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Good call, umpire

9.34AM 6-9-2010

By Kevin Bartlett

Well, umpire Matt Stevic should be applauded for doing his job well.

He saw a free kick to St Kilda's James Gwilt. When Cam Mooney fell into his back, he paid it, without fear or favour, well before Cameron Ling's kick was on it's way to the goals.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson did Stevic no favours by telling the media pack to write whatever they wanted to write, and to write the truth concerning the incident.

Clearly someone should have said to him 'Sorry Bomber, it was in the back and a free kick'.

I give plenty of slack to Bomber Thompson. Under pressure, under tension with his side just missing out, common sense can get clouded.

But other comments made no sense from sections of the media.

The 'Spirit of the Game' was given as a reason why the free kick should have been waved.

The weather conditions should have changed the interpretations of the free kick.

Even the fact that only 9 free kicks for the quarter had been paid was given as a reasonable reason not to pay that free kick.

If it wasn't paid, imagine the response from St Kilda and the fans.

It's tough being an umpire. Even when you get it right, you get it wrong.

Comments

Posted by Steve at 4.36PM 8-9-2010

Yeah the free kick was there but I don't think it would have been as big a talking point if it wasn't paid and the cats went on to win. It was a shame that it happened at the time it did.

Posted by Ringa at 2.03PM 8-9-2010

I am a sainter, let me say that first. I do feel though for the pussies though. If the Saints had of lost the game under the same circumstances then I would also be bleeding. Hope a decision like that doesn't go against my boys in a granny!

Posted by Tony Rogers at 12.16PM 7-9-2010

KB: has anyone commented on how you are still plaguing Carlton 30 years on? Dennis Armfield had to be channeling you when he took off on Sunday except he was in the back pocket, not your forward pocket and forgot the KB rule change when he went the bounce. Well done, keep up the good work.

Posted by Tim at 9.15PM 6-9-2010

He fell in his back. It's a free kick. It was a great confident early call. To those who think it wasn't a free kick seriously open your eyes!!!

Posted by Greg at 5.36PM 6-9-2010

That was a Free Kick 100 out of 100.. It makes no sense arguing the point that it wasnt paid earlier. Mooney being a Clumsy Oath fell squarely in teh back of the saints player. I dont follow either team. Maybe Geelong think they are god's gift to the AFL and expect to get everything handed to them. They cheat for frees, just look at Selwood always head down for frees. Thats Cheating. But cats fan dont care as long as its their player doing it. Sore losers. Bomber is a sore loser also.

Posted by Luke at 4.20PM 6-9-2010

Man I'm so over these Cats supporters saying what about all these other free kicks missed. If getting a decision correct is important then dwell on those missed ones and be humble enough to say he got the last one correct. Or like mum said "if you havent got something nice to say don't say anything".

Posted by Ralphy at 3.15PM 6-9-2010

Spot on KB. 100% Spot on. I don't know what everyone is making such a big deal about th efree kick. It was the most blatant free kick I have seen and much more of a clear cut free kick than a couple of "Iffy" ones that went the way of the Cats (Um... Cameron Stokes anyone?) Calling for a free kick being in the "spirit"of the game is just laughable. It is up there with the term Ün Australian"that people use... Seriously Cats fans. Suck it up, Ling should have got 50 for kicking it after the whistle

Posted by BigSaint at 2.45PM 6-9-2010

In a separate incident, Zac Dawson dived over a Mooney kick for goal and caught a big chunk of the ball yet the goal was allowed. If an incident like that ever decides a Grand Final for the Saints I won't be renewing either of my memberships. You don't need ground breaking new technology to remedy this, just get it right before our game sees riots like they do in european soccer.

Posted by Mick at 1.54PM 6-9-2010

If Stevic was so right and he saw the whole thing then how can Dawson get the free kick, I didn't think Dawson and Gwilt looed alike!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by jack of it at 11.12AM 6-9-2010

KB sorry but go and live in a retirement home...you are out of touch....yes free kick was there but how about u go back thru the game and tell us about the 6 or more similar ones that were let go ??

Posted by Craig at 10.20AM 6-9-2010

You are correct KB, it was a free kick, but it also highlights the major flaw with the current rules. There would have been at least 5 or more similar incidents in the game that were not called because the umpire completely missed or was not in the best position to view them. There would be at least 50 other possible free kicks in every match that are missed. The rules are just too hard for the umpires to officiate and the end result is inconsistency that is impossible to fix.