Greg Westaway, Stand Up and Be Counted

Legendary · Post: # 614624Post **Legendary** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 11:37am

The reaction from St Kilda supporters to the umpiring in Sunday's game against Port Adelaide is such that Greg Westaway must make public comment.

He is the off-field leader of the club, and as a leader it is his duty to convey the views of the club's members to the AFL and wider football community.

Several non-St Kilda supporters, who saw the game on television, said to me without prompting that the umpiring was of a poor standard.

The club has the resources to put together a tape, lodge it with the AFL and take a strong stand.

I am sick of the St Kilda Football Club taking things lying down.

Westaway needs to come out and make a strong public statement. Draw so much public attention to the standard of umpiring in St Kilda games that the media and AFL focus on it. That way it will not happen again.

It was disgusting. Disgraceful. So unbelievably wrong.

This club can't let the AFL and the Umpiring Department bend us over on this issue.

If our President doesn't confront this issue, and make a public statement, then he will lose the confidence of several members I know, and maybe many more.

Stand up and be counted Mr. Westaway.

Don't worry about the fine. Rattling a tin in the members on Level 1 on Sunday would have earned 50 grand, such was the disgust at the umpiring performance.

Show some leadership. Do something. It's why you are President.

ausfatcat · Post: # 614627Post **ausfatcat** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 11:43am

must make a public comment

thats exactly what started all this.

RedWhiteBlack · Mon 04 Aug 2008 11:45am

Do you ACTUALLY believe there is some sort of conspiracy against our club? The umpiring over the last fortnight has been abysmal but what is a comment from Greg going to do other than make us look pathetic and attract a whopping fine from the AFL?

Greg's role at the the club is to lead the Saints OFF THE FIELD, not make public comment about issues such as this. It would do more harm than good IMO.

Legendary · Post: # 614630Post **Legendary** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 11:46am

And it's the only thing that will stop it.

Drawing a significant amount of public attention to the issue will solve this problem.

Making "behind closed doors submissions" to the AFL will do nothing.

They are not compelled to act. They would love us to make little noises in private.

You watch Demetriou run and scramble when there is bad publicity.

We need to create that publicity.

st_Trav_ofWA · Mon 04 Aug 2008 11:57am

yeah because knocking the umpires publicly helps you get a better rusult from them

the club would be constantly reveiwing the umpiring as every club does but it go's on behind closed doors so that it isnt a public spat to upset the yellow maggots .... plus i dont think its the place of the president to make comments on the game day he is there to run the "company" side off the team the coaching staff run the football side

ausfatcat · Post: # 614637Post **ausfatcat** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 11:57am

How can it stop it?

It started it FFS

Umpires are protected to the hilt if he did do this the AFL woud back the umpires to the hilt.

st_Trav_ofWA · Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:03pm

Legendary wrote:And it's the only thing that will stop it.

Drawing a significant amount of public attention to the issue will solve this problem.

Making "behind closed doors submissions" to the AFL will do nothing.

They are not compelled to act. They would love us to make little noises in private.

You watch Demetriou run and scramble when there is bad publicity.

We need to create that publicity.

Demetriou is the head of the AFL not the umpires so he wouldnt need to scramble for anything all it will do is make us look like sooks and give us another president who doesnt know when to shut up !

umpiering be it bad or good is part of the game its this the AFL is against us negative attitude that go's along way to explain why we have had limited success over the years ..... what are we Freo sook at the drop of the hat ?? honestly i would rather the whole club focus on this week and the filth rather then start harping on about the previous game

GreatNo9s · Post: # 614644Post **GreatNo9s** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:05pm

Yeah great idea

Our Pres has kept a low profile all year and now he should bob up on the eve of the Finals to bag the umpires

I'm tipping you and your "several members" will now throw your membership cards away in disgust as we just get on with focusing on the Pies on Saturday night

degruch · Post: # 614647Post **degruch** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:08pm

Would be horrible timing...win the premiership first, then raise it.

jonesy · Post: # 614650Post **jonesy** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:13pm

Don't expect a public statement or whinge from Westaway.

However I do expect a please explain from the AFL and umpiring department.

Collingwood wouldn't cop it,either should we.

evertonfc · Post: # 614665Post **evertonfc** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:45pm

The club should raise the matter in such a way that it avoids a fine or penalty.

The club should explain, through the media, that it has advised the AFL that some clarification over some rulings in the past fortnight appear to require further explanation.

The club should also explain this is not an inherent criticism, but that it would like to know how to instruct the players to play within the rules.

