ‘B’ Panel who are regualrly in the Shute Shield (Angus Gardner and Steve Hardy) who I believe have massive potential, say within 3-5 years.
Dickinson and Walsh are obviously the top 2 in Oz and deserve to be, and I hope that both are selected for 2011 World Cup. The likes of Smith and Pearce are the future of Australian refereeing, however, there definately other referees in the B Panel who are ready for the future – all they need is further exposure to bigger games
matt said | October 30th 2009 @ 2:36pm | Report comment
Firstly, I am a great fan of this site.
Secondly, in regards to this quote from Jack
“pity the public didn’t realise he was still injured when he was appointed to that match; blow the whistle and slow the pace down so you can keep up … almost a park-rugby mentality isn’t it!”
I refereed injured for over 2 years – as most players play injured week in week ouy – it never affected my performance – other things may have. The Irony of Jack’s comment is that four of the 6 yellow cards, were for deliberatly slowing the ball down and therefore slowing the game down – because I was sick and tired of teams being allowed to slow the game down when they were under pressure. The other two were for a dangerous tackle and for stomping – which you get when the Bulls play the Hurricanes.
Jack I am sure your comment was tongue in cheek – but if there was a list of referees and their tolerances for having the game slowed down and their willingness to do something about it – I would have been up the top somewhere to my own detriment most weeks.
The other interesting point is that the statistics from that game show a below average number of stoppages and FK/PK. In fact the last 27 mins had two stoppages at the break down!
Ironically the first half of my career was plagued with complaints that I never used any cards……Consider NSW v QLD 2006 I think (maybe 2007) when Phil Waugh and David Croft went hammer and tongs for eighty minutes, both finished the game on the field dripping with blood. Thats rugby! Much criticsm that week too.
A referee cant win and he doesnt seek to – just does his best with whats dished up in front of him.
Regards
chief said | October 30th 2009 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
Andrew Lees not Jason Lees. I do hope Mitchelmore is ahead of Lees though I believe he has a bit more of an ‘edge’ in my opinion though. Despite his fear to go yellow.
Gardnier is probably the next best thing in refereeing to be honest. Give him 5 years and he’ll be refereeing Super 14 at least. He’s only about 23 or so now I think.
Cattledog said | October 30th 2009 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
Thanks Chief. Thought it would have been a ‘meteoric’ rise if it was Jason!
chief said | October 30th 2009 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
Ah yes, it certainly would be, Jason Lees has potential a quality schools referee, but I think Super 14 is out of his depth!
Anyone have any idea about Leckie’s replacement? Any idea when the new panels are being named?