‘Livid’: AFL fans fume at mind-boggling umpiring in Bulldogs vs Swans game

The Western Bulldogs defeated the Sydney Swans on Thursday night but fans were convinced the Dogs received an unfair advantage.

The Swans couldn’t buy a free kick against the Bulldogs. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Western Bulldogs finally got their first win of 2022 against the Sydney Swans on Thursday night but all AFL fans could talk about was the lopsided free kick count in their favour.

Desperate to put the first two rounds of the season behind them, the Bulldogs got off to a flyer and led for the entire game at Marvel Stadium.

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Inaccurate goalkicking kept the Swans in the game but the Dogs eventually claimed a 71 (9.17) to 60 (9.6) victory.

But viewers were convinced the umpires were blowing the whistle to the Bulldogs’ advantage.

The free kick count was 8-1 in the third quarter and finished at 31-14 for the game — the Dogs received more than double the amount of free kicks than the Swans.

“This is getting out of hand,” Gerard Whateley said on AFL Nation after Chad Warner was pinged for a dangerous tackle in the third term.

Former Collingwood star and Brownlow medallist Dane Swan tweeted: “An unbiased opinion (mine) would say that dogs getting the rub of the green with the umps.”

The Swans couldn’t buy a free kick against the Bulldogs. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Football commentator Brenton Speed said: “Umpiring tonight …? Oh boy!”

It brought back painful memories for Swans fans, who were famously furious at the umpiring during their loss to the Bulldogs in the 2016 AFL Grand Final.

Even injured Swans ruckman Sam Naismith got in on the act, cheekily tweeting: “If I tweet about the umpires is it 50m?”

Sports reporter Andrew Wu said: “Swans fans feeling ripped off by the umpires in a game against the Bulldogs. Where have we heard that one before?”

Journalist Scott Murphy said: “Imagine how sad the umpires will be if the Swans win this.”

Comedian Titus O’Reilly joked: “Find someone who loves you like the umpires love the Bulldogs.”

Swans fans weren’t too pleased with the umpires. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Sports journalist Bulldogs fan Luke McGarry added: “I’m glad the umps are helping us tonight, many of our goal kickers aren’t.”

If I was a Sydney fan I'd be livid with some of the umpiring in this game. #AFLDogsSwans

— Akash Fotedar (@akashfotedar5) March 31, 2022

I don’t mean to be ‘that’ Swans fan, but the umpiring tonight is mind boggling. #AFLDogsSwans

— Kate Kachor (@KateKachor) March 31, 2022

Does Bevo have recordings of the umpires? #AFLDogsSwans

— Scott Dooley (@scottdools) March 31, 2022

17-3 free kicks to the Dogs since quarter time 😅#AFLDogsSwans

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) March 31, 2022

Going good umpires. #AFLDogsSwanspic.twitter.com/mRRJMl6tAt

— Tom Sacre (@Sacre88) March 31, 2022

The Bulldogs were clearly the better of the two teams and their winning margin of 11 points would have been far greater if they kicked straighter in front of goal.

A loss would have been catastrophic for last year’s grand finalists after starting the season with two losses to reigning premiers Melbourne and Carlton.