Was Richmond really hard done by with free kicks against Geelong at Simonds Stadium?

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick rued the free kick count against Geelong but the Herald Sun has reviewed the match to find out if the Tigers had every right to feel aggrieved.

Jake Kolodjashnij breaks a Brandon Ellis tackle. Picture: Getty Images

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick chose his words carefully when asked about the impact the Geelong crowd had in his team’s loss at Simonds Stadium.

The Tigers were on the wrong end of a lopsided 28-17 free kick count last Saturday, which Hardwick pointed out after the game.

“Absolutely ... the home crowd gets behind them. Have a look at the free kick count.”

“It is what it is. What I will say is you’ve got a significant home ground advantage.”

FREE KICKS: THE TEAMS WHO ARE RIGHT AT HOME

While there was no reference to umpires or umpiring decisions, the inference was the vocal Geelong crowd swayed the men in lime green.

But after the emotion subsides, which it should have by now, Hardwick will be fully aware the discrepancy in the free kick tally had little to do with the “the noise of affirmation”.

The umpire pays a free kick to the Tigers last Saturday. Picture: AAP

A Herald Sun review of the match noted clear decisions that went against the Tigers, some of which were influenced by the crowd, but the Cats also on the wrong end of umpiring errors.

But what was apparently obvious was how much more effective the Cats were with their tackles, which Champion Data stats support.

Geelong laid 72 tackles from 105 attempts, an efficiency of 69 per cent, and missed just six tackles.

Richmond had 147 tackling attempts, effecting 84 tackles — 12 more than the Cats — but its efficiency was 57 per cent and the Tigers missed 13 tackles.

The Tigers weren’t able to make them stick as well as the Cats, and allowed their opponents to get a disposal away.

That was the biggest factor in the result.

Richmond star Dustin Martin tries to break a Jed Bews tackle. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond still won its share of holding the ball decisions — seven to Geelong’s 11.

However, when it comes to tackling Geelong is clearly the No.1 team in the competition with an efficiency of 71.1 per cent — the only club about 70 per cent.

The next best is the Western Bulldogs at 68.8 per cent. Richmond’s efficiency is 64.9 per cent, ranked 14th.

The Cats also win the most holding the ball free kicks — 5.7 a game. Sydney is behind them with 5.2.

Here are some of the key moments from Saturday’s game at the Cattery:

FIRST QUARTER

18min44sec: Kane Lambert tackles Cats defender Andrew Mackie from behind, crowd wants a push back but the umpire correctly awards a holding the ball free to the Tigers. The end result is the game’s opening goal to Josh Caddy.

16:26: Tigers ruckman Ivan Soldo gets lucky when he’s tackled by Sam Menengola and drops the ball as Cats fans cry “baaaaall”, but the umpire waves play on.

13:59: Geelong tall Rhys Stanley denied a shot at goal despite David Astbury not having his eyes on the ball and making contact with his face attempting to spoil. Daniel Menzel picks up the loose ball and snaps the Cats’ first score — a behind.

11:45: Stanley gets a square-up free as Astbury hangs on to him, and boots Geelong’s first goal.

8:14: Mackie gets away with an obvious deliberate rushed behind after handballing to Lachie Henderson, who was already behind the goal line. The Tigers cheer squad behind the goals is ropeable.

SECOND QUARTER

19:14: The Tigers again start a quarter with the first goal from a free kick after Geelong defender Zach Tuohy was deemed to have thrown the ball in a Dan Butler tackle.

13:40: Geelong’s midfield press is forcing the Tigers to overhandball. Shane Edwards breaks a tackle and handballs to Daniel Rioli who tries to sell the dummy but is nabbed by Menengola.

7:22: Martin nudges Jordan Murdoch under the ball inside Richmond’s forward 50, there’s a murmur from the crowd but the umps aren’t interested.

5:45: Sam Simpson gets the benefit of the doubt after a dubious disposal when tackled by Nathan Broad.

5:38: Broad puts his head down between two Geelong players to win the ball and is taken high but doesn’t receive a free.

5:30: Mackie is all over Jack Riewoldt 10m from goal. Riewoldt is furious no free was paid. Crucial moment with the Tigers trailing 41-29.

4:37: Up the other end, Menzel is impeded by Brandon Ellis in a marking content. Menzel goal’s is effectively a 12-point turnaround.

3:57: The Tigers apply pressure at a centre bounce. Murdoch tries to spin out of trouble but is collared by Richmond captain Trent Cotchin. The ball spills but the umpire keeps the whistle away.

2:32: Grigg is under pressure in defence as he throws the ball onto his boot. It bounces between the 50m arc and the centre square and bounces another five times before going out of bounds. The vocal Geelong crowd scream for deliberate and get it. Harsh decision.

00:04: Menzel is dragged down Edwards, stopping a certain shot at goal on the siren, but seconds earlier Cotchin made high contact with the Cats forward.

THIRD QUARTER

16:16: Dangerfield marks on the 50 to crowd cheers, but is ruled to have pushed Dion Prestia in the back.

13:04: Jackson Thurlow is dumped after a strong tackle by McIntosh, and it’s questionable whether the Cat got a handball away.

10:35: Prestia is pounced on by Cam Guthrie and Selwood at a centre bounce. The crowd appeals for a free but the umpire correctly rules there was no prior opportunity.

8:06: Guthrie fumbles the ball before he’s tackled by Broad. He had prior opportunity and also didn’t dispose the ball correctly. Clear mistake.

6:02: Riewoldt is pushed by Tom Lonergan outside 50m and is the awarded the free. Delivers a pinpoint pass to Houli, who goals to cut the margin to 13 points.

2:00: Cats defender Jackson Thurlow is in the back pocket and under little pressure dribbles the ball towards the boundary line. Deliberate out of bounds paid.

FOURTH QUARTER

9:21: Rioli gathers the bouncing ball and is immediately seized by Selwood. The umpire waits before calling holding the ball. With the Cats 20 point up, the crowd is getting louder.

7:42: Selwood is tackled by Prestia as soon as he takes possession, in similar circumstances to the Rioli tackle previously. The only difference is Selwood had one armed pin and lets the ball spill out, but that’s incorrect disposal.

Originally published as Was Richmond really hard done by with free kicks against Geelong at Simonds Stadium?