Free kick stats reveal West Coast Eagles sets pace among AFL clubs for most free kicks at home
WEST Coast has a crazy free kick advantage playing at home, and they aren’t the only one. But two big Melbourne sides miss out completely.
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WE TAKE the mickey out of Hawthorn, and Damien Hardwick raised Geelong’s free kick count on Saturday, but there is only one Bermuda Triangle in football.
And for opposition teams, it lies on the other side of the Nullarbor.
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When it comes to which club gets the most favourable run from the whistle blowers on their home deck, it is West Coast, then daylight.
The #freekickHawthorn phenomenon is just a small ripple compared to the trend in the west that has seen the Eagles dominate the free kick counts at home over a decade.
And the Champion Data numbers show they are the most protected team in the AFL.
Over a span of 115 matches, West Coast has been paid 602 more free kicks than interstate opposition at Subiaco Oval. That’s more than five a game more than its rival, on average.
Next best, Port Adelaide, has received fewer than half that, with a differential against interstate foes of +295 at home (2.6 more on average).
Geelong comes in third on the advantage ladder with +211 free kicks over 82 home games at Simonds Stadium — that’s 2.5 more per game.
At Etihad Stadium and the MCG, Western Bulldogs get the best run of the Victorian clubs, earning 228 more free kicks than interstate opposition at home — +4.6 per game.
Statistically, Hawthorn gets a much rougher deal from the umpires, with only 56 more free kicks over than its fly-in rival in 41 home games.
So the social media catchcry is wide of the mark.
While the AFL’s umpires department has long been at a loss to explain the mysterious trend out of the west, several theories have been mentioned — parochial home crowds, tackling technique, and first hands on the footy.
The Herald Sun is not alleging the umpires have any bias towards West Coast or any other team.
Hardwick made note of the free kick count against Geelong on Saturday, which was 20-7 at half time, and 28-17 at the end of the match.
“Absolutely ... the home crowd gets behind them. Have a look at the free kick count,” Hardwick said.
“It is what it is. What I will say is you’ve got a significant home ground advantage. I understand what (Geelong coach) Chris (Scott) is saying, I’d be playing as many home games here as I can. “It is tough to play. They’re an outstanding side, but they’re an outstanding side plus when it comes to playing here.”
Geelong midfielder Scott Selwood said the umpires had a difficult job.
“It is tougher for the umpires to try to get the right call,” he told Channel Nine.
“We love playing here, we love our crowd, they’re a really passionate supporter group and we love the way they encourage us and try to get us over the line.
“We try to play fairly and play to the rules and get a lot of free kicks that way.”
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