Defenders....more to the point, our defenders

[johnno]

One thing I have taken out of this season, having watched many all of our games obviously and plenty of other games involving other teams as a neutral supporter, is just how much other defenders get away with when it comes to manhandling their opponent and our defenders getting pinged for frees against.

Players like Lake, Scarlett and Firritto get away with murder each and every week and nothing gets paid against them, and after watching O'Brien's eforts on ROK on Saturday night, I just found this staggering again.

I know a lot here pay out on LRT and he might deserve it sometimes, but I honestly believe he doesn't get nowhere near the same treatment from the umps that other defenders do. And I feel this has got to him mentally. I think he is that petrified of giving away a free kick in front of goals so much that he doesnt man handle his opponent as much as he could/should, and this is just unfair. I watch a lot of footy, and the stuff that Lake, Obrian and especially Scarlett get away with is just unbelievable.

Your thoughts people...

[dimelb]

Quite right bout Scarlett. The umps got onto him in the Saints match and Geelong went down, which was no coincidence.
The latitude allowed O'Brien on Saturday night was deplorable, but wouldn't have changed the result had it been picked up.
LRT may well be nervous, but I'd like to see him using his body a bit more. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with him.

[Melbournehammer]

One thing I have taken out of this season, having watched many all of our games obviously and plenty of other games involving other teams as a neutral supporter, is just how much other defenders get away with when it comes to manhandling their opponent and our defenders getting pinged for frees against.

Players like Lake, Scarlett and Firritto get away with murder each and every week and nothing gets paid against them, and after watching O'Brien's eforts on ROK on Saturday night, I just found this staggering again.

I know a lot here pay out on LRT and he might deserve it sometimes, but I honestly believe he doesn't get nowhere near the same treatment from the umps that other defenders do. And I feel this has got to him mentally. I think he is that petrified of giving away a free kick in front of goals so much that he doesnt man handle his opponent as much as he could/should, and this is just unfair. I watch a lot of footy, and the stuff that Lake, Obrian and especially Scarlett get away with is just unbelievable.

Your thoughts people...

I'm one of those who has never liked LRT. But I do agree with you. he does seem to get penalised a lot more often with the two hands around the body - is that because he looks clumsy or is it because he does it differently I don't really know. I do think because he often plays from behind rather than from the side that he gets outpositioned a lot in one-on-one contests. and it is the outpositioning which appears more obvious with him I suspect.

Its why richards for all of those who malign him was structurally quite useful to us - he was prepared to float across and spoil.