West Coast’s free kick domination puzzles AFL, umpires
FORMER AFL umpires boss Peter Schwab says the noise of affirmation is real — and the league is taking steps to get to the bottom of West Coast’s free kick domination.
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THE AFL says it is taking steps to investigate the reasons behind West Coast’s “noise of affirmation” as the Eagles’ free kick domination continues.
West Coast has won the free kick count in 61 of its past 73 home games against interstate opponents, including seven of eight Perth Stadium games.
AFL umpires coach Hayden Kennedy confirmed to the Herald Sun the league was investigating the trends behind the persistent pattern.
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Kennedy said that while single-game free kick counts were irrelevant, the league’s umpires and game analysis team was mystified by the long-running trend.
Former AFL umpires boss Peter Schwab recently said the noise of affirmation was real — umpires convinced to pay what they suspected was a free kick when the home crowd roared.
The AFL has broken down the type of free kicks the Eagles receive at home and analysed their game style for patterns.
But Fremantle plays in front of similar crowds and is only +15 for free kicks at home games this year, while Richmond has a horrible free kick record at the MCG.
One theory is that West Coast has such powerful marking forwards in Jeremy McGovern, Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy that opponents often infringe to curtail them.
Another is that West Coast is an extremely disciplined tackling side — and often corrals opponents instead of tackling — but is adept at winning head-high frees.
Kennedy said the AFL had still not got to the bottom of the discrepancy given Richmond’s MCG crowd noise is incredible yet they often lose the free kick count.
“West Coast and Fremantle have the same crowd and different results in regard to hometown free kicks,” he said.
“We are certainly aware of it and the emphasis is on umpires over there to get into the zone. Pay free kicks according to what you see each and every week.
“If it so happens to be the numbers are different, so be it. If we as (umpire) coaches on the day see something wrong with our decision-making we need to attend to it, but the pure numbers are irrelevant.”
The league rarely schedules a full complement of Perth-based umpires for local games but most games would have at least one local umpire.
The umpires department is attempting to balance the number of times Perth-based umpires fly interstate and umpire at home.
St Kilda’s Alan Richardson admitted to being “really frustrated” by the decisions in Round 11, when his team trailed 12-25 in the free kick count.
Essendon smashed West Coast in a 28-point win last Friday but lost the free kick count 17-33.
Schwab said on SEN of the noise of affirmation: “You’re pretty sure the free kick is there and then the roar of the West Coast Eagles crowd for it probably confirms it — affirmation, as we talk about.”
Said Kennedy yesterday of that phenomenon: “You can’t really place yourself in the mind of the umpires. All we say is be in the zone, be in the right frame of mind and hopefully that leads to the best results.”
He said he had this week reinforced to umpires to keep their distance from melees and on-field flashpoints to guard against contact with players.
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Originally published as West Coast’s free kick domination puzzles AFL, umpires
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