The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

[Missing Dog]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

There were 5 really bad decisions

Shaggy - The umpire (McInerney) has guessed. He was at least 30m away, with plenty of players between him and the contest. He obviously didn't see Shaggy kick it, which means he didn't see him dispose of it.

Boundary throw in on the wing. A free kick awarded to the dogs in St Kilda forward line. Free kick should have been taken up on the wing. A free kick is taken where the free kick occured or where the ball is, whichever is the greatest advantage. A clear case of umpire (McInerney) lacking composure. The middle umpire was yelling at him that the free kick should be up at the wing, bad he just ignored him.

Reiwolt - One of the worst decisions I have ever seen paid (again by McInerney). The umpires had been instructed a few weeks ago to pay free kicks for players bumping in to players off the ball. This was to apply to players aggressively bumping in to the players. Lake gave Reiwolt a little bump on his shoulder. To pay a free kick for so little contact was appaling.

Ward - Ward took the ball a metre in from the boundary line and was tackled over the boundary line. The second he crosses the line he has no obligation to dispose of the ball, so there is no way he has had a reasonable time to dispose of the ball. The same umpire (Chamberlain) has payed at least 2 similar free kicks this year, 1 when we were playing the bombers. Clearly the umpires coaches have not told him that his interpretation is incorrect.

Hudson - They paid at least 4 other free kicks in ruck contest during the night, but the most obvious one of all was missed.


The umpiring fraternity got a lot of recognition for the correct free kick paid to John Anthony last week. Any credibilty gained lasted all of 6 days. All 3 umpires made errors last night (as did many players) but Shane McInerney clearly showed that he can not handle the pressure of finals football. He was the umpire who paid the free kick against Leo Barry in a final against Eagles in Perth in 2005 or 2006. Up there in the top 5 worst free kicks paid of all time. If the AFL umpiring department has any credibility, he will not be umpiring this years Grand Final.

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

A couple of my thoughts:

They really need to improve the security at the MCG. I swear there must have been a sniper in the crowd given how easily Reiwoldlt went down when Lake dared to touch him after the break. The thing that gets me is that Fisher was trying to rough up our blokes at the start of the game and nothing gets paid, in fact nothing gets paid all year, until now. I don't think we got a contentious free of any sort all night.

Did anyone see Gia get held obviously when starting a lead into space (I was down the other end of ground and could see it clearly) - he was 20 metres out straight in front - I think it was 3rd qtr. The umps were obviously too busy making sure the endagered Roo wasn't getting upset.

I hate being in the position whingeing about frees but in a game where 16 goals are scored and they are as good as gems, we had 2 or 3 kicked against us as direct result of contentious frees and we didn't get one. Sure we could have heroically won despite these, but in a close game I don't think the Saints can claim they were the better team - but then again winners are grinners I guess...

[AndrewP6]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

Both players (Akermanis & Reiwoldt) had the sole intent to get the ball out of bounds. Both should have been deemed deliberate, not just one.

Aker's kick travelled about 55 metres up the ground... then went out of bounds... happens a handful of times every game, and isn't paid as such...

[bulldogtragic]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

There were 5 really bad decisions

Shaggy - The umpire (McInerney) has guessed. He was at least 30m away, with plenty of players between him and the contest. He obviously didn't see Shaggy kick it, which means he didn't see him dispose of it.

Boundary throw in on the wing. A free kick awarded to the dogs in St Kilda forward line. Free kick should have been taken up on the wing. A free kick is taken where the free kick occured or where the ball is, whichever is the greatest advantage. A clear case of umpire (McInerney) lacking composure. The middle umpire was yelling at him that the free kick should be up at the wing, bad he just ignored him.

Reiwolt - One of the worst decisions I have ever seen paid (again by McInerney). The umpires had been instructed a few weeks ago to pay free kicks for players bumping in to players off the ball. This was to apply to players aggressively bumping in to the players. Lake gave Reiwolt a little bump on his shoulder. To pay a free kick for so little contact was appaling.

Ward - Ward took the ball a metre in from the boundary line and was tackled over the boundary line. The second he crosses the line he has no obligation to dispose of the ball, so there is no way he has had a reasonable time to dispose of the ball. The same umpire (Chamberlain) has payed at least 2 similar free kicks this year, 1 when we were playing the bombers. Clearly the umpires coaches have not told him that his interpretation is incorrect.

Hudson - They paid at least 4 other free kicks in ruck contest during the night, but the most obvious one of all was missed.


The umpiring fraternity got a lot of recognition for the correct free kick paid to John Anthony last week. Any credibilty gained lasted all of 6 days. All 3 umpires made errors last night (as did many players) but Shane McInerney clearly showed that he can not handle the pressure of finals football. He was the umpire who paid the free kick against Leo Barry in a final against Eagles in Perth in 2005 or 2006. Up there in the top 5 worst free kicks paid of all time. If the AFL umpiring department has any credibility, he will not be umpiring this years Grand Final.

Fantastic un-emotional and critical analysis. I was screaming that thye free was not down field, and well all of them such as they were so blatantly wrong not techinically ambiguous. Sure i have not umpired at the VFL/AFL level, but my level 2 umpiring certificate taught me enough to know the free kick is where the ball is. What will hurt the credibility of the umpiring fraternity is if they cover up the mistakes. They should be proactive and admit it. It won't make any of us feel better or change things, but at least the record can set straight. That is, they made several fundamental errors, ALL against the dogs.

