Round 13
In this week’s edition, we deconstruct what is means to be an AFL field umpire, followed by a comparison of the young forward tyros, a few words on the Mihocek and Frampton incident, and as well, I will be casting the Round 13 votes in the fight for the Caseys Nightclub Over 30s Mirrorball Keyring – the only award dedicated to the ageing veterans of our great game.
Umpires – Making Mistakes since 1896
The roots of umpire bashing can be traced right back to 1896 (insert year for SA, WA and Tassie), the inaugural year of the VFL.
University’s Francis Black-McCrackenback is reported to be the first player in 1896 to verbal an umpire after a free was awarded against him for king hitting Essendon’s Flea Spray Macgee. Black-McCrackenback was the reigning Australian bare knuckle fighting champion at the time, and it would fair to say poor old Flea Spray Macgee was never seen or heard of again.
Black-McCrackenback was reported, not for knocking Macgee’s lights out, but for inciting the crowd to turn on the umpire by calling him a ‘maggot’, and that folks, is the earliest known incident of of how the term ‘white maggot’ became part of VFL’s AFL’s vernacular.
True story.
My earliest memory of the term ‘white maggot’ was when Harry Beitzel crossed to the change rooms to speak to his special comments man, Digger. Digger wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, and instead going to winners dressing rooms he went to the loser’s room.
During Digger’s interview with big Demon ruckman Carl ‘The Killer’ Baker, Digger asked him what he thought about the umpiring, and big Carl didn’t hold back: If I run into this white maggot on the streets, his life won’t be worth living. F^#king maggot…”
For the history buffs out there, big Carl ‘The Killer’ Baker was the first player deregistered for criticising an umpire, however, the Supreme Court overturned the VFL’s decision three days later and Baker played the following week.
During the 1970s and 80s a player would be sent to ‘Coventry’ if they did not stand their ground with the umps. Neil ‘Bam Bam’ Balme, Simon ‘The Pieman’ Madden, Whacko Jacko, Don ‘The Godfather’ Scott, Mal ‘The Basher’ Brown are just some of the great names of the past who have entertained us all by remonstrating with umpires.
The AFL era has seen a more sanitised version of umpire bashing being employed, but it can still be very effective.
In the AFL era, the umpires have traded their traditional all white uniform to many shades of fluorescent, depending on what mood they wake up in the morning, so they are now just maggots.
While the term ‘maggot’ is no longer used by the players on the ground, it is still a favourite in the outer and on many blogs.
So, it begs the question, does umpire bashing actually work?
From Black-McCrackenback right through to the amusing antics of Zak ‘The Fines’ Butters, never in the history of the game has an umpire changed their mind while being denigrated on the ground, or in the bleaches, or on social media.
Likewise, even when the talking heads make enquiry with the AFL about an umpire’s decision/s during the week, they rarely, if ever, not back their men in fluoro.
So it comes to pass, 130 years after the suspension handed out to Francis Black-McCrackenback, the umpires are still viewed as a necessary evil of the game, by clubs, by players, by the paid-up members in the terraces, and by the general football public.
In the round just gone, which was a great round of football by any measurement, in each game where the margin was under 8 points, the supporters of the losing teams lit up social media, and talkback radio with; “they are paying the umpire”, “we were robbed”, “they would not have won with the umpires”, “the AFL’s love child team”, and so on.
In other words, the supporters of the losing team were angry, in much the same manner as they were the week before, the year before, the decade before and even a century before.
Losing and whinging just hand in hand.
Black-McCrackenback, would have never known how earth shattering and groundbreaking his on-field tantrum was way back in 1896 (he should have copyrighted it), but every club, every player, and every supporter owe a debt of gratitude to the great Francis Black-McCrackenback.
A sad footnote about Francis McCrackenback, he was killed when a runaway horse and carriage hit him outside the then VFL House after his tribunal hearing in 1896, ironically, the carriage was driven by the umpire who reported him, Angus ‘The Rat’ McNeebackbone.
Angus was never charged and the coroners’ findings were McCrackenback died of natural causes – very suspect.
