Acceptable Niggle?

[Gingernuts]

Just a bit of a topic of conversation on the GSFL thread and interested to get other peoples thoughts.

What constitutes acceptable niggle in a game of footy?

I don't mind a bit of push and shove, but am dead against any underhanded tactics in pack situations/king hits/targeting of key players. As a spectator I am ropeable when I'm denied from watching a ripper player do his thing because the opposition decides he's time on the ground should end.

What do other people think?

[A Mum]

Agree with you 100% Gingernuts.

[Ambo72]

I agree to an extent..
blatent abuse/assault of a player is BS and not acceptable.
but if there is an opposition player that can be put off his game with some rough stuff, I'd say go for it but do not undo your sides hard work by giving away stupid free kicks... I believe that there is a line that should never be crossed, but maybe bent a little.

[Iron Fist]

I think that if you can get into a blokes head and get him off his game with a few little shots to ribs or something then thats fine. Pushing and shoving is standard!
its when elbows and fist enter that its been taken to far and is wrong!

I think if a player can take that and still shine, means they are really a great player!

[SATCHEL]

I agree with you fist. A bit a push and shove is no probs. The fists in the play may be taken too far if your on the receiving end. The heckle in the ear is just somehting you do as part of a routine just like pulling on your guernsey. Some blokes and sides just dont know where to draw the line. I dished it out and definately copped it. So in closing I would say that the standard niggle is a no brainer but the blokes that take it too far are the ones that make it difficult for everyone else and just stop the play.

[stan]

I dont have a problem with a bit of niggle and a bit of pushing and shoving. But any sort of underhanded tacktics to target key players is crap. Tag then, dry and keep them out of the game, but if you can stop them without resorting to bullshit like king hits and things like that then your a piece of shite and not good enough!

[Jimmy_041]

I reckon Hopoate had the right idea..............

[aceman]

I reckon Hopoate had the right idea..............

Jimmy, if you are up for a bit of the old "onkaparinga up the lemonade & sars', go get the prostate checked, that'll give you a thrill and make the teeth chatter a bit!

teeth-chatter.gif (7.26 KiB) Viewed 1430 times

[Punk Rooster]

imposing yourself physically is acceptable- & by this, I don't man throwing punches, just the odd hip n shoulder etc...

[BurraBoys]

Anything within the rules of the game is acceptable as far as im concerned. Target a player and stop him by all means necessary. Step on his toes. Push him around. Disguised rib ticklers as you push off at a clearance. Block his run. Accept that if your breaking the rules (ie jumper hlds) and get caught you have to cop it. Get in his ear all day. Get in his head, mentally and emotionally and crucify him for every cock up he makes. Football is about winning. Cross the line and do what you have to do. Shake hands afterwards and respect that is not personal and all part of the game. Given the decent oppurtunity the oppositon would do it you as well.

Ive had to do a fair few tagging jobs in my time and i find myself giving more grief and being a bigger d**k to the guys im mates with/know well away from the footy field. More so than i do a random guy. That being said ive developed a good realtionship with a few guys that ive had to tag and given insurmountable amounts of s*** to all day.

[Ruben Carter]

Anything within the rules of the game is acceptable as far as im concerned. Target a player and stop him by all means necessary. Step on his toes. Push him around. Disguised rib ticklers as you push off at a clearance. Block his run. Accept that if your breaking the rules (ie jumper hlds) and get caught you have to cop it. Get in his ear all day. Get in his head, mentally and emotionally and crucify him for every cock up he makes. Football is about winning. Cross the line and do what you have to do. Shake hands afterwards and respect that is not personal and all part of the game. Given the decent oppurtunity the oppositon would do it you as well.

Ive had to do a fair few tagging jobs in my time and i find myself giving more grief and being a bigger d**k to the guys im mates with/know well away from the footy field. More so than i do a random guy. That being said ive developed a good realtionship with a few guys that ive had to tag and given insurmountable amounts of s*** to all day.

Well said BB. Can't argue with that but aren't we forgetting the one (or 3) who have the maximum control over what is "acceptable" ?? ie. The men in white.
If an umpire sees an action on the field and allows it, then it's acceptable. Simple. And I know their interpretations will change sometimes from one minute to the next, but this thread is quite irrelevant because ultimately it's the umpires and the laws of the game that determine what is acceptable niggle and what deserves to be penalised.

[BurraBoys]

umpires.....those who failed at the game themselves therefore feel like they should ruin it for everyone else just because they cant have any fun.

Seriously though, the umpires control whats fair and not. My philosophy in the whole niggle/tag/pain in the arse is do whatever you want. If your any good at it they wont see you and you wont get caught. If you do, give them the cheeky smile like you know youve been busted, cop it and move on.

Moving on to umpires, opinions and interpertations is a different topic but to briefly summarise my view: Freekicks should be payed and the game should be umpired with the spirit of play and context of the contest. Giving a black and white definition of a rule, whether that be HTB, High contact or "acceptable niggle" is the wrong way to go about it. What was the purpose if the rule? Why does it exist? Does the particular action breach that underlying concept or is it incidental to the big picture.....find me an umpire who understands the game to that level.....please

[The Note Book]

Anything within the rules of the game is acceptable as far as im concerned. Target a player and stop him by all means necessary. Step on his toes. Push him around. Disguised rib ticklers as you push off at a clearance. Block his run. Accept that if your breaking the rules (ie jumper hlds) and get caught you have to cop it. Get in his ear all day. Get in his head, mentally and emotionally and crucify him for every cock up he makes. Football is about winning. Cross the line and do what you have to do. Shake hands afterwards and respect that is not personal and all part of the game. Given the decent oppurtunity the oppositon would do it you as well.

Ive had to do a fair few tagging jobs in my time and i find myself giving more grief and being a bigger d**k to the guys im mates with/know well away from the footy field. More so than i do a random guy. That being said ive developed a good realtionship with a few guys that ive had to tag and given insurmountable amounts of s*** to all day.

Well said BB. Can't argue with that but aren't we forgetting the one (or 3) who have the maximum control over what is "acceptable" ?? ie. The men in white.
If an umpire sees an action on the field and allows it, then it's acceptable. Simple. And I know their interpretations will change sometimes from one minute to the next, but this thread is quite irrelevant because ultimately it's the umpires and the laws of the game that determine what is acceptable niggle and what deserves to be penalised.

Good points...I believe depending on the umpire & previous views of this umpire on a particular team can have an impact even if within the rules, eg bumping...however i guess it is then up to the player to adjust to the umpiring on the day, what was accepting one week might not be the following...

[Gingernuts]

I agree with the various points about it being up to the umpire of the day, the only problem being that there just isn't that many decent umpires around at amateur level. It's not their fault, but many have been roped into the job on the day, or handed the whistle without proper training and expected to deliver AFL level decision making. Half of them aren't even fit enough to run the length of the field FFS.

Definitely something the SANFL and regional leagues need to seriously look at.