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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 11 2024 Post Game Postulations Carlton vs Gold Coast
Last post by DJC -There won't be much to come out of that umpire complaining, Hardwick's example was Charlie being spun in the tackle but the reality is Andrew didn't halt Charlie's movement or inhibit his disposal so the umpire is correct.
The umpire was correct because the rule says that he/she must give the player with the ball a reasonable time to dispose of it. In the circumstances, that was a reasonable time … and the rules say nothing about 360 degrees.
The tackle definition does not include “impede progress” or “prevent disposal”.
The real error the umpire made in that passage of play was failing to pay Charlie a free kick for a push in the back.
I'm against Hardwick's demand umpires blow the whistle sooner, he seems to think "We the public" want that as the default, which in effect encourages and rewards tacklers. But for me it's the exact opposite of what the general public want, we want the player hunting the ball rewarded, we do not want the sniper who sits off the contests and tackles rewarded.
There’s no logical connection between umpires paying holding the ball free kicks quickly and players being injured in tackles. Andrew’s tackle was poorly applied and allowed Charlie freedom to move and get an effective disposal. Hardwick would be better off focusing on ensuring that his players tackle correctly.
Part of the problem is confusion about the holding the ball rules. A player who has “prior opportunity” must dispose of the ball immediately when tackled. A player who doesn’t have prior opportunity (ie Charlie) must dispose of the ball within a reasonable time as determined by the umpire in the circumstances.
Putting aside team loyalties, what do punters want to see; a player winning a free kick for holding an opponent’s arm or a player taking on the tackler and using strength and skill to dispose of the ball?
I’d rather see Dusty, Reid, Petracca, Crippa, etc take on and beat the tackler.
Hardwick did make one pertinent point; 131 tackles were laid for very few free kicks. A lot of those tackles were relatively meaningless, repeat efforts in congestion, but more than a few should have been rewarded with holding the ball free kicks and some should have been punished for holding the man.