AFL should be free-kicked: “dropping the ball”

Like many other fans, both in the blogosphere and in the stands, I've been non-plussed by the seeming failure of umpires to enforce what we thought was a ban on deliberately-rushed behinds.

In a couple of on-line discussions, I've wondered whether the rule was limited in effect to combatting the Bowden Manoeuvre.

I decided it was time to do some detective work. The latest mention of the trial rule that I can locate on the AFL website is the report of Adrian Anderson's December 15, 2008 announcement of the raft of rule changes and trials.

In that report I found the following statement: “a) A free kick will now be awarded for any deliberate rushed behind.” I note the use of the word “any”.

In my previous post, I opined that the Giesch had changed his spots and was upholding the standard of commonsense in interpretations of rules.

I have now decided that the Giesch is being deliberately obtuse in a crazy bid to confuse us and thwart our anger at his charges. I'm onto you Giesch!! You can't pull the wool over MY eyes!

Memo Andrew: It's about time you muttered something like “Will no-one rid me of this troublesome umpiring Director?”, whereupon Adrian Anderson will ride off to the Giesch’s office and render him asunder (apologies to W Shakespeare). Seriously, mate, this is as big a joke as the whistle-blowers have ever been. You HAVE TO fix this or lose whatever shreds of credibility you have left.