As it was in 1896, it how it is now, and the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Over the course of Round 13, four teams won by under a goal, while the Dees won by a mammoth 8-points.
As is the tradition for losing teams, social media went a crazy, talkback radio had queues of people on hold for two days and three hours, and as usual the same old talking heads were fuelling the fire with their hysterical take on each incident.
Great entertainment, but somewhat over the top.
I watched five of the games over the weekend, and while it wasn’t the greatest display of umpiring across the board, I would be hard pressed to cite one incidence that can be blamed as the SOLE reason any of the defeated teams lost.
For example: In the Sydney v St Kilda, the umpires may have or may not have made a mistake by calling play on with the pass to Owens being under 15 metres, but the judging of distances in this scenario has been a constant bugbear the umpires have had since the days of McNeebackbone way back in 1896.
Judging distances is not an exact science.
The bigger problem I have with the Saints fans calling foul is their players in the last 20 seconds did not shutdown Isaac Heeney, and Jai Serong who was left in that much space forward of the contest I wondered if they had Ebola or something similar.
What separates good teams from very good teams if their ability to instantly put any mistake, error or bad judgment behind them and solely concentrate on the next play.
In 2022 and 2023 Collingwood were the masters of the close game, and not by mistake. During that period, they had some bad late umpiring calls, or ARC decisions go against them, but on each occasion, the Pies players had forgotten about it before the next contest started and they just got on with the game.
The Pies never give up mentality and to just get on with the game, no matter what happens, won them a Premiership in 2023.
My take on umpires.
Blaming somebody other than yourself is such a human trait, and when you add angry, adrenaline rushes, and peer agreement, then a loss can be turned into a witch hunt. However, using the Aussie pathos, ‘we will start a revolution tomorrow, but only if it is not hot, cold, rainy or overcast’, most supporters have normally forgotten about their angst well before the next round.
And so, it rolls on.
Maybe Marx was wrong calling ‘religion the opium of the masses’, because in Australia the greatest game in the world, the AFL is the opium of the masses, and I mean that in a good way. Each weekend the masses gather, they cheer, they vent, they suffer emotional highs and lows, sometimes within the same minute, yet rarely is there any physical blows, and by the next Tuesday the angst which seemed so real only a day or two before is replaced with ‘HOPE’ for the next weekend.
Here’s to the umpires, who get crucified every time they step into the colosseum of battle.
Did you hear the one about the old bull and the young bull?
In era where old man Gunston (34), Tex Walker (36), Jezza Cameron (33), Jesse Hogan (31) and other key forwards are refusing to suffer effects of ageing by playing some of their best football of their careers.
The tale of the Benjamen Buttons’ is rightfully lauded each week, but what about the new kids on the block?
How well do the young bulls shape up against the celebrated old bulls at full forward?
Logan Morris (21) or Josh Treacy (23)?
Logan Morris, with seven goals against the Suns was clearly best on ground, while Josh Treacy is the unofficial general of the Dockers forward line directing traffic, and it would be universally agreed they are clearly one and two or two and one as the best young key forwards in the competition.
Against the Suns, Logan Morris reminded me of an era past when Lockett, Dunstall, Ablett snr, Salmon, Carey and other great forwards of that time, as he demanded control of the forward 50, and he’s lead up work to his midfielders was some of the best seen in the AFL for quite some time.
When Joey Daniher left the Lions, and with Eric Hipwood out injured, there was a common belief that players like Morris were not ready to take up the mantle, but lo and behold, Morris has stepped up and then some. His mate Ty Gallop is performing his role as a reliable pinch hitter to the letter as to what Fagan has asked of him, and the Lion other forwards have adapted very well in the absence of Daniher and Hipwood.
Josh Treacy is still in the young player category, however since day one, Treacy has never played like he is a young player.
As the Dockers have smashed through the premiership window this season, it is no coincidence that Treacy has taken his game to a totally new level.
It might be my bias to Treacy, but he just looks so ready for September.
As for choosing one over the other, it is an impossible to split them. Morris has two Premiership medallions, while Treacy has been groomed from his first game to be the man leading the Dockers charge for their first Premiership.
