What a surprise. Saints last for free kicks.

[White Winmar]

The ladder for free kicks paid up to the end of round 18 this year is not surprising. We are dead last, averaging just 16.3 frees for, per game and a total of 277. FYI West Coast is first, surprise, surprise with 365 for the season at 21.5 per game. Our opponents this round, NM, is second. Second versus last in the free kicks for category. Should be an interesting factor to keep an eye on tonight.

[Enrico_Misso]

The West Coast free kick phenomena dates back a decade.
Similarly we have been down near the bottom of the free kick ladder for a decade - "voices in the sky"?

So not a one-off.
An institutionalised endorsed bias.

[Waltzing St Kilda]

Let no one say that free kick ratios are meaningless. Free kicks, and other umpire determinations
(like what constitutes a mark,) can cost teams games. Which means lost points, lost revenues,
missed finals.

[SuperDuper]

Unless teams go up and down the table each year then there is by definition a bias. The afl has its head in the sand. Action is needed

[supersaints]

The top of the table corresponds directly to the best number of stagers for free kicks... Without doubt

[White Winmar]

Let no one say that free kick ratios are meaningless. Free kicks, and other umpire determinations
(like what constitutes a mark,) can cost teams games. Which means lost points, lost revenues,
missed finals.

Exactly. Terrible umpiring decisions cost us the Hawthorn game and cost at least a draw against NM. Imagine giving us the "lost" points back and taking two from the kangas. We'd be even on points with them and playing for eighth tonight. Those who prescribe to the nonsense that umpires don't influence outcomes are peddling the AFL party line. I posted this because in the past other forumites have mentioned the paucity of free kicks to us. They have been accused of bias and of being whingers. I guess this goes some way to vindicating them. What would P66 say about this? No doubt he'd have some spin to put on it to support the umpires.

I can't believe that WC are that much better at "winning" free kicks than us. They've been given 88 more than us to this point. I haven't got the breakdown for home games against away, but I've no doubt we'd find there is a significant difference between the two figures for them. No bias? Pfft! Even if it is subconscious, there's no doubt it's there. Time for the club to ask a few quiet questions of the umpires and the AFL. We don't play an "unfriendly" brand of football, unlike the Hawks who still sit 6th on this ladder. One thing I've been frustrated with this year, is the number of frees we don't get. I know we're biased, but there have been times when I've been bewildered at what doesn't get paid to Roo, Bruce, etc.

[BigMart]

west coast get an embarrassng advantage at home... that the AFL just wont explain... they know its there, but bury it

we are detested by the umps

[saintspremiers]

Filthy flouro corrupt maggots

[bigcarl]

In our favour tonight, we are the flavour of the month. People - even umpires - are starting to take notice, give us some respect. This may be reflected in the free kicks tally. On the other hand, no doubt they will look after Boomer, little pr#ck that he is

[samuraisaint]

Umpires who are intimidated by crowds need to be exited from the game at the highest level. It is a blight on the game. They earn good money so they need to be able to withstand pressure.
The frees against North were technically there at the end of that game apparently - but the question remains, where were ours for all of the tackles we laid, when their players ducked their heads and when some of their players where sliding into ours in the last quarter?

[Junction Oval]

It's the frees that "we do not get" that annoys me, particularly the scragging that Rooey cops each week.

Also, the differences in approach by umpires. Often, what is paid a free at one end, is not paid at the other, by a different umpire.

Consistency is the key - let the game run and reduce the technical crap, which is the most annoying, particularly late in games.

Keep an eye on Andrew Stephens (the not-15mtrs umpire against Hawthorn). He is very harsh on us, particularly on the technical frees.

