Finals free-kick rate highest since 2008, with GWS Giants-Western Bulldogs elimination final most in 20 years
Channel 7 says it hasn’t increased the volume of umpire microphones during finals, but there’s a reason you’re hearing from the whistleblowers more. They’ve paid the most free-kicks in finals since 2008 in the past two weeks.
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We are witnessing the most whistle-happy finals series in more than a decade.
With a warning to Giant Adam Kennedy to stop targeting Lion Charlie Cameron’s sore arm polarising the footy world, it can be revealed that the rate of free kicks has reached record numbers.
A home-and-away season in which the average number of frees dropped by 3.8 per game from last year to 37.4 — has given way to a September where the whistle has been far from put away.
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This year’s six finals have seen an average 45.4 free kicks paid — the most since 2008.
Greater Western Sydney’s elimination final thrashing of the Western Bulldogs saw a staggering 62 free kicks paid — the most in any final for 20 years.
Umpire Shaun Ryan’s contentious instructions for Kennedy came in a Brisbane-GWS game that had 54 frees paid — the equal second-most this season.
Yet it was the warnings and coaching of players by the whistleblowers that most agitated some viewers on Saturday night, even though the umpires are following instructions from head office.
“Do not be knocking his arm, OK? You’ve been warned,” Ryan told Kennedy.
“You knock his arm, it’s against the spirit of the game, OK? If you continually knock his arm, I will pay a free kick. You’ve been warned, I’ve told you.”
Ex-St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said the infiltration of on-field “umpire coaching” was ruining the finals.
“I just find it extraordinary some of the things I hear said during a game of football by the umpires,” Thomas said this week.
Channel 7 said on Monday it had not altered the volume of its umpire microphones despite them seemingly becoming more audible.
The network feels it adds to the coverage, but fans remain divided over their use, particularly the repeated instructions to players.
Seven has two umpire volume levels — a lower setting when the ball is in play and an amplified level when an umpire makes a decision.
Originally published as Finals free-kick rate highest since 2008, with GWS Giants-Western Bulldogs elimination final most in 20 years