AFL is one of the hardest sports in the world to umpire.
Not many other sports in the world require their umpires to cover such a large field and interpret different rules.
But the game has officially become over officiated.
On Friday night, the Richmond and GWS match was a perfect example of this. These two teams were last year’s grand finalists, but the game was boring and nearly un-watchable.
The most obvious issue is in the game is the holding the ball rule. It feels like this rule has been called more in the last two weeks then it was all of last season.
Players are now being penalised for being first to the ball, which is the opposite of what junior footballers have been told for years.
The only way to avoid being called holding the ball is to hit it constantly, which looks ridiculous. Anyone with a footballing brain knows that the player doing this has no intention of that ball getting out.
I understand that the AFL wants a free-flowing game, but their umpires do not need to go searching for holding-the-ball frees.
If a player gets a ball straightaway and has both his arms pinned by the tackler, there has been no prior opportunity and no incorrect disposal. Why does this keep being called holding the ball?
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
It is not all the umpires’ fault though. Why does the AFL feel the need to change rules in the middle of a season?
No other sports do this.
A rule was changed for an entire competition because one coach complained about how his team was not being rewarded for tackles. Rather than review the officiating of that game, the AFL chooses to change the rule for everyone.
Not one fan is happy with this change. It is meaning the whistle is being blown every minute.
Another issue with the officiating of the game is the obvious throwing of the ball. Countless times this season players are clearly been seen throwing the ball and no free is being called.
Umpires cannot be excepted to see everything and things will always be missed, but this rule should be one of the easier ones to officiate. If a player has one arm pinned in a tackle and does not manage to kick the ball, there is no way that they could have disposed of that ball legally.
While it may seem like I am just talking down the game’s umpires, this is not the case. They are simply officiating the game as they have been told to do by those above them.
One rule that needs to be fixed, which is out of the umpires’ control, is the score review system.
How often are score reviews actually overturned?
It feels like nine times out of ten, the result is umpire’s call.
On Thursday night, Gold Coast player Wil Powell attempted to touch a kick that was going to be a Bulldogs goal. As the ball travelled across the line, viewers were unsure as to whether Powell managed to get a finger to it. Powell showed great sportsmanship, turning to both the goal and field umpire, telling them he did not touch it.
But the umpires still went to a score review. Why was this necessary?
(Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt had the same thoughts.
“If a player is going to say I didn’t touch it, do we need it (the review)?” Riewoldt asked during Fox Footy’s coverage of the game.
Yet the umpires still went to the score review and the decision was a goal – the umpire’s call anyway. It all just seemed like a big waste of time.
Finally, one of the most ridiculous rules in the game has to be the nominate ruck rule. During Thursday night’s contest, there was a throw-in inside the Bulldogs’ forward 50. Yet because no Bulldogs player nominated, Gold Coast’s ruckman was able to go up and simply palm the ball down to one of their midfielders.
Not only does it look awful, it just feels like another rule that does not serve a purpose. If a team has a third man go up, punish them then, but do not punish them because a player did not put their hand up. It is an AFL field not a year ten classroom.
AFL is such a great game, but right now it is getting harder to watch. Currently, there are too many unnecessary rules.
Let’s just put the whistle away and let the players play.
Outer AFL fan
Guest
The AFL rules are terrible, keep changing, require a lot of interpretation and inconsistent. It’s enough to drive people away from the game. Maybe not the die hard but People like me that get frustrated every year at pointless changes that don’t fix the real problem of the umpires being able to change the flow of a game due to “interpretation” . You only need to listen to commentary where at least a dozen or more times a game nobody can figure out what the free kick is for or even which teams free kick it is. Been trying for 20 years to get into the footy ( which I like) but just starting not to bother about it now.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Yeah, good game. Two very good sides even though not at their best. Could play off in the big one again.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Why? If ya good enough do it. I'm not advocating banning picking up the ball per se. I wanta see the ball played. But if you are to slow to get rid off it bad luck. If Betts & Co can get away with it fine. More power to them. I'm just against the guy that gets it, gets caught and then pleads "I didn't know l was playing footy!?!"
