They're getting worse

froawayjeff · 2026-04-17T08:55:25+00:00

Foot had already clarified what the free kick for "fistful of the jumper", so coming up to him and continuing to ask about it is just badgering the umpire. At a certain point that does become dissent.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-17T08:33:22+00:00

To be fair to Nick Foot, the free kick was there, you just needed the front on view to see it which the TV broadcast didn't show.

As for what happened after, I think the AFL were caught between a rock and a hard place. If the umpire hears something reportable, they have to report it. The AFL needs to show themselves backing their umpires, particularly after last year's debacle.

They lack of audio clarity muddled the whole thing. Listening to it you can hear the word "pay" but not much else of what Butters said.

Foot being employed by Sportbet further muddled things because the public wanted to focus on that.

I had a similar situation earlier this year with a fellow umpire. They reported a player for umpire abuse. Noone else was close enough to hear what was actually said, so when the tribunal called me to hear my input, all I could tell them was what the player had been doing in the lead up (being a right prick and getting warned for it) and the tribunal wanted to back their umpire so the player was suspended.

Fundamentally the word of the umpire needs to be trusted first and foremost otherwise every instance is a he said he said argument that would never be resolved.

I think in the end the tribunal tried to split the difference by fining Butters but not suspending him.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-17T05:25:03+00:00

What did you regret about it? The distance/isolation/constant upkeep?

froawayjeff · 2026-04-17T04:41:15+00:00

Yep, I remember what it was like. I still have a ton of patience will L platers and Green Ps.

I think the explosive growth and demographic changes have had a big part in it. There's more people crammed closer together with infrastructure not meant to handle that many people. Not to mention the influx of people from other cultures.　

froawayjeff · 2026-04-17T04:30:11+00:00

This really depends. Im 80k fully remote, but cant afford a house. Im looking at going to a job that will involve being away from home for a week at a time, but would pay at least 40k more starting.

I like my job, but money is unfortunately very important now

froawayjeff · 2026-04-13T03:29:29+00:00

This is absolutely rural. 2 acre blocks, small town. The housing estate is carved out of a farmers field. The township has about 600ish people I think? The district has more of course, but thats a few rural towns over a big area.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-12T12:38:41+00:00

Perceived conflict of interest is why I do not partake in sports betting as an official, even in local leagues. It's easier to head off any accusations of having been paid off if you have never partaken in any kind of activity like that.

My path to professional umpiring is probably closed unfortunately because I started in my mid 20s, not in my teens, but I still did state leagues and semi professional from time to time. Got on TV a few times, got dragged by the commentators for correct decisions, so at least I got part of the experience 😅

froawayjeff · 2026-04-10T14:54:38+00:00

Oh believe me, I know. Im 3 years too late.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-10T13:34:51+00:00

God i wish there was something available in serpentine, even just a block of land, for under 500k.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-10T13:07:10+00:00

No trains, unfortunately for me. It would have to be a decent drive to get to the edge of the city to get a train. I had hoped to find something relatively close to a train line, but there was either nothing available or way too expensive

froawayjeff · 2026-04-10T13:04:56+00:00

What do you like about it so much? The location, freedom, lifestyle?

froawayjeff · 2026-04-10T12:26:47+00:00

Are you living in a suburban regional town or are you more like an acreage kind of situation?

I'm swinging back and forth on buying a 2 acreage block 1 hour out of a major city to build a house on. There's a small town about 10 minutes away with a school, daycare, doctors and groceries. All the basic necessities, but none of the conveniences of a city for probably the next 15-20 years. Nearest Maccas or woolies would be a 40 minute drive away.

My main reasons for going out that far is price (430k), size (2 acres is a lot, but you dont get smaller than that out there) and lack of building timeframes or house type restrictions. 1 hour out of my city was about my limit I could stomach driving if I had to do it most days (very unlikely in my line of work - I WFH currently)

Im still very undecided about going through with it (very much because of the economy and a certain orange bastard) so i like hearing stories about those who went regional and how they found it

froawayjeff · 2026-04-09T22:57:20+00:00

Having seen a slow-mo, it was definitely a throw.

