TOPIC:

a/man I think the easiest way to explain it is you are allowed to use your hands, forearm, hips etc.... to "hold your ground", but once you extend the arms it is deemed a push. There has to be contact otherwise a player can back into a player and force him out of the marking contest so the player at the back has to be able to hold his ground, but conversely the player in front has to be able to back back without being pushed in the back.

It is probably the hardest rule to interpret and the most controversial because these types of marking contests usually take place close to goal. Don't get me started on Razor Ray, I could have ripped that blokes head off in the Richmond game.

If the umpire in question is wrong I certainly hope that he gets dropped due to his poor performance.

Whilst I am by no means a strong defender of the umpires it is time to get rid of 80-90% of the rule changes that have been made in the last 10 or so years. How about going back to:

(i) can't tackle the player without the ball;
(ii) if the player has the ball is tackled he must dispose of the ball by hand or foot correctly and in a timely manner (i.e. before you do a 360);
(iii) you can't push a player in the back under any circumstances;
(iv) don't award 50 metre penalty when it is patently obvious that the 'offending' player has had no influence on the player with the mark or free kick.

Also, get the umpires to:

(i) stop commentating;
(ii) stop preening themselves prior to a bounsedown or throm up;
(iii) position themselves such that they can see all players without adopting the 'clown sideshow alley' action.