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11
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by kruddler -
Riddle me this AFL.....
We all know a player gets penalised in a ruck contest for putting a toe on the line.

A player needs to take his eye off the ball to ensure he doesn't give away a free kick then use his body to keep his opponent away from the ball.

A player gets penalised in a marking contest if he takes his eye off the ball and then uses his body to keep his opponent away from the ball.

Only the AFL could be so obviously contradictory.

F*** the stupid ruck rule off.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by Milhanna13 -
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Quote from: Milhanna13 – on


would love to know how many of those are centre square frees (for both pitto and the others).   maybe its just because we watch him all the time,  but pitto does seem to give away a lot of those

i support pitto, but he isnt as dynamic as some of the other rucks in the comp (although he started the year kicking goals),  and if he isnt giving is first use in the middle (including giving away frees),  then he becomes even less useful

It would definitely show a bias.  I.e.  pittonet is penalised once per match for crossing the line in ruck contests over the course of 2026.  Most of that time, his opponent is running and jumping over him and also crossing the line but it seems that if you are off the ground, in the air, this doesn’t matter.

Ultimately the free kick thing is irrelevant as most of the ones he is giving away aren't really there to start with.

When you look at free kicks rather than worry about how many are given away, it needs to be viewed solely about how a player plays over the course of a match.  Some players are on the edge more and give more frees away.  Some teams play like this as a rule.

The number of frees simply represent the number of times you got penalised, and not the number of times you infringed or did something wrong as you wont be penalised every time, the umps tend to put the whistle away.

"but it seems that if you are off the ground, in the air, this doesn’t matter" -  i hadnt actually noticed this, but it does make sense.  Pitto is penalised as it is easy to see him "step" over the line,  whereas the jumpers it is harder to judge.  makes sense why he seems to give so many away

on the pushing the edge - that used to annoy me so much, with the clarko hawks.  they used to push the rules to the max, and way over the max,  cop maybe 2 or 3 frees a match for it,  but get away with 98 other infringements.  smart, when you think about it, but so frsutrating to watch
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: Milhanna13 – on
Quote from: kruddler – on


Like Brodie Grundy?

FYI, Pitto gives away 1.7 free kicks a game.
Grundy gives away 2.9 free kicks a game.

Maybe he doesn't know the rules either?

Witts gives away 1.9 free kicks a game.
McAndrew gives away 1.8 free kicks a game
Luke Jackson gives away 1.7 free kicks a game.
TDK gives away 2.0 free kicks a game.

Perhaps its the rules that are the problem.



would love to know how many of those are centre square frees (for both pitto and the others).   maybe its just because we watch him all the time,  but pitto does seem to give away a lot of those

i support pitto, but he isnt as dynamic as some of the other rucks in the comp (although he started the year kicking goals),  and if he isnt giving is first use in the middle (including giving away frees),  then he becomes even less useful

It would definitely show a bias.  I.e.  pittonet is penalised once per match for crossing the line in ruck contests over the course of 2026.  Most of that time, his opponent is running and jumping over him and also crossing the line but it seems that if you are off the ground, in the air, this doesn’t matter.

Ultimately the free kick thing is irrelevant as most of the ones he is giving away aren't really there to start with.

When you look at free kicks rather than worry about how many are given away, it needs to be viewed solely about how a player plays over the course of a match.  Some players are on the edge more and give more frees away.  Some teams play like this as a rule.

The number of frees simply represent the number of times you got penalised, and not the number of times you infringed or did something wrong as you wont be penalised every time, the umps tend to put the whistle away.
15
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by tonyo -
I've been watching AFL for many years, and for me, 98 times out of 100 you can pick an umpire decision just looking at the play.  

But with the centre line infringements, it is like a complete raffle - the whistle blows, everyone looks bemused, and you wait to see which way the umpire's arm is pointing before you know who's got it......

That suggests to me that the rule is far too loose and it is little wonder that the ruckmen are having a difficult time working out what to do.  I've watched a lot of games this year, and It's noticeable that infringing ruckmen are often seen questioning what they have done wrong.   

Quite simply, the rule has to go, because it is a guessing game.  Just wait until a final is decided by one of these dodgy frees.