SENsei · Post: # 614672Post **SENsei** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:50pm

There are correct channels to go through. Ask for clarification on incidents from The Giesch.

Don't make any public comment.

Look at how that helped us in 2005.....

st.byron · Post: # 614674Post **st.byron** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:53pm

RedWhiteBlack wrote:Do you ACTUALLY believe there is some sort of conspiracy against our club? The umpiring over the last fortnight has been abysmal but what is a comment from Greg going to do other than make us look pathetic and attract a whopping fine from the AFL?

Greg's role at the the club is to lead the Saints OFF THE FIELD, not make public comment about issues such as this. It would do more harm than good IMO.

Agree 100% with this. Whatever you think about the umpiring, Westaway coming out and making public criticism wont help. It'll only make us look like whingers. A quiet word without any carry on is the way to go if something needs to be said.

degruch · Post: # 614676Post **degruch** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:55pm

st.byron wrote:
RedWhiteBlack wrote:Do you ACTUALLY believe there is some sort of conspiracy against our club? The umpiring over the last fortnight has been abysmal but what is a comment from Greg going to do other than make us look pathetic and attract a whopping fine from the AFL?

Greg's role at the the club is to lead the Saints OFF THE FIELD, not make public comment about issues such as this. It would do more harm than good IMO.
Agree 100% with this. Whatever you think about the umpiring, Westaway coming out and making public criticism wont help. It'll only make us look like whingers. A quiet word without any carry on is the way to go if something needs to be said.

Yes, like a St kilda Sponsored Umpire Scheme

stinger · Post: # 614677Post **stinger** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 12:56pm

st_Trav_ofWA wrote:
Legendary wrote: Demetriou is the head of the AFL not the umpires so he wouldnt need to scramble for anything all it will do is make us look like sooks and give us another president who doesnt know when to shut up !

of course dimispew is the ultimate boss of the umpires ffs....the umpires are afl employees ......they work out of the same head office...and dimispew is the head of the afl....or have i missed something....

ThePunter · Post: # 614685Post **ThePunter** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 1:03pm

Someone from the club should hold a press conference, ensure they get asked a question about the umpiring from the last two weeks (poor against West Coast, eye-raisingly disgraceful against Port Adelaide), and then answer thusly:

"I'll leave comments about the umpiring to those who are beyond the reach of the AFL's fine system".

That would leave everyone in no doubt that it is only the threat of financial penalties that is stopping the club making a public comment about the umpiring over the last fortnight.

SENsei · Post: # 614690Post **SENsei** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 1:06pm

Embarrassing the umpires publically does not help.

GrumpyOne · Post: # 614719Post **GrumpyOne** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 1:58pm

We don't need another president who grandstands at every possible opportunity. We need a president who gets the job done with the minimum of fuss.

We've had enough of presidents who open their mouth long before their brain kicks in.

spert · Post: # 614751Post **spert** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 2:34pm

Having watched the replay a second time, I think we should shut up -we did very well in a couple of crucial times in the last quarter, where PA should have clearly got the free when they were attacking. We were second to the ball for most of the game and as a result, we gave away stupid frees. The umpiring was inconsistant, but both teams got the raw end of the stick on the day. The week before was bad though -then again we were second to the ball., but the best team on the day wins.

st_Trav_ofWA · Mon 04 Aug 2008 2:42pm

stinger wrote:
st_Trav_ofWA wrote:
Legendary wrote: Demetriou is the head of the AFL not the umpires so he wouldnt need to scramble for anything all it will do is make us look like sooks and give us another president who doesnt know when to shut up !

of course dimispew is the ultimate boss of the umpires ffs....the umpires are afl employees ......they work out of the same head office...and dimispew is the head of the afl....or have i missed something....

yes but the bloke at the top employs people below him to sort these things out ... you have an issue with a virgin flight attendent you dont get Branson sorting it out you get the respective manager of that department .. it would be the role of Gieschen not dimwit

JeffDunne · Post: # 614769Post **JeffDunne** » Mon 04 Aug 2008 3:01pm

I would like GW to suggest at the next president's meeting that the clubs fund an independent audit and performance report on the AFL umpires and the MRP.

Hawthorn's coach thinks they cheat. Malthouse thinks they cheat. In fact there's hardly a club that hasn't questioned their integrity.

It's time for the clubs to act as a block and protect their interests from the AFL. I'm sure AFL dependents like Sydney will buckle but I reckon you could get the majority needed on board.