Umpiring
 

Not withstanding that the free kick count was way in front for Claremont, those clowns should have umpired their last game yesterday. If the rumour I heard is true they should be sacked along with whoever gave them the instructions.

I heard that when the umpires went into the rooms before the game, Chris Billings was told that they would be watching him.

The inevitable happened as I believe Chris has been reported for (I think rough play).

Surprise surprise!!!!

How can anyone umpire with an open mind under those circumstances.

No surprise to me, I have known for many years that umpiring was spiralling downwards.

By the same token DF, i think they were doing him a favour giving him a heads up. Perhaps Chris is frustrated like a lot of his team mates?

The team that has the ball for most of the day will generally get more free kicks.

Missed the point of the post didn't you!

However, I don't mind the free kicks as long as they are paid both ways.

Those are the 3 worst umpires in the league.

The West ran the story on Chris Billings today.
I believe that the club has taken appropriate action in demanding an explanation on this blatant victimisation by the umpires.
I wonder who instigated this - the umpires' advisor or the umpires themselves or maybe it came from the tribunal.
Come what may there can be no excuse for such disgraceful action.
Chris has been vindicated by the dismissal of the frivolous rough conduct charge against him laid by the "maggots" who umpired the game on Saturday.

I think you're delusional smokey. The fact he's been reported five times in eight games and involved in two incidents where opposition players received serious injuries suggests its more to do with a break down in the evidentiary process rather than implied innocence. I was at the Subi game and he took Callum Sinclair out a long way off the ball.

Missed the point of the post didn't you!

You do miss the point entirely BC.
He has been reported and investigated several times... yes. But he has been cleared in those cases.
That is the way it works. No breakdown in evidentiary process that I can see.
The point is the harrassment by the umpires entering the Perth rooms and telling Billings that they were going to watch him closely and even then they laid a frivolous rough play charge to vindicate their actions.
No club would let this sought of thing go by without demanding an explanation and registering the strongest possible protest.
It needs to be known who instigated and what motivated this action

I believe it also happened prior to EF game.

This player does play the game hard and is one of the most underrated players in the WAFL.

He plays out of his weight division most weeks.

BC, the report and reprimand of Billings was a joke for what was a very minor bump on Sinclair that, in my opinion, was surely not strong enough by itself to knock over or harm a bloke of Sinclair's size. And it occurred not far from the ball.

You must have been watching a different incident 1977. Sinclair was in the hands of trainers for quite some time and appeared fairly distressed. Billings hit him with a hip and shoulder a long way off the ball when Sinclair could not have reasonably expected it given he was not involved in the contest. The fact Billings was convicted for that incident notwithstanding he copped a token reprimand, confirms he was acting outside the rules. IMO Billings is extremely lucky there's not more video footage at WAFL games as a lot of the things he seems to get involved in are off the ball and out of view...but as with all players of his ilk, his time will come.

BC i saw that bump from Billings, it was an ABC game but someone said footage can't be used from ABC broadcast games, i guess that is because it can disadvantage the two sides who are playing in that game. But the bump to me looked legit as you said, a hip and shoulder but yes it was off the ball a bit but when i saw it i didn't think it looked a huge hit, Sinclair looked like he went down like Autumn leaves. But when you are not expecting it and don't brace yourself it comes as a bit of a shock and Billings is hard man. I reckon every club in the WAFL would like to have him and every club needs one or two like this.

I just think it's a case of Billings hitting him at the right time and must have knocked the wind out of him. If it was with and elbow or forearm to the head then that's a different matter. No doubt one of your boys is going to line Billings up next time. Hopefully the umpires are watching Billings when that time comes and your boy gets a holiday! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.png

Where would Billings get a game at Claremont, East Perth, Swans, Subi or East Freo DD??????

This treatment of Billings is so extraordinary that i'm starting to think he must have done something pretty bloody dirty when (if) he broke that players jaw, Ellisiou from West Perth i think. Can anybody shed any light on that?

Anywhere in their backline. Don't worry any coach would love to have his attributes, he has really matured in the last couple of years and seems to have gotten over his injuries. There are not many quicker players in the comp, he his starting to back himself and you can see the confidence growing. He has the pace to play on the smalls and mediums and can punch above his weight but when you have to do it week in week out players like him get found out occasionally. When Zucconi comes back in the next few weeks that will free Billings up. If he hadn't been reported so many times he might have made the state squad but Waterman and his gang don't seem to rate Perth players.

DD,does Billings have previous form from last year or before? I seem to recall his name coming up before the tribunal or am I mistaken?

DD..no I don't think it was an elbow but it was off the ball. I guess when you look at they guy from joondy with the broken jaw, McGovern from Claremont taken out behind play and Sinclair then you've got to start asking questions about his self discipline especially when umpires re warning him before the game. I personally think he's a very good young footballer but also think its an area he needs to tidy up.

Yes he has Mudlark, he has done some silly things at times but still, he has matured into a senior player now and i think maybe the umpires have targeted him all season, not just the last couple of games. I can't recall anyone remonstrating with Billings in the WP incident and the other bloke got reported so if his jaw was broken by Billings he did pretty well to retaliate. Our club needs a bit of an enforcer and maybe he needs a few more team mates to follow his lead? Not saying illegally but show some aggression for the ball and the contest and let the opposition feel it.

LOL name one player Billings would replace in those sides i named earlier?? He would not get a game at any of those clubs. Would only walk into Peel or Perths LEAGUE side!

BS, I would lay money on it the coaches of those sides would have him and find a spot for him. With the ideal balance in the backline he would play either HBF or back pocket and be a good third man up. If McLernon can get a game and play in a premiership at Claremont then Billings certainly could. Anyway i'm not trying to sell him off but i believe he might have shopped himself around at your club a year or two ago and you missed your chance. He has also shown he can go forward and kick a couple of goals.