Let's hear it for the non-controlling umpire ... ---------------------------------------------------------
The AFL admits a decisive free kick that helped Geelong pip Carlton on Friday night was incorrect.
The Blues held the lead for most of the second half at Etihad Stadium, only to hand it over with three minutes remaining when Allen Christensen kicked the match winner.
The non-controlling umpire, stationed approximately 50m away from the ball, awarded the decisive free kick to Christensen.
Umpires boss Hayden Kennedy admitted on Saturday it was wrong for Brendan Hosking to penalise Sam Docherty's crucial spoil.
They admitted an error the last time we played them when Menzel had his head pulled off near the goal square. Now they admit another one. Add that to the umpire mauling we got against Brisbane ( we should bet Brisbane anyway,but still....) and we've lost 3 games directly as a result of late umpire errors. That stuff is the difference between being 13th and being on the tip end of the 8. Add that to dumb losses against , Richmond, Melbourne and GWS and with luck and, alot better commitment early on in the year, and what a difference this season is.
Add in kruezers injury Thomas lack of preseason narrow loses to Freo and hawks and I tell you what we are top 2 material!
Enjoy the next few weeks, make an effort to see him live before the end of the year.
I had forgotten to mention this but have a close friend who see Chris a couple of times a year. Saw him after the north game and asked him will he be going around next year.
He answer was unless something goes horribly wrong between now and end of the year he is playing next year.
My mate reckons 100% he is playing unless he has a long term injury in next 4 weeks.
I tell you watching him limp off in the 3rd nearly bought me to tears!!!'
I thought that was the end.
Fingers crossed that's no major injury concern cause he is one player even in his twilight that excites more then anyone on our list.
Just watching fat head Eddie and sh1t talking king on fox.
They were commenting on yarran laughing and joking with buddy after he kicked his fifth goal.
They were saying if you lip read buddy he was giving it to our defenders and they reckon the word 'embarrassing' was used.
But instead of our defenders reacting by verbally abusinb him or god forbid maybr start a fight - instead one of them joins in his one man party by joking and laughing with the pr1ck in full camera view. Oh by the way we were over 10goals down at that stage.
My daughter goes I miss him he was ours. Then she looked at me and said we don't have anyone exciting anymore- years ago we lost to teams we shouldn't but we played exciting footy and could beat the best teams. What happened. I had no reply.
Back to the game. Used to be our bigest H&A game of our season but I have no spark. Rattan led blues gave me hope in these clashes. Not these days.
The new President, Mark la la land, if he didn't know before, knows now that he needs to get his head down and arse up and get rid of the deadwood on the board, one bloke I know on there has got the ability of a flea, get the right personnel in and sack the idiots who recruited Watson, Mitchell, Bootsma and Lucas.
Mick has got to stop with this, "we pick the team that can win the game cr@p" and put in some young blokes. Carrots is gone. Can't run and kicks the ball in the air when he passes it. Carrots out, Graham in. Put Johnson in, and try the Irishman. Even give Cameron Wood a go.
Now about Rowe. Aside from the Brisbane Lions, I cannot think of another team where Rowe would get a regular game and he might have difficulty getting one there. Like all of you, I admire his magnificent fight to beat the disease with which he was afflicted. I have said here that he has improved over the last 7 or so rounds, but the level he is at now, is just not good enough to hold down a key position at AfL level. He does his best, but his best isn't good enough. He said in the interview today that he's a fighter. You have to be to beat cancer. But that fighting quality can't mask a lack of skill and ability.
He is easily pushed off the ball. Sometimes you get a second effort, other times it's as if he is asleep and stands back watching the action going on around him. He is not an attacking defender. Jammo will get the ball, and when possible will commence an attacking move from the back line. Rowe, won't or more probably, can't do that. I know how much the coach admires him, but he will not be part of a top four team.
Rowe is no superstar but he is more then serviceable in only his second year trying to hold down a key position in a bottom 6 team where the ball flys jn under little pressure the bulk of the time yet and he is one of handful of players that is in gun after a loss.
The fact is 3/4 of our team is easily pushed off ball, 3/4 lack skill, 3/4 lack ability and 3/4 can't hold down a key position.