TOPIC:

From what I have seen the umpires in A Grade have been pretty good.

What is pleasing to see is they are being consistent in applying rules on game day (debatable whether it is the correct interpretation technically however).

The interpretation or individual style will vary week to week but as long as it is consistently applied over 4 quartes, players and spectators can adjust accordingly.

umpiring has been very consistent thus far. Have heard there is a greater presence of observers watching C2 and lower this year which is exactly what the league needs.

I will agree that the sliding rule is still a little contentious although I don't blame the umps for this as it is still a little grey to the players! Had an umpire approach me at quarter time and tell me he had erred in not paying a sliding free and apologised. Excellent attitude for an ump to have.

Mr Mysterious wrote: I seem to remember the same talk PH but the way I remember.... it was the rules were written around the player with the ball not the tackler. It's about penalising the player with the ball not the rewarding the tackler.

Mr M, youy could be right, i lost interest in what the umpires advisor was saying and I think I was pinching your hot chips when he was deciding if it was the player with the ball that was to be penalised or rewarded.

Leggo33 wrote: Umpiring across all grades that we have been involved in has been pretty good (apart from my rant from last weekends colts/reserves). The only downside i have seen is that some of the umpires aren't in the best shape and umpire the game from within the centre square only and they do miss quiote a few free kicks as they are sometimes up to 60 - 70 metres from the play. One other noticable part of this season so far is that a lot of players on the ground think that they are umpires as well and continually will offer there advice to the umpires on what they think the decision should be. Let the umpires do there job and the players should concentrate on what they are there to do and that is play footy!

Leggo33 you must be talking about club umpires as the panel umpires are a pretty fit bunch in the main. Good to hear that the umpiring has been pretty decent so far this year. Lets hope it continues until the end of the season

Must say, when I first saw this thread I thought it would go in a different direction. Good to see support for the umpires at a lower level.

Hopefully it means there are a few good younger umpires ready to push up.