It's not so much that West Coast in Perth get howlers in their favour - even though they do - it's that they get so many 50-50 frees in comparison with their opponents. Last night's frees to Shooey (who dived forward) and Selwood (who shrugged and took the tackle, and didn't deserve the free) were typical and in stark contrast to the free North did not get at the other end a couple of minutes earlier when a Toast player clearly flopped onto the back of a North player.

Also, the commentators were very quick, too quick, to state that the free to Selwood was warranted and congratulated the umpire for paying the free when he was "unsighted". If he was unsighted, why was he giving a free? More likely the umpire, urged on by the crowd, anticipated the free and/or guessed it was high. Terrible umpiring.

It's not so much that West Coast in Perth get howlers in their favour - even though they do - it's that they get so many 50-50 frees in comparison with their opponents. Last night's frees to Shooey (who dived forward) and Selwood (who shrugged and took the tackle, and didn't deserve the free) were typical and in stark contrast to the free North did not get at the other end a couple of minutes earlier when a Toast player clearly flopped onto the back of a North player.

Also, the commentators were very quick, too quick, to state that the free to Selwood was warranted and congratulated the umpire for paying the free when he was "unsighted". If he was unsighted, why was he giving a free? More likely the umpire, urged on by the crowd, anticipated the free and/or guessed it was high. Terrible umpiring.

The commentators are disgraceful, in the back pocket of the AFL. that's why I like Eddie as a commentator (as long as its not Pies games) at least he calls a spade a spade.

It's not so much that West Coast in Perth get howlers in their favour - even though they do - it's that they get so many 50-50 frees in comparison with their opponents. Last night's frees to Shooey (who dived forward) and Selwood (who shrugged and took the tackle, and didn't deserve the free) were typical and in stark contrast to the free North did not get at the other end a couple of minutes earlier when a Toast player clearly flopped onto the back of a North player.

Also, the commentators were very quick, too quick, to state that the free to Selwood was warranted and congratulated the umpire for paying the free when he was "unsighted". If he was unsighted, why was he giving a free? More likely the umpire, urged on by the crowd, anticipated the free and/or guessed it was high. Terrible umpiring.

Tony Tea, yes, it's the 50 - 50 free kicks. The commentators try and water it down but there is little doubt that it cost north the match.

According to Demie in regards to shrugging an arm over the shoulder when being tackled an being awarded a free over the last 5 seasons of AFL; 3 of the top 6 are WCE players (3 Selwoods are in the top 6)

I had some idea that the Selwoods had a high count, but these figures are really alarming. A free kick in these circumstances is determined by what other players do to you - I could understand a player having a high count for frees against, if they had an ongoing bad tackling technique. But these stats imply that opposing players tackle Selwoods high and hardly ever anyone else, which is clearly ridiculous.

The only other explanation is that umpires are paying a disproportionate number of frees to Selwoods, because of some technique they have developed. The technique needs to be looked at, like Murali and his doosra. I wonder if it is possible to bet on the number of frees paid to a player? Or on who gets the most frees in a game? I hope the AFL has more backbone than the ICC though.

Where do you find stats like that?

I was watching the post match footy show on FOX and Dermot pulled them out.

I had some idea that the Selwoods had a high count, but these figures are really alarming. A free kick in these circumstances is determined by what other players do to you - I could understand a player having a high count for frees against, if they had an ongoing bad tackling technique. But these stats imply that opposing players tackle Selwoods high and hardly ever anyone else, which is clearly ridiculous.

The only other explanation is that umpires are paying a disproportionate number of frees to Selwoods, because of some technique they have developed. The technique needs to be looked at, like Murali and his doosra. I wonder if it is possible to bet on the number of frees paid to a player? Or on who gets the most frees in a game? I hope the AFL has more backbone than the ICC though.

You're absolutely right, the third ranked player for receiving frees for dropping ect. played with the Selwoods at a junior level.

I flicked on the TV this morning to watch something quick before work and it turned back onto FOX sports and it was broadcasting a game between Collingwood and Geelong in 2011... ironically right when I turned it on, guess who (Joel), had the ball near the boundary, was under pressure, could see a tackle coming, did the classic lower his body and threw his elbow up moving the player's arm off its original course and onto his face.

When a player deliberately ducks and there is high contact the umpires dont pay the free... that should also go for it a players who deliberately move their arms in a manner to make another players tackle become high.

Umpires are encouraging players to take head high tackles to get frees which is going to end up with someone ending up with either a broken neck or brain injuries. While they talk about protecting the players head they also have to take into account the damage they do by getting sucked in to paying such frees, they just encourage more people to do it. Not a good look for the game.

The West Coke train to milk free kicks and they do it better than any other team. The umpires get sucked in every time at cocaine stadium.

North lost the game but the umpires gave the result to the West Coke Snorters, disgrace.

If there was a hall of fame for milkers of free kicks...the snorters would fill the leaders board.

Shame on the umpires,

I know it's not the Dees but I have just witnessed one of the more biased umpiring performances of all time. Talk about getting WCE home. Am I that wrong or were there a series of decisions that brought them back into the contest?

I had a mate who's a WCE member message me after the game and say how lucky they were to have the extra 3 players on their side for the game.