TOPIC:

It seems to me that almost on a weekly basis posters on here comment on the poor standard of umpiring. Sure some of that comes down to disgruntled supporters taking aim at the umps when their team loses but when teams win and the umps still cop criticism then surely there's a problem. Is it because interpretation of the rules changes from week to week, is it down to lack of attracting people to become umps given it's a thankless task or are the people taking on umpiring just lacking in common sense? who knows?... but imo the standard of umpiring is dragging the game down just as much as the robotic game plans producing boring unimaginative footy coaches seem to favour these days.

I have been saying the same for 20 odd years BC but have just been called a disgruntled supporter by some posters on here but it is funny when you are not winning every week without the winning feeling rose coloured glasses how you can actually see it for what it is- bloody terrible.
Unfortunately the standard of WAFL umpiring has been appalling since the 90s when the likes of O'Reilly, Kronja, Margetts, Hendrie, Statham, Parry etc were cheating I mean officiating back then whilst in modern times Worobec, Williamson, his mate McPhee, Shelton etc have kept up those extremely low standards.
How on earth some of them have then umpired in the afl still has me scratching my head but there must be a real dearth of them is all I can come up with?!

Yep agreed BH..I also think it comes down the number of umpires on the ground at any one time. They feel a need to be involved and make a mark on the game in order to be relevant. Take a look at Razor Ray for argument's sake....he seems to think the game is all about him instead of umpiring being an addendum, not the main attraction.

I can't agree with the sentiment of this thread.
In my observation it comes down to
1. the spectators not knowing the rules (don't get me started on the AFL commentators Ling in particular who does not have a grasp of the rules) and their rule interpretations
2. the spectators viewing the action from a different angle than the umpires
For anyone to insinuate an umpire cheats is just ridiculous.
Cheating in anything is done to advantage the person cheating.
What possible advantage is there for umpires to cheat.
Umpires are judged weekly on their performance and their wallet can be affected by bad performance.
Like players and all of us in life,you can have a bad day, if umpires have too many bad days, quite simply they won't be umpiring for too long.
Even yesterday while I sat and watched Swans, some of the decisions my own clubs supporters were up in arms about I began to wonder are they watching the same game as I am,
Every decision and non decision by every umpire every game is reviewed and marked.
Most of you would be surprised that your interpretation of what transpired at game is a long way off the mark given to the umpires performance judged by independent scrutineers.

The umpiring is ordinary but the AFL level is ordinary also so can’t expect the wafl to be great.
Once again different players getting umpired differently is an issue, Ballantyne gets slight contact in the first minute, free kick goal, players from both sides then get smashed all day and get nothing.
Add him to the list of Bolton, The WP blokes, SF head ducker, Horsley, Delahunty that a name gets you an armchair ride
I know Swans struggle but be nice to have one of our blokes on the armchair ride train from the umps

MarkOlsen wrote: The umpiring is ordinary but the AFL level is ordinary also so can’t expect the wafl to be great.
Once again different players getting umpired differently is an issue, Ballantyne gets slight contact in the first minute, free kick goal, players from both sides then get smashed all day and get nothing.
Add him to the list of Bolton, The WP blokes, SF head ducker, Horsley, Delahunty that a name gets you an armchair ride
Certain players do not get umpired differently.
I know Swans struggle but be nice to have one of our blokes on the armchair ride train from the umps

Certain players do not get umpired differently. it is a nonsense to think so.
Try watching those same players while not against Swans and you will get a different perspective

That’s your opinion.
If you don’t think there is an unconscious bias in umpiring then good luck to you.

MarkOlsen wrote: That’s your opinion.
If you don’t think there is an unconscious bias in umpiring then good luck to you.

It's not only my opinion it is the opinion of the people that scrutinise the decisions on a game by game, basis.

therealswansman wrote: I can't agree with the sentiment of this thread.
In my observation it comes down to
1. the spectators not knowing the rules (don't get me started on the AFL commentators Ling in particular who does not have a grasp of the rules) and their rule interpretations
2. the spectators viewing the action from a different angle than the umpires
For anyone to insinuate an umpire cheats is just ridiculous.
Cheating in anything is done to advantage the person cheating.
What possible advantage is there for umpires to cheat.
Umpires are judged weekly on their performance and their wallet can be affected by bad performance.
Like players and all of us in life,you can have a bad day, if umpires have too many bad days, quite simply they won't be umpiring for too long.
Even yesterday while I sat and watched Swans, some of the decisions my own clubs supporters were up in arms about I began to wonder are they watching the same game as I am,
Every decision and non decision by every umpire every game is reviewed and marked.
Most of you would be surprised that your interpretation of what transpired at game is a long way off the mark given to the umpires performance judged by independent scrutineers.

Who said anything about umpires cheating? I think it's a combination of the constant changing of interpretation by the AFL, umps not positioning themselves properly and straight out incompetence.

Umpires and their advisors are humans, not robots.
They see the rules they want to, everyone has a bias of some sort in life unless you are saying they are robots ?
Umpires see a push, the replay shows a dive, what went through the umpires mind to pay the push ?
It’s not an easy job but inconsistency happens at the highest level so don’t act like it doesn’t happen at wafl level