Eagles vs Lions: Are the Umpires with West Coast?
Roar Rookie Related coverage
What a thrilling game at the Gabba last Sunday, with one of the best finishes I have seen! As a Lions supporter, I was high-fiving at home, but kicking myself that I wasn’t at the ground.
That will teach me, like a number of Lions supporters not to attend due to nasty weather and thinking we would not be competitive.
The other reason I did not attend is that I just get so frustrated at the hammering the Lions have had over the last couple of years from the umpires, although I may be slightly biased!
While the Lions were very competitive in the first half, and took a well-deserved lead into half-time, the game changed in the third quarter.
Yes, the Eagles were a lot more competitive, but suddenly the umpires were very noticeable. Free kicks 10 to two (yes, in one quarter), with the Eagles getting three goals from free kicks.
Enough to change the game, and the Eagles to take the lead into the last quarter. Then a change again, the last quarter saw only four free kicks (yes, in one quarter) as the umpires swallowed their whistles and let the game flow to a thrilling climax.
After recovering from the celebration of a great weekend for the footy underdogs, I watched the Brisbane versus West Coast replay, with an unemotional mind and a constructive view of how the umpires contributed to a great game of football.
I recorded the free kicks into the following categories for each team; frees for, frees wrong (the free kick should not have been given), frees doubtful (‘what was that free kick for’ category) and frees missed (obvious a free should have been given).
While this was a very subjective exercise, I took into account the commentator’s opinions and the basic principle of a penalty, the player must have done something wrong (according to the rules) in order to get a free kick awarded against him.
The results were surprising, and in summary, the four things I realised:
1. The umpiring was more consistent than I thought. Except for two doubtful free kicks for the Eagles in the third quarter that resulted in goals, there is consistency.
I noted that the umpires received some feedback at half-time, as the 3rd quarter was umpired in a different fashion to the rest of the game.
2. The Eagles are very disciplined at not giving away frees. To only give three free kicks in a half of football is quite remarkable.
Yes, I noted the the umpires missed a few, but the concentration levels of the Eagles players to do the tackling correctly (particularly when everyone is tired late in the game) shows the Eagles as a very professional and well-coached team.
3. The Eagles use free kicks to win games. This year’s stats for average frees for and against difference, shows the Eagles well ahead of the rest of the teams.
They are averaging 3.5 frees better the next team and a whopping 11.2 frees better than the lowest team’s average. That’s enough difference to win games, particularly if the outcome of the free is a goal.
4. The game will change based on the Eagles. The Eagles’ method of ducking the head and getting a free kick has been well-documented.
But other teams cannot ignore it and are likely to adopt similar methods. If you can use the rules to your advantage then it’s going to help you win you games.
The Crowd Says (18) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- AFL, Brisbane Lions, West Coast Eagles
June 7th 2012 @ 4:26pm
DanMan said | June 7th 2012 @ 4:26pm | Report comment
I still cant believe we lost that game – I thought for sure Darling’s goal had gone thru and then quick transition with a torp to boot killed it. Better to have a kick up the ass now than in september tho.
June 7th 2012 @ 9:15pm
Nathan of Perth said | June 7th 2012 @ 9:15pm | Report comment
I gotta be honest, have a very nasty suspicion that the goal umpire guessed. Watched the AFL smartreplay take on the goal several times over and I just don’t see deviation in the ball. Think the Lion’s player took an airswipe at it.
What is it with Queenslanders and last minute decisions resulting in goals/no-goals?
June 7th 2012 @ 9:20pm
Nathan of Perth said | June 7th 2012 @ 9:20pm | Report comment
And quite frankly, more annoying than that is the fact that Hill was slow to join the chase and that Darling couldn’t effectively shephard the Lions player out of a position to make that dive.