Riley Thilthorpe (23) or Aaron Cadman (22)?
Riley Thilthorpe is one good finals series away from being mentioned in the same breath as Morris and Treacy, however at this stage of his career, he suffers from form fluctuating’s from week to week, a bit like his team.
Thilthorpe’s form is a bit like his team; there is more to that statement than just mere words.
To most neutral fans Riley is a beast, and a bloody ripper, however, I look forward to the day he goes berserk and wins a game of his own back, leading the charge instead of following the charge.
Aaron Cadman on the other hand is a different type of player, however I would state, like Riley, he is one good finals series away from being judged as elite.
Unlike Thilthorpe, Aaron’s form is reasonably consistent, but he is not seen as the number one forward in his team, with Hogan, Stringer and Greene relegating him to flanks as a decoy.
Cadman is an apprentice behind the more senior players inside the Giants 50, however, only time will tell if he has done enough to carry the weight of the big three when they retire.
At this stage of their respective careers, the upside of Thilthorpe is a better option than Cadman, but only because circumstances have meant Rily has had to step up as the number one forward.
Jacob van Rooyen (23) or Nate Caddy (20) or Jed Walter (21 yesterday)?
Jacob van Rooyen is almost in the category of Thilthorpe and Cadman, however he reminds me a big kid running amok with no rhyme or reason. Okay, a bit exaggerated, but my point with Van Rooyen is, he is now of an age he should be more consistent, even within a game, and to also have better game awareness.
If van Rooyen was on the open market, I’m sure nearly every club would be interested in him, and at a good price, however at this stage of his career, buyer beware.
Nate Caddy, I feel sorry for you, being drafted to a club in total disarray, and yet here you are giving one hundred percent of as you try to make a name for yourself in the game. I don’t understand why each week critics criticise you so regularly and talk about you like you have played 150 games and been in the system for eight years.
In a team that has been terrible, Caddy has average around 1.5 goals in his 50 games to date, which by any metric is extremely good, especially from a kid who is still 20 years old.
Keep doing what you’ve been doing Nate, and the rest will fall into place at some point.
Happy 21st Jed Walter.
A bit like his team, Jed Walter is not having the year he expected, but that is not to say there is not a huge upside for him battling through a year of missed chances.
Out of the three named players in this section, Jed might be a little behind them on stats, but he just looks like a player who will be a star when he is 25, or if a Grand Final opportunity was afforded him and his team, then he may have the bottle to follow the example of Logan Morris and star on the Grandest Stage.
To best sum up which one of these young bucks has the best future, I’ll leave that to my friends from the Cattery.
A few of my friends who barrack for the hoops reckon anyone of Nate, Jacob or Jed would love to be an ambassador for Cotton On, living the good life on the Surf Coast on a hobby farm, and they have no particular order of preference.
Frampton Hysteria
What happened to Brody Mihocek on the weekend was horrific by any standards, but does it mean by extension that Billy Frampton should be cast as the villain?
After the delay of moving Mihocek from the field, Frampton took his free kick and he was rightly booed by the Melbourne faithful, but he was not booed again after that kick.
Further, no Melbourne player tried to give Frampton an even up after the incident, as normally happens in such situations.
At times it is easy to judge a situation on the field by the way the crowd reacts as well as the players from the opposing team, and in this instance, there was very little anger towards Frampton.
Since the incident occurred, every social media platform, media talking heads shows and others, I believe including the Pope, has had something to say about the incident, mainly asking for Frampton to be drawn and quartered.
I have no opinion on the incident, other than praising Frampton’s immediate care of Brodie, knowing full well he would be punished.
At the time of writing, I’ve just found out Frampton has been suspended for three weeks, while Mihocek is up and walking after surgery for a neck injury.
Three weeks is probably the right decision; however, I will be interested to see if the Pies appeal the decision.
Get better Brody, there are a lot of people in your corner.
Titbits
It is always problematic when bottom teams weigh up finances over team success, and I question North Melbourne’s decision to sell one of their home games to Bunbury, giving the Dockers a huge advantage; and boy did they take advantage of it.