Jeansyjive
Roar Rookie
It’s hard being a defender at the moment, can’t chop arms (how you use to be taught to defend, still not sure why this rule was bought in) no front on contact (a lot of spoils rubbing back with virtually no contact getting called), Can’t really jostle for position without high risk of being called for holding, extremely soft holding calls being paid (surely will want to see a contest between defenders and forwards) I feel for the umpires, as afl is not transparent with the interpretations it’s telling umpires, fans get frustrated but the umpires may be interpreting the rules exactly as directed by afl, but no transparency so fans are unaware.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
I’m with you the 1st. The skills of the likes of Betts, Walters, Papley will be lost or at bestreduced to only seeing every now & then. The game is Aussie Rules, not soccer. If this continues soccering the ball will become the normal, it nearly is now.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
Yeah, you are probably right, but it doesn’t look good. I was also taught to get the footy & you would be protected.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
We might have to agree to disagree on this one :happy:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
By all means pick it up and burst free if you are clear. But if you are not it'll be a stoppage. That's where paddling / soccering will be the superior option.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure that's the game I wanna watch mang. Seeing a player burst from a stoppage is one of the best things about footy, no pick up, no bursting.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
That's right. Paddle or soccer the ball decisively forward. If you soccer, soccer it hard, don't dribble it, boot it to advantage. Better the free ball in your attacking 50, not your defending 50. No prior means ball up.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
But if you don't have It, you can't pick the ball up.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The reason l don't like 'prior' is that it is 50 shades. Having no 'prior' rule is black n white. It's connected to the 'throwing' issue.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Last night's game was great. The calls are detracting from the game though. Somehow we've come to a place where prior doesn't exist but your allowed to throw the footy, I'm not sure how it happened, and it wasn't what Clarko was talking about. Just officiate the blinking rule as it's written in the book, nothing could be easier.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Because there is very little training these days in paddling the ball forward that is coupled with hip n shoulder and shepherding practice. I can recall having it drilled into us at school footy in the 60s n 70s. ---- Training that I've seen at AFL level, these days, there is seemingly an over emphasis on the keepings off possession game. And this appears to be to the detriment of other skills.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Contrary to the 4th para of this article, Last night's game was the most watchable for me so far, & certainly not boring. Watching both Dusty & Toby was fantastic footy. Other players also had occasional brilliant acts. Despite mistakes by both players & umpires, I was enthralled all night.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
The GWS/Richmond game twice players were tackled the see one they got the ball, arms pinged & free kick for not making an attempt. On a number of occasions players were in a group on their feet soccering the ball between themselves, ball only going a couple of feet. No player was game to pick it up. Looked like under 10’s soccer. Not Aussie Rules.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So if you are first to the ball you can 1) paddle, soccer or otherwise promote the ball forward. As I’ve said before territory is more important than possession. 2) in an amazing piece of teamwork hip n shoulder your opponent out the way for your supporting teamate to come thru onto clean ball. Not a real hard concept I would’ve thought? Get the ball by any legal means, up front, so that you can score. The serendipitous nature of the ball means it does things that can’t be accounted for. Better to have that happen in front of your goal than theirs!
George Apps
Roar Rookie
I reckon rules that umpires oversee could do with some simplifying. “the game has become over officiated” (and scrutinised) as you say, so that when it’s not, it’s really noticeable and enjoyable. I don’t think lower scoring makes a game boring, it can be more exciting especially when your team kicks a goal or two! If I had my way, I would scrap the goal review system completely – if the ball goes over the line, whether touched or not, it’s a goal! Another grievance I have trouble with is not only changing the rules and their interpretation, but doing so whenever the AFL feels like it and not between seasons! In fact, better still, overhaul the book of rules and get rid of 2 per year.