June 7th 2012 @ 8:39pm
Mark Mann said | June 7th 2012 @ 8:39pm | Report comment
Yes;
The Eagles definitely are getting more than fair treatment from Both Umpires and AFL, as in comparison to the Dockers the Eagles have had an arm chair ride to the finals. played all the bottom sides. Had help from the Umpires to knock of Hawthorne. as the Dockers had 2 away games to gold Coast then Hawthorne inTassie to take on the Eagles. After the Eagles one Game to Brisbane, have a Bi to rest up.
Is like cheating by both the AFL and Umpires, well the Umpires are the AFL.
June 7th 2012 @ 10:01pm
Nathan of Perth said | June 7th 2012 @ 10:01pm | Report comment
Well, as he just proved above, it is a “fair’ treatment. Fair, consistent, and helped by disciplined play.
Honestly, your’s is a hilarious unbalanced comment.
June 11th 2012 @ 1:42pm
Lroy said | June 11th 2012 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
Relax buddy, we play all the top teams in the last half of the season, indeed, we have the Pies twice within 7 weeks at one point.
so if the WCE end up in the top 4 by finals time, they will have deserved it… Im sure those “proud bleeders of purple” will end up were they deserve come seasons end as well
June 7th 2012 @ 9:18pm
Nathan of Perth said | June 7th 2012 @ 9:18pm | Report comment
Nice exercise – have been meaning to do one of these at some point. You have stumbled across one of the key points behind the discrepancies – although we do draw more free kicks (whether through being first to the ball or forcing tacklers into illegal tackles), we are also exceptionally disciplined against giving away those sort of free kicks.
This is part of why everyone is so absolutely aggravated about dopey suspensions like Hams and Shuey earned. Goes against the team ethos.
June 7th 2012 @ 10:51pm
DanMan said | June 7th 2012 @ 10:51pm | Report comment
Yes I agree it was a good objective excersise – and from the opposition’s viewpoint. Thanks for a good read Expact.
June 7th 2012 @ 11:26pm
NeeDeep said | June 7th 2012 @ 11:26pm | Report comment
The Eagles have had 85 more free kicks than they have given away, over the first 10 rounds, which equates to 8.5 per game in their favour. My team over the same period has a -2 record and I would tend to think a lot of sides would be in the same boat, give or take a dozen or so, over the first half of the year. This makes the Eagles good fortune, quiet remarkable by comparison.
My brother (mad West Coast fan) argued that the Eagles were purely being rewarded for being first to the ball. I thought OK, I’ll check out his claim, via the AFL Match Centre. Interesting read. Certainly there have been games where they’ve had more of the pill – eg. versus Melbourne, were they had 447 posessions, to Melbourne’s 313 and the free kick count was 32 & 12. But then there was the round 6 game against North Melbourne, where the Roos had 362 to the Eagles 352 possessions, yet the free kick count was 29 to 15 in favour of the Eagles. Round 8 against the Saints it was 363 to 325, which is pretty even, yet 25 to 16 in favour of the Eagles for frees paid.
Anyway, there is always the argument about the ones not paid, where they’re paid and so on. Just suggesting the “first to the ball” argument doesn’t hold a lot of water.
I’m not an angry non Eagle supporter. Personally I reckon Beau Waters bump on Redden was fine and think that it is ridiculous that he got rubbed out for standing his ground, effectively. I just like to see an even playing field (which is why I’m not a big fan of Collingwood and the way the AFL & Demetriou look after them).
June 9th 2012 @ 9:56am
Lroy said | June 9th 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Good article. Statistics in isolation often dont mean anything.
If you look at the All Blacks in Rugby, and Manchester United you will see that year after year they get more penalties than other teams. The conspiracy theorists bring this up as evidence that refs are biased etc etc.
top teams put other teams under so much pressure they make mistakes, give away penalties… simple.
WCE have been playing the same way for the last 3 years.. this ducking thing only came up when we began winning games.