[AndrewP6]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

What will hurt the credibility of the umpiring fraternity is if they cover up the mistakes. They should be proactive and admit it.

Would be the right thing to do. Not holding my breath in anticipation though...

[bulldogtragic]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

Would be the right thing to do. Not holding my breath in anticipation though...

I think Eade's words last night were similar to 'Maybe we'll speak to Rohan and Jeff, but they'll just say they made the correct decision. So there's really no point. You never hear anything other than they are right'. Then the jounro followed up with 'so you're saying it's a pointless exercise, to which Eade said it was. With the rediculous AFL clampdown on coaches comments, Eade was on the boarderline in his presser. Interesting that honesty is boarderline fine-worthy yet lying to every question in line with the wants of the AFL is fine...

[AndrewP6]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

I think Eade's words last night were similar to 'Maybe we'll speak to Rohan and Jeff, but they'll just say they made the correct decision. So there's really no point. You never hear anything other than they are right'. Then the jounro followed up with 'so you're saying it's a pointless exercise, to which Eade said it was. With the rediculous AFL clampdown on coaches comments, Eade was on the boarderline in his presser. Interesting that honesty is boarderline fine-worthy yet lying to every question in line with the wants of the AFL is fine...

Yep, the AFL's approach to public speaking "You're entitled to your opinion, as long as it's the same as ours"

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

Was it that we were good enough last night but didn't win because of some poor umpiring decisions? I'm still trying to figure this out. I mean we matched it and were beating St. Kilda a lot of the night in a number of key areas of the game. But why did we lose? Was it the umpires? Was it poor goal kicking? Was it lack of a key forward? What was it? Will the club review the game?

[AndrewP6]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

Was it that we were good enough last night but didn't win because of some poor umpiring decisions? I'm still trying to figure this out. I mean we matched it and were beating St. Kilda a lot of the night in a number of key areas of the game. But why did we lose? Was it the umpires? Was it poor goal kicking? Was it lack of a key forward? What was it? Will the club review the game?

IMO, it was a combination of inability to capitalise on scoring chances, some poor errors, lack of a KPF, and a number of APPALLING umpiring decisions/non-decisions.

And, yes, the club will review the game... for the next six months...

[LostDoggy]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

Was it that we were good enough last night but didn't win because of some poor umpiring decisions? I'm still trying to figure this out. I mean we matched it and were beating St. Kilda a lot of the night in a number of key areas of the game. But why did we lose? Was it the umpires? Was it poor goal kicking? Was it lack of a key forward? What was it? Will the club review the game?

I honestly think we were the better team on the night. I think it was a combination of all you mentioned, had one of those things gone our way then it would have been a win. What I don't understand is why is seems to happen to us always, am I looking for it?

[Topdog]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

I wish I could say you are paranoid Ernie but gee it's hard to swallow sometimes and it always seems to happen at the pointy end of the season.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

There were 5 really bad decisions

Shaggy - The umpire (McInerney) has guessed. He was at least 30m away, with plenty of players between him and the contest. He obviously didn't see Shaggy kick it, which means he didn't see him dispose of it.

Boundary throw in on the wing. A free kick awarded to the dogs in St Kilda forward line. Free kick should have been taken up on the wing. A free kick is taken where the free kick occured or where the ball is, whichever is the greatest advantage. A clear case of umpire (McInerney) lacking composure. The middle umpire was yelling at him that the free kick should be up at the wing, bad he just ignored him.

Reiwolt - One of the worst decisions I have ever seen paid (again by McInerney). The umpires had been instructed a few weeks ago to pay free kicks for players bumping in to players off the ball. This was to apply to players aggressively bumping in to the players. Lake gave Reiwolt a little bump on his shoulder. To pay a free kick for so little contact was appaling.

Ward - Ward took the ball a metre in from the boundary line and was tackled over the boundary line. The second he crosses the line he has no obligation to dispose of the ball, so there is no way he has had a reasonable time to dispose of the ball. The same umpire (Chamberlain) has payed at least 2 similar free kicks this year, 1 when we were playing the bombers. Clearly the umpires coaches have not told him that his interpretation is incorrect.

Hudson - They paid at least 4 other free kicks in ruck contest during the night, but the most obvious one of all was missed.


The umpiring fraternity got a lot of recognition for the correct free kick paid to John Anthony last week. Any credibilty gained lasted all of 6 days. All 3 umpires made errors last night (as did many players) but Shane McInerney clearly showed that he can not handle the pressure of finals football. He was the umpire who paid the free kick against Leo Barry in a final against Eagles in Perth in 2005 or 2006. Up there in the top 5 worst free kicks paid of all time. If the AFL umpiring department has any credibility, he will not be umpiring this years Grand Final.

That sounds as if it was written by an umpire or something. Surely we wouldn't allow one on here ...

Oh.

[Sedat]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

What was it?

'It' was Hayes. He was amazing last night, and we just could not keep him out of the game for any length of time. Riewoldt finished off strongly but their heartbeat was Hayes.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

A lot of people are saying Eagletons kick was in fact over the line and was not touched on the line. Can anyone confirm this? .

Definitely a goal, just watch the replay, the ball is over the line and then touched by the Saints player. It was a great kick from Eagleton and we would have gone into the break 13 points up.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: The Lake 'Free' and Other 'Frees'

Thanks for your analysis Aker39. Good read.