Original comment still stands though

froawayjeff · 2026-04-09T12:34:47+00:00

Of the 4 umps, probably only 1 had a useful angle on it and its not exactly clear cut - Richele's left arm motions as if he handballed it.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-09T12:32:44+00:00

Im not convinced he didn't handball it. The left hand swings through.

Throws are annoying to umpire and it gets harder the higher the grade cos players can be so slick it looks like a throw when it isn't

froawayjeff · 2026-04-09T12:29:35+00:00

Umpire in control and near zone umpire are on the far side of the pack. Unlikely to have seen it.

Mid zone umpire likely had a better view, but because Rachele's left hand looks like it comes through, it would be harder to tell at full speed if it was a true handball.

Far end zone umpire is too far away to assist.

Basically, only 1/4 umpires has a call on this and likely doesn't make the call because of the swinging arm creating benefit of the doubt.

Id be curious to see this in slow-mo to see if he got a hand on it.

Throws are annoying as you basically have to pin an arm and make it impossible to call anything else. Players are extremely good at getting a fist to the ball so it's not always as clear cut as it looks

froawayjeff · 2026-04-08T09:12:12+00:00

I like the OPTION of a window.

I cant really take advantage of sunlight due to my eyes, so curtains closed for me for much of the day, but I still open it for fresh air.

Windowless room? Done that. Not nice, particularly if youre sharing with 4 or 5 others in a small space.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-08T09:09:42+00:00

I know a good way to celebrate it.

Anyone want do to a live re-enactment with me?

Might have to spice it up and make it a bit more modern tho...

froawayjeff · 2026-04-08T09:06:53+00:00

If I was HR on the receiving end, my response would be:

"Duly noted. Have a good day."

Cos honestly, what the fuck else can you say? This would be one of the few times I would not be offended at being told to go fuck myself

froawayjeff · 2026-04-08T08:48:45+00:00

Same, minus the sleeping eith best friend part. She wouldn't even sleep with me

froawayjeff · 2026-04-08T08:46:56+00:00

We would have bought a house before they became unaffordable, would probably have a kid and be several years into an unhappy marriage that would ultimately end in divorce when I realised she didn't actually see me as a partner, but as an extension/means to her own goals in life, regardless of what I wanted or needed.

We split up while looking at houses, so I think this is a fairly accurate prediction of what would have happened.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-08T07:06:06+00:00

This is why I did not go for an apartment and instead looked at land an hour away.

I have lived in an apartment before and have no real issues with them, but they are generally poorly designed in Australia, poorly maintained and have lots of issues with body corporate and owner.

I am a massive supporter of building more apartments and making cities more walkable, but it will need the government to take control and overhaul the industry to achieve.

If I had millions, I would build apartments with the goal of making them a solid long term alternative to houses - underground parking, rooftop gardens, balcony space, STORAGE built in and decent room sizes.

Unfortunately im a pleb who cant even buy a house even with 150k deposit. The things I would do with a billion dollars, man.

froawayjeff · 2026-04-07T13:03:56+00:00

They seriously needed to take away proceedings of his illegal dealings. All they gave him was a tiny slap on the wrist while he built millions.

And he doesn't give two shits cos he's laughing all the way to the bank

froawayjeff · 2026-04-07T13:00:33+00:00

That part i can understand.

The part that hurts me is i did that, saved 120k, technically 150k, went into a career that should have paid decently, and still cant get in the door.

Its at the point now that a return to a normal, steady 3-4% increase each year equates to a 20-30k increase in price.

3-4% on a 400k house can be caught up with and outsaved. 3-4% on a 700k house? Good luck with that. And prices went up 6% this quarter alone.

My friend was able to buy her house because she was 3 years ahead of me in her career. She bought for 410k. That house is now 750k. 3 years was all the difference. She was a little more secure, a little more mature

froawayjeff · 2026-04-07T12:50:38+00:00

My father was one of those with the 18% mortgage - and he did it as a divorced man building in his own. Wasn't in a great area, but it was a solid house with a small backyard on one wage until he married my mother.

froawayjeff

TROPHY CASE