North have been going okay this year, and the last thing they really needed is what they got, a 20-goal spanking. Whatever financial benefits the Roos get for playing in Bunbury, is not worth it when the team goes back two years.
What the heck is going on with goal kicking this year?
In a professional competition it is embarrassing to see how many players do not know how to get the pill between the big sticks. It certainly cost a few teams victory over the weekend.
Credit where credit is due, Ollie Florent and Will Hayward have fitted into the structures at Carlton very well, and both are playing and acting as senior players on a consistent basis. Carlton is a better team for their presence.
A couple of Collingwood players (no names atm) are now on a watch to see if they are willing to absorb a bit of heat for the team. In the dying minutes of the MCG thriller, both had their chance to take one for the team, or so it seemed.
Well done to the Dockers, who are now in a stratosphere they have never been in before, and they are carrying the weight of being the ladder leader with poise and professionalism each week. There is a theory that a loss is necessary when a team is on a winning streak, but the Cats blew that theory straight out the water in 2022.
How good is it that the table leaders, who have a history of crossing bridges before they get there, are staying silent like they are in awe of what is happening to them this season.
Finally, it is great to see a happy Tim Kelly showing the football world why he was once considered one of the most elite players in the competition.
Disco’s Over 30s Casey’s Nightclub Award (Nana’s choice again)
This award is for the players proving there is life after 30 in the AFL and it is theoretically sponsored by the once legendary nightclub located in the Glenferrie Station arcade, Casey’s Over 30’s Nightclub. On any given Wednesday or Saturday night the more mature singles of Melbourne would pack the joint to the rafters. The smell of cheap aftershave and perfume was truly overbearing.
There are many players in the AFL thirty years of age or older performing gallantly and as such The Mongrel Punt have introduced this award specifically for the elderly citizens of the competition who will be competing for The Mirror Ball Keyring.
Similar in style to the Coaches Votes, the voting system for this cherished award is the top ten elderly citizens of each round will be ranked with ten being the maximum and one being the minimum.
Votes for Round 13
10 Max Gawn (Melb)
9 Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
8 Patrick Dangerfield (Gee)
7 George Hewett (Carl) tie with Lachie Neale (Bris)
6 Jarman Impey (Haw)
5 Jack Steele (Melb)
4 Jack Sinclair (St K)
3 Tim Kelly (WC)
2 Alex Neal-Bullen (Ade)
1 Blake Acres (Carl)
Leaders Board
35 Brodie Grundy (Syd)
33 Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
28 Jarman Impey (Haw)
27 Lachie Neale (Bris)
25 Max Gawn (Melb)
24 Jack Gunston (Haw) Toby Greene (GWS)
21 Luke Parker (NM)
20 Jeremy Cameron (Gee) Jack Steele (Melb)
19 Jack Steele (Melb)
18 Patrick Cripps (Car)
16 Zach Merrett (Ess) Tim Kelly (WC)
14 Scott Pendlebury (Coll) James Sicily (Haw)
13 Jack Cripps (Coll) Christian Petracca (GC)
12 Luke Ryan (Freo) Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
10 Jack Macrae (St K)
9 Taylor Walker (Ade) Dayne Zorko (Bris)
8 Bradley Hill (St K) Jake Stringer (GWS) Nic Newman (Carl) Patrick Dangerfield (Gee)
7 Ollie Wines (PA) Ryan Lester (Bris) Tom Stewart (Gee) George Hewett (Carl)
6 Alex Pearce (Freo) Brayden Maynard (Coll) Alex Neal-Bullen (Ade)
5 Callum Wilkie (St K) Tom Aitkins (Gee) Rory Lobb (WB)
4 Jake Melksham (Melb) Elliott Yoe (WC)
3 Jake Lloyd (Syd)
2 Jayden Short (Rich) Jack Darling (NM)
1 Blake Acres (Carl)
In previous weeks votes had been given to Harris Andrews, however he does not turn 30 till December, and the same applies to Peter Wright who doesn’t turn 30 until September.
Fin
Have a great week and may your team win.
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