TOPIC:

I umpired back in the 80’s for several years in a country league. I can’t say say that I have any idea what it would be like to umpire in the WAFL, but I do not believe that umps cheat. It is easy to get a dislike for a whinging whining prick on the field, but you cop it on the chin and treat him same as every other player. It’s hard to do ....yes, but if you don’t, you end up in the ressies the following week. They are semi/professional sports people who get over the “cheat” syndrome.

therealswansman wrote:

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

Lol TRSM...please!

therealswansman wrote:

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.

There is a oft mentioned quirk called the Michael Jordon bias, it suggests that the higher the profile the more likely they will benefit from decisions. Watching the NBA they will suggest that a decision is MJ one!

I don't think that todays Umpires are any worse of better than previous eras, I am just glad we don't have any like one with a nonm de plume like ripper who did cheat, we knew that if we were in front in the last quarter (which back then was not all that often) we could count on a few freebies!

The customs stamp collector Byron Hadjimihalakis was the worst.

That's pretty funny RL...I knew Hadji in a former life and your comment about being a stamp collector is on the money....without going into it on a public forum you obviously are across the history too.

BC wrote: That's pretty funny RL...I knew Hadji in a former life and your comment about being a stamp collector is on the money....without going into it on a public forum you obviously are across the history too.

Yes B.C.when i saw a certain name flicking through the WEST my eyes lit up like a christmas tree many moons ago,especially about an individual who went out of his way to stitch us up,but i regret not getting the opportunity to remind him about it when he had i believe already retired in or around that time.