MINOR premier Camperdown apologised last night after getting a please explain from the Hampden league over comments made on a social networking site about the standard of umpiring.
At least two Magpies players used Facebook to voice opinions on the umpiring of their round 17 match against Koroit.
The comments were seen as a blow to the league’s umpiring panel, which has at times this season been forced to use club umpires due to shortages.
Hampden Football Netball League chief executive officer Stephen Soulsby said several people alerted him to the comments, which suggested the league “provide umpires who know the game” while another wrote that a replacement umpire was wanted.
The player then added: “some eyesight would be of benefit”.
Soulsby said the Facebook incident was unusual.
“It’s probably one of those things that we haven’t had to deal with before, which made it a bit hard,” he said. “But Facebook is a public forum.”
Magpies playing coach Leah Sinnott was regretful after being one of the netballers involved.
“I acknowledge that there was a throwaway comment made a few weeks ago that was taken out of context,” she said.
“It was directed at my teammates in jest and was not intended to be personal in nature.”
Sinnott, who wrote a letter to the league explaining the comments, said how much she and the club appreciated umpires.
“Without them we wouldn’t get to play netball,” she said.
“I’m not oblivious to the job they do.
“They are integral to the game.
“As a whole, we’ve been really happy with the standard of umpiring.”
Sinnott said she was naive when it came to Facebook as her profile was unknowingly set to public, rather than private.
The Magpies are putting the incident behind them and looking ahead to this weekend’s second semi-final against Warrnambool.
Sinnott was not too fazed if Camperdown played Warrnambool or Koroit this weekend, despite the minor premiers holding a 2-0 advantage over the Blues this season.
“They’re both strong sides,” she said.
“I’ve said it before that between the top few sides, there is very little difference.
“Some just tend to match up better than other sides.”
The black and white is hoping to create history this year as the club is yet to claim a senior netball flag, although supporters aren’t getting too far ahead of themselves.
“But if we were to go through, that would create a bit of hysteria considering an A grade team hasn’t ever won a premiership and that would give us a 50-50 chance,” Sinnott said.
The Magpies had a practice match against Netball Geelong outfit Colac last week.
“They’re quite a strong side,” Sinnott said.
“It was a good, full-on hit-out.”
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