The Monday Soapbox - R19, 2025

[GVGjr]

Lets hear your thoughts on the round?

[azabob]

Fox Footy coverage for the pies v dockers was the most bias I have ever heard. So much so I chose to change over to channel 7 and watch the coverage with adverts!!

Matt Hill is now the worst commentator going, Dwayne Russell please, please just call the game rather than trying to be funny. You were refreshing way back when you were on the ABC... now not so much.

All Gary Lyon could talk about during the first quarter was Collingwood inside 50 pressure - he kept going even once the Dockers hit the front.

Coupled with their terrible camera angles and replay choice....

[GVGjr]

To me, one of the discussion points should be on 50tmr penalties for players that may have and might not have cribbed a few cm over the mark. Surely that shouldn't invoke a 50 mtr penalty?

[jazzadogs]

To me, one of the discussion points should be on 50tmr penalties for players that may have and might not have cribbed a few cm over the mark. Surely that shouldn't invoke a 50 mtr penalty?

The umpires are shocking at setting the mark these days, and there are clubs (like Collingwood) who definitely take advantage of it.

There are so many times when they call 'stand' to a player who is nowhere near the original spot the mark was taken. Players routinely push forward on the mark to steal a metre.

In many ways it was flagrant, but I thought Bailey Dale was stiff not to get a warning before his 50m penalty the other night because of how inconsistent the umpires are at calling them back.

They are also very inconsistent on players approaching the mark from behind the player with the ball...mostly fine, but occasionally pick out a 50 for it.

[SquirrelGrip]

It's got to the point I don't feel I understand the rules anymore. I don't like criticising umpires at the best of times, but I watch a game and feel I have no idea what decision they will make. It's happening so consistently that it's not the umpires, it's what they're being told to do and the rule matrix they have to follow. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling so stupid after years of playing, coaching and watching.

[Sedat]

There were 5 weeks of byes to re-fixture the Gold Coast v Essendon game from Opening Round - the decision by the AFEL not schedule it until the last round was boneheaded and idiotic at the time, and now only looks worse. It does a total disservice to the integrity of the competition and to all other 16 clubs. They clearly did this thinking it would be a pseudo wildcard match, but now look stupid with Essendon firmly entrenched in the bottom 4.

Kicking the can down the road never works.

[Bornadog]

To me, one of the discussion points should be on 50tmr penalties for players that may have and might not have cribbed a few cm over the mark. Surely that shouldn't invoke a 50 mtr penalty?

What about when the player pointed to the scoreboard and got a 50m penalty. The 50m given to Dangerfield - another joke.