VFL / AFL: Umpire contact, 1968 style!

From GTV-9's coverage of the third quarter of the 1968 preliminary final between Geelong and Essendon, here's a topical little item - an umpy gets flattened by a player!! Nowadays, this results in a report, and either a reprimand or a suspension. In a final, the player is summarily executed (if the offence occurs before half-time, the excution is done as part of the half-time entertainment...).

Essendon's Alan Noonan's got the ball, and kicks toward team-mate Ted Fordham, who steams in for the pill, and bowls noted umpire Jeff Crouch over in the process. Even better - you get to see it TWICE via the marvels of Channel 9's "Instant Replay"!!

Does Crouch, one of the best umpires the game's ever seen, have a hissy fit, and report Fordham? Nup. He gets up, dusts himself off, acknowledges Fordham's apology with a pat on the stomach, waves away the umpire's assistants who are scurrying to his aid, and gets straight back to work. No big deal...

And that's EXACTLY the way it should be today - AFL decision-makers take note!!

Transferred from a 16mm film print in my collection.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• VFL
• AFL
• football
• Australian Rules
• Jeff Crouch
• umpire
• Essendon
• Geelong
• preliminary
• final
• 1968
• MCG
• Sam Newman
• GTV-9
• replay
• TV

[AFL14021996]

Did he get reported?

[Conniptions886]

No, Crouch just gave him a pat on the tum, and that was the end of the matter. Which is how it should be today...

[demonsbutterfly]

The Man in white is always right!! Get the umps back in white Demetriou. Goal umpires back in white lab coats & hats NOW!!!

[StFidjnr]

@ 0:09 cue the Magic woosh sound

[taipan185]

@Conniptions886 Couldn't agree more

[rayjr62]

Used to see this shit all the time before the creation of the Barassi Line.

[s3tTz]

That would be a life ban, if it happened today...

[eric829]

@thegreig ... you're right; the away team has always worn white shorts as well; good call. offense not taken. cheers.

[thegreig]

@eric829 the home and away shorts have been apart of the game since the beginning so getting rid of the players white shorts would be getting rid of an even bigger tradition. no disrespect but your comment doesn't really make sense.

[aaai30]

(Magic woosh sound)

CHANNEL NINE INSTANT REPLAY!!!

[jamabar]

great old footage

[mrcatohead]

@BestGameOnEarth nah not when the umpires in the way like that, he had his eyes on the ball, that umpire would be dropped however