North Melbourne coach David Noble has admitted the club will be "making a phone call" about a controversial free-kick paid during Saturday afternoon's clash against Melbourne.
The Kangaroos looked lively for much of the contest under the roof at Marvel Stadium, before a lacklustre fourth term saw them soundly defeated to the tune of 47 points.
The contentious decision came in the first quarter, when Kangaroo Tarryn Thomas was penalised for a tackle on Ed Langdon which subsequently saw the Demon subbed out of the game with a rib injury.
While the call set social media alight during the contest, it was in his post-game comments that Noble admitted that the club would be raising questions about the decision.
“It’s one of those ones that’s difficult to balance, isn’t it? I’m not sure of the interpretation, it was front-on, I get the dangerous essence of tackles,” Noble said post-game.
“From my side of things I probably thought it was an OK tackle, I was pretty happy with it.
Noble was quick to explain that he didn't place blame with the umpires, but stressed that the league needed to clarify the interpretation of certain rules.
“It’s a difficult job for the 'umpies' to do, I get it. But there are ones that, as far as the interpretation go, we need to have an understanding of what that looks like for them,” he said.
“The frustration is on the sense that I think the guys (Roos players) are working their backside off, not necessarily the decision.
“It’s not necessarily the umpires (I’m frustrated at) when people flash me on the TV, I’m a hard competitor and it’s about the level of competition sometimes where I get frustrated.
“I appreciate that it’s a bloody difficult job out there (for umpires), and I think the game has got quicker.
“We want clarification every week.”
North Melbourne next faces St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, seeking to get their second win on the board for 2022.
I’d like to “pick up a phone too.
Except I’m not subject to “AFL” (vfl) rules and sanctions. I don’t have to “watch my words”, phrase things as questions or preface any comment with a preamble trying to soften things…..
The umpiring so far this year has been woeful, truly bad. To the point where I’m not the only one wondering if bets are placed on the umpires’ behalf…..
The “dissent rule” is basically an admission there is a problem. Umpires don’t “feel intimidated” when a mistake is pointed out to them or if a player “cannot understand” why he’s been penalised…. but the vfl can decide that it “looks bad”…. and rather than sort the problem out it’s easier to double-down and pretend.
The vfl needs to look at the umpiring in the SANFL and take lessons.
Umpiring decisions will always upset someone – but when there’s absolutely NO consistency and arbitrary decisions NOT to award (hard earned) free kicks is the standard state of play – it’s time to admit that it’s just not good enough.
This is rapidly becoming the worst part of the sport…. a big statement when the “draw” is now no more than an orchestrated fixture (or is it simply “fixed”?) and the whole interchange mix-and-match mess (subs are now in question – again)…..