Sydney coach John Longmire could only laugh when asked about a lopsided free-kick count in the AFL grand final.
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The umpires awarded Western Bulldogs 20 free kicks compared to Sydney’s eight at the MCG, where the Swans fell 22 points short.
A couple were clear errors from the whistle-blowers and led to set shots for the Bulldogs, while some were iffy at best. The minor premiers received a total of four free kicks in the first three quarters.
Longmire noted it would be wrong to take anything away from the Bulldogs when asked about the discrepancy.
But he was clearly far from impressed.
“Look the Doggies were good,” Longmire said, having regained composure after a brief chuckle.
“All we can ask for is that they get paid both ways. I’d have to sit back and have a look at it in the cool light of day before I can comment on that.”
Longmire was unwilling to discuss specific examples, such as when Dan Hannebery had his legs taken out by a sliding Bulldogs players in a fourth-quarter contest.
Hannebery suffered a knee injury and played no further part in the game, while the umpires waved play on and ruled the midfielder wasn’t infringed.
“I don’t know – do you guys think it should have been (a free kick)?” Longmire quipped.
Josh Kennedy, who starred for the Swans and finished second in Norm Smith medal voting, was also tight-lipped when asked about the issue.
“I feel like those sort of things tend to even themselves out and credit to the way the Doggies went about it,” Kennedy said.
Birdman
Guest
Umps paid a couple that should have gone to the Swans but to suggest it was decisive in deciding the premiers is nonsensical bitterness. Sorry Swans fans I know you're hurting but the better team clearly won.
MG
Roar Rookie
If your team is not Victorian and you are playing a Victorian team in the final - don't bother going, your team will not get a fair go. I expected it to be bad after the 21-10 free kick count in the 2012 GF and the 3 free kicks in 3 quarters against the Hawks earlier this year but I did not think it would be that bad. I thing the Bulldogs were the better team on the day but there's a big question mark over what the outcome would have been if the umpiring had been fair.
Dylan
Guest
It's really about where non paid or contentious paid free kicks effect momentum and scoring. The fact that a team, in such a tight contest can have only 1-2 free kicks paid in an entire half of football beggars belief and surely impacts on their game, there is no reward for effort.That being said the Dogs were clearly the better side in the second half, if they'd kicked better in the third quarter it's likely the game would have been iced by 3/4 time. Sydney needed a better defensive effort from their forwards and a midfield that fired on more than two cylinders.
paulywalnuts
Guest
Swan would do much better to look at some of their own players who left far too much to too few, as Longmire himself acknowledged after the game. Clearly the best team on the day won.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Sydney are probably fortunate that Kennedy,Mills and Franklin weren't penalised,as they should have been , for attempting to break tackles multiple times.The Dogs on the other hand, weren't penalised for sliding in, Morris,Hamling and Picken come to mind. If the real free kicks had been given, it would have ended up about 30-15 the Dogs way and imagine the uproar that would have caused. While WB had the chance given them to score from set free kick goal attempts, they still had to kick goals and they did and their first AFL premiership cup will look good in its own cabinet
Don Freo
Guest
It would, however, be fair if Buddy and Kenbedy were penalized when they get tackled and choose to break the tackle rather than dispose of it. We call that "holding the ball". There is no need to wait for an illegal disposal. Bottom line is that if Matt Stevic is umpiring, they don't have the best 3 available.
Banner
Guest
That's a throw # bull dogs
Bravohorse
Guest
Don't barrack for either side but the umpiring was an embarrassment for the AFL. We all wanted the Doggies to win but not this way.
me too
Guest
It was awful. umps are only human and got swept up in the emotion and romance of the doggy tale. hard luck to sydney, but what can you do?