My Footy

Chelsea Roffey is one of the AFL's top goal umpires, says Adrian Anderson

AFL FOOTBALL operations manager Adrian Anderson has stressed the League’s desire to see an increase in the number of women officiating in matches.

Anderson told afl.com.au that the ultimate goal is to see a female field or boundary umpire officiating at the highest level.

“One of our best goal umpires is Chelsea Roffey, so we’d love to see some others make the elite level,” he said.

“Obviously there are intense physical and mental demands on field umpires, but they’re demands that could be met by women.”

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GEELONG has been slapped with a $3000 fine for captain Cameron Ling commenting on umpires.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson announced today the league had written to the Cats after Ling’s comments in a post-match interview after last Friday’s loss to St Kilda.

Anderson said he had also spoken to Ling personally.

Ling was particularly upset by what he called “a couple of amazing 50m penalties” on Friday night.

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There’s no doubt that Baker and Johnson hit each other several times during their fiery clashes last Friday night.  It’s a shame that their behaviour has overshadowed the match itself.  Due to the wet conditions, the match probably suffered a little as a spectacle however, it was still a tough match played between the 2 Grand Final favourites.

What stood out to me about the several incidents between Johnson and Baker is that it should never have been allowed to escalate to the heights that it did.  The Umpires have a lot to answer for not paying a free kick against one of the many rule breaches that occurred between the two players.  At one stage Umpire Number 8 was no further than 15 metres away when Baker hit Johnson flush on the chin with his fist – no free kick!  You have to be joking Umpire!  Is this the same game where a defender putting his hands (even ever so lightly) into the back of the leading forward results in a free kick?  If Umpire Number 8 had’ve paid a free kick at that time, the issue wouldn’t have escalated much further.  A coach would not allow a backman to forfeit a shot on goal to his opponenet nor would a coach allow a forward to give up their team’s forward thrust.

I’ve heard that Matthew Knights (Essendon Coach) is advocating the introduction of a 4th Field Umpire. What’s the good of having an extra Field Umpire when the ones that we have now don’t lay reports or pay free kicks?  Would the presence of another Field Umpire allow Umpire Number 8 to do his job better?  I doubt it as he had a clear view of the incident and failed to do his job.

If Baker and Johnson have to serve time on the sidelines so should each and every umpire who officiated in that match as they did not do their job. The umpires had it within their control to stop this escalating but unbelievably decided not to do so.  This should extend to all Field, Boundary, Goal, and the Emergency umpires.  One or more of them would’ve seen enough to warrant a free kick or a report.

Is this rant the result of my team losing the match or losing a player for some weeks?  No.  I follow Richmond and I’m a football lover.  Umpires today seem to eager to take the easy way out and that disgusts me to the extreme.  I also used to be an Umpire having officiated for many years as a Field Umpire, then a Boundary Umpire, and finished my career as a Goal Umpire.

I’m not sure if anyone else saw the closing minutes of the Geelong V St. Kilda match last night.  With about a minute and half to go, St. Kilda’s Milne marked the ball about 15 metres out from goal and played on.  The Umpire called, “Play On” and theGeelong defender tackled him locking the ball in.  Milne made no attempt to dispose of the ball.  What did the umpire do?  He called for a ball up saying that Milne had no prior opportunity!

No prior opportunity???  He played on after taking a mark for goodness sake!  In playing on, Milne used up his prior opportunity – rolled the dice, and lost.  Free kick Geelong.

How is it fair to play on after taking a mark and being tackled without fear being free kicked?  I’m sure that guys like Steve Johnson, Mark LeCras, Leon Davis, Eddie Betts, and other nimble forwards would pick up on this and play on more often knowing that at worst, they’ll force a ball up.  Why is this any different from a ruckman grabbing the ball out of the ruck and being free kicked when tackled?  Like the guy taking the mark and playing on, the ruckman has taken on the opposition and is deemed to have had prior opportunity.  No difference from what I can see.

Disgraceful umpiring decision – and I don’t barrack for either team!