Bryce Gibbs (Blues) and the other Selweed (Cats) both ducked into tackles last night … but there is no outcry from the Melbourne press…
So, when a Melbourne based player ducks, its smart footy, when a WCE player does it, well its cheating…
guess during those years 2008-2010 when we sucked, it was because the umpires were biased against us.. I mean, seriously.
As for the Lions… disappointed to lose, but Ive always thought they are a better side than their results suggest.. I figured they were going to beat at least one of the top sides this year… pity it was against us
I dont blame the goal ump for our loss….McGinity dropped 2 chest marks dead in front only 30 meters out.. you cant win a flag with guys who can’t step up when the pressure is on… McGinity and Masten (soft turnover king) are plodders IMO who wont be there when Embly and Nicoski are fit.
June 9th 2012 @ 11:55am
NeeDeep said | June 9th 2012 @ 11:55am | Report comment
I think the author of the article is from Brisbane and I’m in Perth. Pretty sure “Nathan of Perth” lives in Perth. I even think Mark Mann could be a Freo supporter. So, no bias against the Eagles or conspircay theories – just facts. We all know the Pies get a bloody good crack at it when they play at the MCG and I’m sure the Crows & Power get a good run when they are at home. The West Coast boys are obviously not only fairing pretty well at Subi, but on the road as well.
Good luck to them – and I’m sure it will even out as the season progresses. Let’s hope it does!
June 11th 2012 @ 1:38pm
Lroy said | June 11th 2012 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
Dude, I actually liked the article.. the “conspiracy theorists” I was referring too are some of the Melbourne press, ex VFL players who are now media commentators and a clown or two from the footy show…
This piece was very well written, balanced and unbiased in any way shape or form.
Cheers
June 11th 2012 @ 1:52pm
Nathan of Perth said | June 11th 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
“Pretty sure “Nathan of Perth” lives in Perth.”
I wouldn’t rule it out.
June 11th 2012 @ 8:35pm
Lroy said | June 11th 2012 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
Dude, I was replying to NeeDeep…
June 11th 2012 @ 9:36pm
Mark Mann said | June 11th 2012 @ 9:36pm | Report comment
Well;
Good and bad is only a basis of comparison, I stopped supporting any team after the present leader of the AFL played for the Kangaroos. I do not know how he ever got a game as he was as hopeless then as he is with the AFL now. Football has gone backwards ever since then. But Perth is definitely all one eyed Eagles supporters town!
And the Dockers are the kicking block of the Media and AFL. Is constant criticism and always get the dirty end of the stick in the draw. so all I am doing is comparing what I see. But I get sick of listening to the constant media hype on the Eagles, as I unfortunately live Perth now. But look at their coach he was no angel neither. So how is he managing to get such favoured treatment???
June 11th 2012 @ 11:09pm
The Cattery said | June 11th 2012 @ 11:09pm | Report comment
That’s a first, I’ve heard plenty of criticism about the Australian game, but this is the first time I’ve heard of someone complaining of not only the CEO destroying the game administratively, but also destroying the game for being a hopeless player!!
I’ll be honest, I remember Demetriou’s name, and vaguely remember that he may have carried a bit of a mo as a player, but I can’t actually remember him as a footballer at all, but I note that he did make it to 103 games….
June 15th 2012 @ 10:01pm
Mark Mann said | June 15th 2012 @ 10:01pm | Report comment
Again as I said is a basis of comparison, Compared to Schimmelbush, the Krakourer brothers, Barry Cable and some of the other greats of that time, I often wondered how he got a game, as I watched him play.
Same as I wondered how he got to his present position??
Was that purely talent??? It is not what you know but who you know.
And the game now has not got the stars like Jessa, who could take a mark. It is all now speed rather than quality.
June 12th 2012 @ 10:47am
Nathan of Perth said | June 12th 2012 @ 10:47am | Report comment
“So how is he managing to get such favoured treatment???”
Discipline, my boy, discipline! All good to be eager and hard at it, but it’s discipline that sees you through!