Darwin Buffaloes aggrieved at goal and field umpiring decisions going against them at crucial times

BUFFALOES coach Matt Campbell wants to meet with AFLNT umpire’s boss and his men in green to determine where his players are going wrong with their tackling techniques

Buffalo Daniel Stafford is spoiled by St Mary’s defender Tom Davies during Saturday’s big game at TIO Stadium. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

BUFFALOES coach Matt Campbell wants to meet with AFLNT umpire’s boss and his men in green to determine where his players are going wrong with their tackling techniques.

Campbell was left disappointed and frustrated at a series of 50-50 free kicks awarded to St Mary’s players at crucial stages during Saturday’s clash at TIO Stadium.

A Baxter Slater goal that looked to have contacted Buffalo defender Cameron Stokes’ right boot was another contentious subject for Campbell.

“Our boys kept trying, but there’s only so many tackles you can do when you are trying to get a holding the ball decision,’’ Campbell said.

“And you can’t question them. There has been talk of umpire abuse, but if we as players get abused by spectators, especially former AFL players, there’s not a lot of comeback.

“But question an umpire’s decision or raise your voice at them and free kicks and reports are handed out all over the place.

“In my view, you have to umpire in the right spirit of the game and have a thick skin, or else don’t umpire, it’s really that simple.’’

Campbell said the Slater “goal’’ was a case in point.

“If you know it’s wrong and you’re the umpire’s boss after looking at match vision, you have to be able to overturn the decision,’’ he said.

“The umpire apparently told Cammy (Stokes) ‘there’s nothing I can do about it now’ after they saw vision of the ball hitting his boot, so what does that tell you.’’

Campbell wants to sit down with umpire’s boss Andrew McBean and his umpires as soon as possible to review a series of umpiring calls made in the game.

“We want a bit of respect and closure by the umpires justifying their decisions,’’ he said.

“I’ve got no problem if they’ve got logical explanations on why they made certain calls, but you can’t be the judge and executioner, it’s not possible.’’

Campbell said he was not pointing the finger at the St Mary’s players, who worked their backsides off to get back into the game.

“St Mary’s put themselves in a position where they were able to compete and we can’t blame them for not getting pinged holding the ball,’’ he said.

“But at the end of the day, when you get goals awarded that weren’t goals and umpiring calls going against you when the momentum is with the opposition, it hurts a hell of a lot.’’