To some extent I think the umpires are being a little "precious" when it comes to contact. When you have 45 people + running around on one field, there's bound to be some, occassional, accidental contact. This is part of the game. However, when a player lays a hand on an official in the course of the game, it needs to be very carefully scrutinised.
Heath Shaw, IMHO, was rightfully suspended. He should count himself lucky that it wasn't more. Brett Kirk (And several others) however, should count themselves unlucky as their contact was in a contest with another player, not an argument with an umpire.
Malthouse should be facing at least a two week ban as should Eddie and Jeff with $50k fines slapped on top. The dissent they have shown the officials (and the AFL to a lesser degree) is totally unacceptable. It does come down to setting an example and coaches and club presidents should be setting the highest example of them all. Is it any wonder that Shaw thinks he has the right to not only question the umpire, but to physically harass them when that's the sort of leadership shown at Collingwood?
The umpires will ALWAYS make mistakes (Just as players who get paid $500k a year manage to miss goals, kick the ball OOF and drop sitters do). And yes, the way they are expected to "interpret" the rules is frustrating for all concerned. Nonetheless, without the officials, without the umpires, and without the rules, we have no game whatsoever. The umpires are the custodians of the rules and need to be treated with as much respect as the game itself. They are sacrosanct, just like the game itself.
It is not the umpires who think they are bigger than the game, only those that seek to deride those who officiate and mange the games for their own benefit are the problem here.
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