How Adelaide and Port Adelaide are getting a raw deal from the umpires in the SANFL

Adelaide and Port Adelaide have sought clarification from the SANFL umpiring department after both being on the end of horror free kick counts again this season.

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Adelaide and Port Adelaide have sought clarification from the SANFL umpiring department after being on the end of horror free kick counts again this season.

After six rounds, the Crows and Magpies — the reserves teams of South Australia’s two AFL clubs — sit a long way last in free kick differential, with Adelaide recording a -53 count and Port -36.

The next-worst ranked team is Woodville-West Torrens at -2.

Of most concern to the Crows and Magpies is that this is not a one-off but a recurring theme.

Alarmingly, since Adelaide entered a team in the SANFL in 2014, it has recorded a staggering free kick differential of -498.

Port again ranks second bottom at -307.

The next-ranked team is Norwood at -84.

Six of the 10 SANFL clubs have recorded positive differentials in this time — the Eagles (+253), Sturt (+247), South Adelaide (+234), reigning premier North Adelaide (+119), Glenelg (+65) and Central District (+7).

The Crows have not won a free kick count this season.

Port’s Steven Motlop takes on Central’s Jonathan Marsh and Troy Menzel. Picture: Tom Huntley

The Magpies have won only one — by one free against the Roosters in round three.

Port SANFL manager Shane Grimm said his club first contacted the SANFL after its home loss to the Panthers in round two.

“The SANFL’s umpiring department has always been accessible when we’ve had issues to clarify,’’ he said diplomatically.

“We don’t always agree and we don’t really have to. However, we always appreciate the hearing we get from SANFL umpiring management.

“Of course numbers of free kicks do matter in a game. When our opposition receive significant numbers, it is important for both our players and coaches to assess what is leading to that outcome.

“It could be as simple as poor technique in a player’s approach or execution of their skills.

“Either way, we’re the ones that need to address it. And of course no matter the sport, there’s always an element of luck involved in what umpires can and can’t see.

“We had a discussion with the SANFL umpiring department after the South game where we had given away a comparatively large number of free kicks (33).

“The feedback that we have received at that point was valuable in educating our players”.

Adelaide Head of Football Brett Burton did not want to go into depth about the free kick disparity, simply saying his club met with SANFL officials on an ongoing basis.

“We regularly seek clarification from the SANFL on rule interpretations to ensure we are correctly educating our players,” Burton said.

SANFL general manager of football Adam Kelly said the Crows and Magpies, who clash at Alberton Oval on Saturday, were not alone in clarifying umpiring decisions with the league, saying “all clubs do’’.

Adelaide’s Josh Jenkins and Norwood’s Brady Dawe. Picture: Dean Martin

He said the SANFL did not “focus’’ on free kick differentials and judged each umpiring decision on merit.

“We direct our attention to a weekly review that the umpires undertake after each game,’’ Kelly said.

But he said possible explanations for the Crows’ shocking free kick differential, in particular, could be that they play no home games, use a handful of top-up players from other leagues and that its players are trained to AFL umpiring interpretations.

“When you have a fee kick count over a long period of time that is the lowest of any of the clubs you start to consider broadly what some of the issues might be,’’ Kelly said.

“There is strong evidence world wide, in all sports, that the noise of affirmation for teams playing at home can, while not intended, affect umpiring.

“Then, in the case with Adelaide and Port, there is the slight variation between the way AFL and SANFL games are interpreted while when it comes to top-up players, some who come from the Adelaide Footy League or regional competitions, the variation in the rules, particularly with holding the ball, is greater.’’

NO FREE RIDE

Adelaide and Port Adelaide have had a horror run from the SANFL umpires, ranking in the bottom two — well below their rivals — for free kick differential this season and in the past six years.

SANFL Free kick differential 2019

Glenelg: For 165; Against 125; Differential +40

South Adelaide: F 164; A 134; +30

North Adelaide: F 149; A 133; +16

Central District: F 129; A 123; +6

Sturt: F 130; A 129; +1

Norwood: F 125; A 126; -1

West Adelaide: F 127; A 128; -1

Eagles: F 126; A 128; -2

Port Adelaide: F 114; A 150; -36

Adelaide: F 106; A 159; -53

SANFL Free Kick Differential 2014-19

Eagles +253

Sturt +247

South Adelaide +234

North Adelaide +119

Glenelg +65

Central District +7

West Adelaide -36

Norwood -84

Port Adelaide -307

Adelaide -498