There is a long-established tradition for officials to struggle to officiate players who are so physically imposing. The umps won’t protect Sandi from guys hanging all over him in marking contests, or jumping into him at centre bounces. But as soon as he tries to use his bulk to protect space in the ruck he’s pinged (more so this year). Likewise, if he throws Robinson to the ground like ragdoll, the umps can’t help themselves but to feel for the smaller, weaker man (after all, they’ve spent their whole life being the smaller, weaker men).
I’d love to see Sandi wear the Black Hat for the rest of the year. If he’s going to get frees against him, make the odd one count. It’s not in his nature to be malicious, but if he can channel some of the old-man crankiness that sneaks into many veterans’ games, you’d be running around pretty nervously as an opposition player.
