Had an interesting conversation with a senior AFL umpire...

[Raw Hammer]

They definitely discuss ‘tactics’ (i.e. cheating) of AFL teams, and the following in recent times are definitely worth our officials and players keeping an eye on:

When Geelong take a mark inside 50 on an angle, and when they turn sideways to execute a ‘Stevie J’ snap, they often fake moving off the mark to get a defender to flinch and encroach the protected space to get a 50m penalty. The umpires are watching this one (although technically allowed, they have noticed Geelong players have actually ‘played on’ by stepping off the mark, and have started calling play on accordingly). They've also spoken to teh club about this.

Apparently, the new thing for Geelong defenders to do is once their opponent takes a mark inside 50, the Cats player will ask to clarify where the mark is, and point to the spot to ensure the umpire has seen him acknowledge the mark, but, once the umpire looks around, the defender will slightly move away to the side, but on a gradual angle to crib some metres (which is hard for the umpires to keep an eye on and notice). So now, the Cats player is off to the side of the mark (but a few metres inside the mark as well, unbeknownst to the umpire). The Cats player will then now move sideways, and back to the exact point of the ‘mark’, but he’s actually cribbed 2, 3, 4 metres, but it simply looks like he's merely been moving side to side. The umpiring fraternity is now on to this as well.

They’re also onto teams re-introducing blocking the man on the mark so a teammate can play on (we kind of introduced this in 2010). I’ve noticed they’ve gone lax on this this year, but they’re back onto it.

They’re also aware that Hawthorn are very quick to run in on the mark and hold up players, and even encroach the mark. I've noticed this for years.

Essentially, they know teams try to find ways to ‘cheat’ and try to stamp it out once it becomes clear after a few weekly reviews. Geelong seems to be one of the main culprits (no surprises there).

[3rd degree]

Nice to see they are waking up to the handbaggers!

[Skids]

Gee, I thought they were just spectators in fluro, fancy noticing things that players do hey?

[Lazza]

Pity that they don’t seem to analyse their own performances as well as watch for AFL teams cheating. They can start by working on consistency between the 3 of them and improving field position so that they can see the contests that much better. I feel that they have distanced themselves far too much away from the action in the past few years and hence are missing quite a few obvious infringements.

[Raw Hammer]

Having spoken to this umpire, they apparently have to watch their entire game on the the weekend (via Fox Footy replay), then come back and review EVERY decision from their game with Wayne Campbell and co on the Tuesday I think (goes anywhere from 15 to 60 mins). They then go through every mistake (ajudicated or other), and get a 'black mark'. For example, if they put someone on an angle from a mark and shot at goal, if they get the angle even a yard off according to their bosses, they get a 'black' mark. Then on the Thursday, they pretty much do it all again, and are told that night if/where they'll be umpiring. There's a pool of 33 of them, meaning every week 27 get a gig, while 6 miss out. Was an interesting chat.

I brought up the blatent cribbing of players on the wing / half forward who get a free or mark a metre or two inside the boundary and creep 5-10m inside before being called to play on, and how ridiculous it is that they aren't called to play on immediately once they step to the left or right. He said it's very hard to see when you're on the ground when players crib laterally in those types of circumstances...perhaps they'll be on to it more so now that I've had a chat!

Side Note: The umpire who paid that horrendous decision to Melbourne for that Freo 'bump' after a behind, that resulted in a goal to Melbourne, he was pretty much dragged through the coals for that one.

They're also aware how annoying it is for commentators to harp on about decisions or commentate with the likes of "Was that a free?", "Is that too high?" vs just calling the freakin' play. Suffice to say, no surprises that Dwayne Russel isn't a favourite.

[Cleomenes]

Interesting. I wonder what their discussions are about the controlled thuggery that is the Hawthorn approach to pressure games. Last year they seemed right on top of it when they applied this method to North Melbourne, but not so much this year, when they got away with it. They got away with it in the last grand final too.

[simon tonna]

How does Steviic get a senior game each week with bias based decisions. If all things correct Raw he would have been given he's marching orders by now.

[themonk]

Did you ask about Cloke & why defenders are allowed to climb all over him?[/list]

[Raw Hammer]

Didn't get to ask too much ... but I did ask him if his 'AFL team' subconsciously affected any decisions made ever, and he strongly denied any umpire woul allow this. I wanted to bring up Collingwood being at the bottom of the free kick ladder every year for the past decade, but I held off.

[perthmagpie]

Thanks RH. I found this stuff really interesting. Can they find a special rule for when Lonergan falls in love with Cloke and hugs him all night so he can't run to the ball?

[Monco Matt]

Tell him to also get onto Hawthorn players that tackle opponents 0.1 seconds before that player actually takes possession of the ball. They have been doing that for years too. Pre-emptive tackling you could call it.

[perthmagpie]

Yep noticed that too.

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Sorry, "afl umpire..., interesting conversation..."

I just can't get my head around it?

[piedys]