How can fans and players seriously respect umpires when they affect the result of a match through their decisions?
Today at Werribee, Coburg gave away EIGHT, yes EIGHT, 50m penalties in the reserves game. Werribee scored no fewer than five goals as a direct result of these. In the end, the umpiring probably determined the result of the match. All because a couple of men in white don't have the guts to tolerate a bit of backchat? If they're so sensitive maybe they should take up ballet.
The shear inconsistency of the umpiring department was highlighted in the senior game where a Werribee player clearly yelled out the "F word" at the umpire but the umpire just accepted it (as a man should) and let the game proceed without intervention.
Generally the VFL umpires are not too bad, but I hope the performance of those umpires from today's reserves match is reviewed thoroughly.
While you could argue that the Coburg players should have been more aware of the umpires preciousness on the field today and zipped their mouth, I would expect that the actions of the umpires only create frustration and magnify the problem.
Nobody goes to the football to watch the performance of the umpires. If umpires want respect from fans then the best way they can do this is to not rediculously intervene in games and show some spirit. Fans too often get painted as the villians for heckling and abusing umpires, often the villians themselves are the men with the whistles.
And I'd be more than happy to hear a reply from Football Victoria if someone reads this.
Oh, and I wasn't barracking for any side in the game today.
Very well said. As a stand alone team, I feel that Frankston receives a fairly good deal with the umpires. However the quality of reserves umpiring has been constantly declining over recent times, where their critical mistakes turn the momentum of the game at crucial times.
It is clear that the reserves are used as a development league for the umpires where many are just young inexperienced blokes – much below the age of many seasoned mature VFL senior players having to play in the reserves. These young umpires appear to be intimidated by the level of play and players they are controlling.
They over-react on many occasions and often pay the most softest frees not payed in the seniors. The seniors umpiring currently seems to be of a reasonable standard yet the quality of reserves umpiring seriously needs to be assessed.
Umpires do not deliberately set out to make bad decisions, they are required to control the game, if that means giving 50 metre penalties, against foul mouthed, undisciplined players, so be it.
Ya shoulda seen the umps in the last 10 minutes of the BH vs Springvale game... :evil:
Hi mattyc, I tipped Box Hill, don't tell me that a bloody umpire cost them the game.
That surprises me about the unidentified former Essendon & Collingwood player.
I would put him as one of the (Few) better umpires in the competition.
That surprises me about the unidentified former Essendon & Collingwood player.
I would put him as one of the (Few) better umpires in the competition.
Shamus, lets just say that the umpires didn't have a good day.
A bloke kicks the ball 35 m along the boundary from a congested (ish) contest and it is paid as deliberate.
Same thing happened 5 minutes earlier at the other end of the ground, Springy player kicked to the line, boundary throw in. A goal resulted from the free kick.
Minutes later the ball is on the wing, Springy player gets tackled near the line and handballs over the boundary, no attempt at anything else and poorly disguised, yet the Ump called for a throw in and the crowd went nuts.
Would call it incompetant but that would be unfair as it appeared as though they knew what they were doing, ie deciding the match. Free kicks were paid regularly in the Springy forward line resulting in goals, most were there but a couple appeared at best 50-50 including a mark to Murray that Brennan had hands to first CLEARLY. Brennan did wrong in trying to mark over the top of his man (should of spoiled) but he actually took the grab, Murray grabbing it after the mark, at worst it was a ball up at best Brennan's mark but the umpy said no, pay the man in front (even if he didn't grab it first therefore touched??) and give him another goal. Was a disgrace, don't mind losing just hate to see the umps blatantly cheating.
If it wasn't cheating and the umps genuinely believe they got the decisions correct then the VFL as a whole is in a shockingly deep pile of do-do.
syko-DJ, Obviously a case of bad umpiring- I am not a great fan of Springvale.
Umpiring in the Springvale v Box Hill match was the worst I have ever seen. Dodgy free kick after free kick, all on the Scorpions forward line.
To give you some idea how biased it was the Springvale supporters applauded the umpires from the ground. :twisted: One of the few games I've seen where the umpires genuinely affected the result. The deliberate decision was nothing short of corrupt.
I see Ray Chamberlain has been promoted to the AFL umpiring ranks - I find it disturbing he is considered the best umpire in the VFL.
In previous years I've actually found the VFL umpiring to be no worse, if not better than the AFL. Yet I've seen 9 Hawthorn games and haven't been upset with the umpiring once (bar Croad's unpaid mark on Sunday) yet Box Hill games have been dreadfully umpired, almost without exception.
Well,.........................
I have to say that even though I backed up umpire Fraser last week, his efforts on the weekend at the Frankston v Sandy game was disgraceful($20,000).
Not only did he miss obviuous free kicks, he missed a straight right to the jaw of a Frankston player when he was watching the actuial tussle.
Even though he couldnt keep up with the game, I think might have started to beleive his own publicity.
After one appalling (+$20,000) decision, which resulted in a Sandy goal, he copped a spray from the delicate gentlemen (?) on the hill.
Instead of ignoring the taunts (which were clearly justified) he started waving and holding his hands up in some sort of gesture.
He really should get on with the game. After the mistakes he made on the weekend, he has dropped off considerably in me estimation.
Up to that point, I really felt he was one of the better one.
Interestingly, after reading the previous posts above, it was Ray who jumped in a took over when a decision needed to be made.
I think he is clearly the one outstanding ump in the comp.
Does anybody have a thought on what umpire in the VFL actually have a clue?