IT'S good to go bush every now and then. Much of last week was spent up on the Murray River and I lost count of the number of grassroots footy people who said they were losing faith in the direction the game was going due to the increasing number of tiggy-touchwood decisions by umpires.

Well, I hope they weren't watching on Saturday night when Richmond's Matthew Richardson was disallowed a mark late in the game against Essendon, and then penalised 50 metres for kicking the ball. The in-the-back decision cost Richmond the game and "Richo" the chance to be an even greater hero than he already was.

"Footy sucks sometimes," was Melbourne coach Neale Daniher's quote of the week. And what sucks most at the moment was the decision to interpret strongly the hands-in-the-back rule this season. The game is so much the poorer for it. We shouldn't blame the umpires or their boss Jeff Gieschen. They must be embarrassed by the new interpretation they are being forced to implement.

Richo has played AFL football for 15 years. In the previous 14, he would not have conceded a free kick for what he did on Saturday night. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson says "we want to see genuine marking contests where both players contest the ball without pushing out".

That's fine. But on Saturday night, Essendon's Mal Michael was not even trying to mark the ball. He had read the flight of the ball incorrectly. He had got under the ball and was pushing back forcefully onto Richo. As Michael backed into Richo's space, Richo's hand was placed on Michael's back. It was not a push. Umpire Brett Allen was forced to pay a free against Richo because of the hand placement. But the rule interpretation is an ass and those who pushed for it should be embarrassed at the mockery they are making of our great game. The interpretation should be "push with hands to disadvantage". And so a suck of a rule ruins the game and the Dreamtime experience for thousands of Richmond diehards and football followers in general.

What else sucks? Going down by close margins when your team is yet to register a win hurts. In recent weeks, Terry Wallace and Daniher have gone through hell. The wise heads will say that's what coaching is all about, fighting adversity, battling against the odds, keeping a positive facade, when all around you appears negative. The bottom line is, it can tear chunks out of you. With each narrow, harrowing loss, a little piece inside you dies.

I couldn't sleep after night matches. Especially after a loss, I would walk the streets after midnight. You feel sorry and responsible for the players and supporters. You think it is all your fault. This game can depress you.

It also sucks when your injury list continues to grow. St Kilda's new coach Ross Lyon may as well experience the stresses and strains of coaching sooner than later. Now added to the arm's-length injury list at Moorabbin is dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey. And of course his hamstring pinged early in Friday's night match, leaving the Saints a man short for the duration. When it rains, Ross, it pours.

… And 10 more things that suck in football

1. A drugs policy that needs an overhaul.

2. Not enough position play.

3. An interchange system that allows too many rotations.

4. Too few contested marks.

5. Adelaide and Perth-based supporters who just can't see the big picture.

6. Not enough appreciation of ruckmen and their craft.

7. Umpires still bounce the ball, when a throw up would benefit all.

8. Goalkicking accuracy from set shots hasn't improved despite players being full-time professionals.

9. Food is too expensive at the footy.

10. My next grandchild will be forced by his/her father to be a Tigers supporter.

Robert Walls' column appears every Tuesday.