I am always blown away by the amount of public criticism of umpires in AFL.
We have commentators debating, live on air, if the umpires have made the correct decision. Some spend their time castigating previous decisions as "special comments". This flows down to the supporters, junior players, and even the professional players thinking it's ok behaviour.
I struggle to think of a sport, worldwide, that does this. Why is it okay for AFL? It's not like the sport is boring or slow and they need to fill the air.
Richie Benaud didn't fill the space talking about howlers that umpires had (pre DRS), of which there were many. He respected the audience and let them decide for themselves. I don't remember Bruce or Denis going into the forensics of a decision an umpire made - if they did, it was a brief, passing understated comment.
It's clearly a hard job. I certainly wouldn't want to do it. They aren't going to get it right all the time. No one does.
Cheers, Dave. Yep – totally agree. It's astonishing how much the abuse (not criticism – that can be fair game) of umpires is normalised. That's not just a footy problem, but it's definitely an issue in our game. I think they do a bloody good job given how fast and complex the game is. I wonder if the people who abuse umpires and are happy to claim conspiracies realise that their behaviour contributes to fewer people wanting to do the job (and, by extension, a lower standard of umpiring).
I thought it was interesting the AFL have taken a huge issue with what Butters allegedly said, yet we have a HS/Code sports article with the lead line suggesting the free kick count was a major factor in the result. I'd argue this sort of dialogue is a bigger issue for umpire perception.
And something on field cause what else are we into this sport for... Does Cooper Trembath have the best hands in the AFL? The ball just sticks.
I am always blown away by the amount of public criticism of umpires in AFL.
We have commentators debating, live on air, if the umpires have made the correct decision. Some spend their time castigating previous decisions as "special comments". This flows down to the supporters, junior players, and even the professional players thinking it's ok behaviour.
I struggle to think of a sport, worldwide, that does this. Why is it okay for AFL? It's not like the sport is boring or slow and they need to fill the air.
Richie Benaud didn't fill the space talking about howlers that umpires had (pre DRS), of which there were many. He respected the audience and let them decide for themselves. I don't remember Bruce or Denis going into the forensics of a decision an umpire made - if they did, it was a brief, passing understated comment.
It's clearly a hard job. I certainly wouldn't want to do it. They aren't going to get it right all the time. No one does.
Great blog btw 👏👏
Cheers, Dave. Yep – totally agree. It's astonishing how much the abuse (not criticism – that can be fair game) of umpires is normalised. That's not just a footy problem, but it's definitely an issue in our game. I think they do a bloody good job given how fast and complex the game is. I wonder if the people who abuse umpires and are happy to claim conspiracies realise that their behaviour contributes to fewer people wanting to do the job (and, by extension, a lower standard of umpiring).
Interesting reading, well written.
I thought it was interesting the AFL have taken a huge issue with what Butters allegedly said, yet we have a HS/Code sports article with the lead line suggesting the free kick count was a major factor in the result. I'd argue this sort of dialogue is a bigger issue for umpire perception.
And something on field cause what else are we into this sport for... Does Cooper Trembath have the best hands in the AFL? The ball just sticks.
Trembath, Treacy, or Thilthorpe – pick your fighter. Mad that the first two of those guys weren't taken in the national draft.
I forgot about that Treacy mark to seal the game, my god.