[White Winmar]

west coast get an embarrassng advantage at home... that the AFL just wont explain... they know its there, but bury it

we are detested by the umps

At the risk of bringing up the past, thanks very much, GT. We've never been treated well after his comments about umpires, urging them to "leave their egos in their lockers". Then came proof of bias with "whispers in the sky". Remember the words that were alleged to have come straight from an officiating umpires mouth. "Now I know what a victory feels like". Tony "Chompers" Jones reported it. The AFL conducted the usual whitewash. What a disgrace. The umpire who uttered those words, should have been suspended at least.

The one non-decision that still riles me, is the holding of Adam Schneider in the last quarter of the 2009 GF. I was sitting on the terrace in line with it and had a clear line of sight. He was retarded by his opponent and a jumper pull was clearly evident. Play on. I know Schneids milked it, but it was clearly there. 30 metres or so, more or less directly in front. Game in the balance. Goals hard to come by. A match deciding moment. Schneids had famously clapped derisively at the umpires earlier in the game and in the great tradition of petty, unprofessional officialdom, they made him pay for the rest of the day. I still have nightmares about it, as I'm sure most of you do.

[Con Gorozidis]

Thankfully the AFL apologist p66 was banned from here.
The idea that the afl is some omniscient all knowing benevolent dictator is a joke.
The afl is like the ioc/fifa/nfl and riddled with corruption. To its core.
How that affects us, well who knows but the comp is not clean.

[saynta]

The West Coast free kick phenomena dates back a decade.
Similarly we have been down near the bottom of the free kick ladder for a decade - "voices in the sky"?

So not a one-off.
An institutionalised endorsed bias.

Yep.

Too consistantly bad umpiring against us for it to be mere coincidence

[borderbarry]

And it is not only the free kicks that we lose out on. I cant remember a game when we received more 50 metre penalties that the opposition.

[kosifantutti]

Every week I think we get more than our share of bad decisions.

Two options here.

1. I'm biased.

or

2. The AFL is corrupt.

Which is more likely I wonder?

[freely]

Every week I think we get more than our share of bad decisions.

Two options here.

1. I'm biased.

or

2. The AFL is corrupt.

Which is more likely I wonder?

[mr six o'clock]

I would like to see a break down of where the free kicks were actually paid .
The most important area of course is in the forward 50 , because generally it means a shot on goal .
I reckon we'd be last on this stat by a long way as well .

[saynta]

Every week I think we get more than our share of bad decisions.

Two options here.

1. I'm biased.

or

2. The AFL is corrupt.

Which is more likely I wonder?

Well, frankly the AFL has already shown itself be corrupt over the druggies saga

[ctqs]

I've said for years they're a blight on the game. No accountability - a player can be dragged if they're having a shocker. But umpires make even more mistakes and nothing can be said or done. They're the only ones out there who aren't full time professionals and it shows.
There could be four of them next year too. Larry, Moe, Curly, Shemp. Like teams come out to the club theme songs, they should come out to the Three Stooges theme.
Given they're regarded so poorly for 364 days of the year, I don't get why the Brownlow still has so much prestige.

[mullet]

ok can someone explain this to me. In the GWS and tigers game the tigers have had 24 frees and gws 18. i dont want to spoil the score for people, but if you look at the score it makes absolutely no sense at all. And its just the start of the 4th quarter.

[mullet]

ok stuff it I will spoil the result. the tigers have had more free kicks than their total score

[ace]

The AFL see North Melbourne as underperforming in spectator and television supporters.
If the AFL can improve North Melbourne's position on the ladder especially playing in finals they see potential to increase support dramatically.
That means more money.
It only takes a few free kicks to break opposition momentum.
If that momentum persists no point in continuing the assistance.

[8856brother]

Hopefully Brucey gets an early one to get him going. He's due surely.

Sent from my SM-T210 using Tapatalk

[White Winmar]

The incompetent lime maggots are right on track again. The Bruce non-Mark before half time is exactly what this thread is about. They wouldn't give us the steam off their shyte. I'm sick of making excuses for them. they're not cheats, just totally incompetent. That's what you get when you make a group immune from criticism.