My bet is it will be removed, because it doesn't add to the game, and just increases frustration for everyone.
16
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by Milhanna13 -
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: Milhanna13 – on
if we had an a-grade ruck (that knows the rules),  the list would look a lot better.

Like Brodie Grundy?

FYI, Pitto gives away 1.7 free kicks a game.
Grundy gives away 2.9 free kicks a game.

Maybe he doesn't know the rules either?

Witts gives away 1.9 free kicks a game.
McAndrew gives away 1.8 free kicks a game
Luke Jackson gives away 1.7 free kicks a game.
TDK gives away 2.0 free kicks a game.

Perhaps its the rules that are the problem.



would love to know how many of those are centre square frees (for both pitto and the others).   maybe its just because we watch him all the time,  but pitto does seem to give away a lot of those

i support pitto, but he isnt as dynamic as some of the other rucks in the comp (although he started the year kicking goals),  and if he isnt giving is first use in the middle (including giving away frees),  then he becomes even less useful
17
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by northernblue -
Quote from: shawny – on
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on

I'll respectfully disagree Shawny on the list and I put our rejuvenation down more to the dominant work of Cripps and Walsh which was missing earlier in the season.
Would you offer the job to Fraser if he achieved your 50% win rate and are you happy to continue with the majority of the list as is?


EB, I want a thorough process to elect the next coach. If after that process Fraser is selected then im fine with that but we need that process. This is the step i believe we keep getting wrong so i want no stone unturned this time around

Regarding the list I believe its not as bad as it appeared under Voss in his last few years and the instant result changes with the interim coach confirms my thinking. I rank it mid tier without major injuries and once you add Walker to Jagga Walsh and Cripps mix, get more games into the kids and if we can snare a few free agents that fill a few of the weaker areas we will be hard to beat. No list is ever perfect so we need smart additions again in the off season but as i said we are not as far away as many think.

Mainly as i don't think the players we lost in last years trade has been as bad as many imagined as a matter of fact i would take the mobile hard working Haywood over lazy Charlie, Jack is a handy player but the improvement of Cowan negates his loss, it's TDK that hurt us mobile goalkicking rucks don't exactly grow on trees. I'm much more bullish than i was 12 months ago in fact i believe we are better placed now then we were this time last year comparing the list at both times.

Then again I could be delusional!  Time will tell.   

What you are missing is the changes that the game stats show… that the changes to the gameplan were there to be seen but they wernt being executed for long enough whilst Voss was coach.
The main difference between Voss and Fraser is the players are following the gameplan for longer and getting the 4 points.
Certainly Cripps is playing better, I’m personally not sure if Walsh is but all our mids are getting more time to dish off imho.
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Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by kruddler -
Quote from: shawny – on
Quote from: kruddler – on


I don't disagree with that, but why not say that first?

I found it odd that you used the free kick count to justify your thoughts, which doesn't actually help your argument.

what are you talking about?

Sorry i got my posters confused. I thought it was you who posted the ruck comment. It was milhanna replying to you.
19
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by laj -
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: Milhanna13 – on
if we had an a-grade ruck (that knows the rules),  the list would look a lot better.

Like Brodie Grundy?

FYI, Pitto gives away 1.7 free kicks a game.
Grundy gives away 2.9 free kicks a game.

Maybe he doesn't know the rules either?

Witts gives away 1.9 free kicks a game.
McAndrew gives away 1.8 free kicks a game
Luke Jackson gives away 1.7 free kicks a game.
TDK gives away 2.0 free kicks a game.

Perhaps its the rules that are the problem.


That is definitely right. Ruck rule is stupid.
20
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: AFL Rd 13 2026 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Essendon
Last post by shawny -
Quote from: kruddler – on
Quote from: shawny – on


Issue is Grundy Witts Jackson TDK etc are more than handy outside the stoppage. Unfortunately, our man is a bit of a one trick pony except for the first 2 rounds where he was leading the coleman

Pit has grown on me - I was never a big fan but something him tells me he is a rippa bloke and sounds like a quite infectious character in the team which is a strong quality in a team sport but as a pure footballer in his position he would be in the bottom 2 -3 if you look at it without bias

I don't disagree with that, but why not say that first?

I found it odd that you used the free kick count to justify your thoughts, which doesn't actually help your argument.

what are you talking about?