LEETON-WHITTON coach Daniel Muir is having to deal with many frustrations this season, but there's been one in the past week that has him wanting to speak out.
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Last weekend the Crows went down to Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong 123-38 in what Muir labelled as their "worst game" of the year.
However, there was something else that bothered him during the match and that was the standard of umpiring.
"On the weekend, I'm not making excuses (for our performance), but the umpiring was disgraceful," Muir said.
"I'm going to try and actually talk to the competition about it. It's frustrating. The umpires expect the players to improve, but the standard of umpiring doesn't seem to be improving.
"I believe they should be open to constructive criticism ... they should be up to answering questions (from coaches) too. Whether it's after the game or at another appropriate time.
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"That's going to then help us coach our players better and answer their questions about decisions that have been made (by the umpires)."
This weekend the Crows return home to Leeton Showground where they will take on the third-placed Coolamon Grasshoppers.
The Hoppers were given a touch up by the Wagga Tigers last weekend and Muir knows they will be hungry to notch another victory.
His goal this weekend will be to allow his players more freedom on the field, so long as they commit to playing the full four quarters of football.
"I think we've been focusing too much on our opposition lately, so we want to try and focus more on ourselves," Muir said.
"Just try and take the game head on and take some risks and play on instinct.
"I think we've probably been trying to be too structured and being too defensive, so we're just going to try and go a different approach and take the game on that way."
In positive news for the side, captain Bryce O'Garey is expected to return this weekend, as well as Coopa Steele from the NEAFL and Nathan Tang who is on break from university.
Saturday will also mark the club's annual ladies day event and fundraiser.
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