SuperCoach stats: Free kicks boost your score but infringe and it’ll cost you

FREE kicks can have a positive or negative impact on SuperCoach scoring, depending on which way the umpire signals. SEE THE SCORES AND BEST/WORST OFFENDERS

Joel Selwood. Geelong Cats training session. Picture: Peter Ristevski

FREE kicks can have a positive or negative impact on SuperCoach scoring, depending on which way the umpire signals.

A free kick is one of many statistics that make up a contested possession.

Frees for that don’t warrant a player receiving a contested possession, with the majority being “after disposal” frees where the player receiving the free is knocked down after disposing of the ball are counted as uncontested possessions.

If a player is interfered with, then he is awarded a free kick and four SuperCoach points to his score.

When an infringement occurs resulting in the opposition receiving a free kick, then the player giving away the free kick loses four SuperCoach points.

A 50-metre penalty is the harshest from a SuperCoach point of view, with the player giving away the penalty losing 8.5 points. In the rare vent that a double 50-metre penalty is awarded, then that is doubled.

With all free kicks, an umpire must signal before Champion Data records a free kick.

FREE KICKS	SUPERCOACH POINTS
Free For	4
Free Against	-4
Free Against Before Bounce	-4
50m Penalty	-8.5

It should be no surprise to anyone that Joel Selwood has been awarded 10 free kicks already this season, the equal-most of any player in the competition alongside Allen Christensen.

Jack Ziebell ranks equal-second with eight free kicks for, with Bernie Vince, Toby McLean and Taylor Adams by his side.

PLAYER	FREES FOR
Allen Christensen	10
Joel Selwood	10
Jack Ziebell	8
Bernie Vince	8
Toby McLean	8
Taylor Adams	8
Zac Smith	7
Mitch Robinson	7
Nic Naitanui	7
Stefan Martin	7

At the opposing end of the scale is Patrick Cripps who has given away 11 free kicks – the most of any player in the league, with Max Gawn (10) next most. Geelong team mates Tom Hawkins and Joel Selwood are next worst with nine apiece.

Although we are only three rounds in, Luke Shuey has been caught holding the ball three more times (six) than any other player in the competition.

PLAYER	FREES AGAINST
Patrick Cripps	11
Max Gawn	10
Tom Hawkins	9
Joel Selwood	9
Sam Fisher	8
Sam Gilbert	8
Mitch Robinson	8
Luke Shuey	8
Nat Fyfe	7
Tom Hickey	7

From a differential point of view, Christensen has the equal-best positive ratio of +8 (10 for and two against) alongside Bulldogs youngster McLean (eight for and none against). Sam Fisher, Sam Gilbert and Hawkins have the equal worst negative ratio of -7.