Free kick stats

[Doctor J.]

These are as at the end of Round 3, so one week old.

Interesting to see where we are on the free kick ladder

FOR AGAINST DIFF
CAR 61 37 24
KAN 64 49 15
COL 49 35 14
STK 51 44 7
BRI 55 49 6
ESS 50 44 6
GEE 62 60 2
WBD 47 47 0
WCE 44 47 -3
ADE 50 55 -5
RIC 41 46 -5
PAD 58 64 -6
HAW 44 54 -10
MEL 47 57 -10
FRE 46 58 -12
SYD 48 65 -17

I have a theory as to why we are so bad. Its only a theory, and you can use stats to support any theory.

It is all to do with conditioning. Umpires have been conditioned to heavily "police" the new rules and interpretations, that were introduced to stop Sydney's boring footy, and as a result Sydney gets over umpired, when compared to the rest of the comp.

Interesting to see whether the differential continues for the remainder of the year. If it does, we are on track to have a free kick difference of 125 for the whole year. Or about 20 times the number of kicks Paul Chambers will get.

Another interesting stat found amongst the free kick count is that our captains account for 15 of the total free kick differential, and 2 of our captains are amongst the Leagues highest frees against!!!

[hammo]

For a team that supposedly prides itself on being disciplined we are very ill-disciplined when it comes to free kicks.

I don't think the umpires are totally to blame here.

[floppinab]

Interesting to see the majority of Melbourne clubs in the top half and non-Melb. clubs in the bottom. Hmmmmmm................

[ugg]

Re: Free kick stats

Nothing new here, our fk count last year (including finals, so from 26 games) was 423-513. And including this year, from our past 30 games only 8 of them have we had a positive differential.

Of course, that could mean that we're just really undisciplined.

Edit: 30 games instead of 29.

[NMWBloods]

I think it's a combination.

Our tackling has often been untidy and reckless.

This year the umpires are keeping an eye on it more closely, as well as watching backmen on their forwards and players diving on the ball.

Partly the umpires seem to be paying particular attention to us with these new rules and partly we have not adjusted well.

[ugg]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I think it's a combination.

Our tackling has often been untidy and reckless.

This year the umpires are keeping an eye on it more closely, as well as watching backmen on their forwards and players diving on the ball.

Partly the umpires seem to be paying particular attention to us with these new rules and partly we have not adjusted well.

But the FK counts are similar to last year (2005 avg 16.3-19.7 2006 avg 16.5-20.3) so you can hardly put it down to the new rules.

[Guzzitza]

Look, I enjoy stats as much as the next person. However, stats are whatever you make of them. Yeah, sometimes it does feel like we are hard done by. However, at the moment, we cant complain. If you are behind or late to a contest you will have a greater chance of giving a free. Sadly, the current team spends so much time looking at the opposition players backside that I'm beginning to wonder whether the tight shorts are more than just a fashion statement.
In your example, I assume that the two captains of which you speak are Leo Barry and Barry Hall.
Leo Barry - has been late and behind consistently every game. Instead of partying he should have spent his pre-season staring at the AFL rules DVD on repeat. He will continute to give away frees for holding the man, and taking out the arms unless he gets with the program. Standing with hands on hips and grasping his mouth guard like a dolly will not change the fact that the new rules are in and staying. It is true, that he resorts to these now illegal measures because he is under-done for size, this is not his fault, and the coaching staff need to re-assess the situation down back. Im guessing the hope is one day LRT can take the biggest and strongest man, leaving Leo to run free off half-back without having to tend to a gorilla.
Barry Hall - sadly, he is hard done by (IMHO). Frees that are paid down the other end against leo, arent paid in favour of Barry. This is a consistency issue which needs to be addessed. Furthermore, barry is a bad boy. Reformed, maybe. But bad, yes. Umpires dont forget, they may be simple, and although they are gold in colour and run around in circles - they are not goldfish. The Memories last longer than 5 secs, and there seems to be a grudge there. Furthermore, things like Brett and Barry approaching the umpires during the break to abuse them probably doesnt help the situation.
In summary, Yes - the stats look bad. But inreality there will always be someone at the top of the bell-curve and at the bottom. If we dont want to be down the bottom of that list we need to start getting to contests, playing the ball and not the man, and acknowledging the rules changes and adapting.

Ha ha, all that effort, and Ugg says - yeah, same as last year so not new rules.... hmmm.. doh. but yeah. I still think new rules has some influence - particularly Leo Barry.

Meanwhile... I'm asuming that your pointing the FF & FA as a contributing factor to our success. However, take a look at the top of your list...
FOR AGAINST DIFF
CAR 61 37 24
... they may be at the other end of the Frees list, but they have won just as many games - and we did beat them. So in the grand scale of things Frees cant mean that much

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by ugg
But the FK counts are similar to last year (2005 avg 16.3-19.7 2006 avg 16.5-20.3) so you can hardly put it down to the new rules.

Maybe it's because our tackling is always crappy and with so many stoppages we have more opportunity to infringe.

[BarneyG]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Maybe it's because our tackling is always crappy and with so many stoppages we have more opportunity to infringe.

One word JOLLY.

[ScottH]

Happens when you are caught behind too often.