I don’t expect a lot (any?) you beauts for this post but I’ll give it a shot anyway. Despite winning a game that most of us had given away with an expectation that we’d get thumped we still can’t manage to sling off at the umpires. I admit to seeing every contest through purple lenses and can’t believe that frees I see aren’t rewarded or those that aren’t there are, but somehow I manage to move on and watch the rest of the game without blaming the poor sods who are tasked with adjudicating the highly subjective rules that exist in our game.
I’m guessing that the Cats supporters at the game are equally filthy with the bias of the umps as are many of those that have posted on this site. It’s one thing to say that the umps made bad decisions but how can they have favoured both sides depending on who you follow?
As an example, if you watched the game on the box, you’ll recall an contest between Fyfe and Dangerfield that received a some focus from the commentators. At first view my purple eyes thought Fyfe should have got the free, the umps made no call and the commentators thought Fyfe slid into Dangerfield’s legs and should have been penalised. No doubt 3/4 of the people watching had their own views but the umps are trying to see these things in real time while negotiating 36 bodies and blind spots.after watching the replays I still wasn’t sure what the right decision was but I’m sure most Freo supporters were ok with Fyfe not being penalised.
Anyway, I’ll concentrate on watching the game, I’ll maintain my bias, I’ll see frees that aren’t there, but I won’t bang on about the umps costing us games we were never going to win or showing bias where there is no objective evidence to support it. It’s a bloody tough gig and we wouldn’t have a game without them - accept some mistakes. Open the other eye occasionally and you will see plenty of contests where we get marginal frees or get away with indiscretions.
There I’ve had my bit of Sunday catharsis- fire away.
