Like everyone else at the moment, it turns out the umpires are also highly annoyed at the AFL’s new rules and are pissed off about the League’s refusal to speak up to support them after some contentious…or awful on-field decisions during the Essendon v Collingwood ANZAC day game.
The Age this morning is reporting that this is the second time in season 2019 that League HQ has remained quiet about umpires being criticised and those involved in umpiring believe that the League “has backflipped on their promise to defend umpires publicly”.
AFL Umpires Association boss Peter Howe told The Age “The umpires look to the AFL to provide leadership and support in situations where there is some controversy around decisions and part of their role is to provide clarity to the stakeholders of the game,”
Who would have thought that constantly changing the rules in a sport that is hard to officiate and has a lot of grey area would lead to making officials frustrated about doing their jobs?
Terrific story from @sam_mcclure here: senior umpires feel let down by @AFL after they weren’t defended re Anzac Day, promoting ump Shaun Ryan to hit airwaves. https://t.co/v3nl4KA7cx
— Jake Niall (@JakeNiallTHEAGE) April 29, 2019
If you’re looking for a solid sports read, look no further than Pete Badel’s yarn in The Courier Mail about how Wayne Bennett left the Broncos.
The three-part series explores how Bennett got the heave-ho from Red Hill and the absolute mess with hiring Anthony Siebold and the coaching swap.
This yarn has a future ESPN 30 for 30 written all over it, in fact odds on, it’s already in production.
BENNETT V BRONCOS PART THREE: How the coaching war became personal as Seibold lost patience with Bennett https://t.co/zJUYaBFQ8f pic.twitter.com/Nsx2FNdW9l
— Courier Mail Sport (@cmail_sport) April 29, 2019
It’s the middle-aged bloke’s answer to Schoolies week and they come across their thousands down the Great Ocean Road for three days of Racing magic at the ‘Bool.
Some of you may recall the Warrnambool races was the place where AFL CEO Gillion McLachlan donned that now infamous mustard jacket.
Gillon McLachlan expected to be announced as new AFL CEO at 11am. Happy Mustard Jacket Day everybody! @SENfooty pic.twitter.com/OuecGu6h0K
— Mitchell Scott (@MitchellBScott) April 29, 2014
Fashion mishaps from AFL Executives aside, Neds in-house profit prophet Jared Timms has studied the form and reckons he’s found a few winners to get day one of The ‘Bool off to a flyer.
Get around the ‘Bool!
It’s the opening day of the Warrnambool Carnival & that’s where the Profit Prophet has found his top tips this Tuesday.
— NedsAU (@NedsAus) April 29, 2019