Far fewer free kicks paid across Round 1 as umps told to only pay obvious infringements Jon Ralph
Herald Sun
March 23, 2014 4:45PMFREE kicks plummeted to their lowest level in a decade in Round 1 after a new directive from the AFL’s revamped umpiring department.
Despite the continued mauls and scrums blighting football, there were on average only 32 free kicks in the first eight games of Round 1.
That is the lowest figure since 2004’s season average of 28.8 per game, and way down on 2010’s average of 40 free kicks per game and last year’s 36.2 average.
Under new umpires boss Wayne Campbell and umpires coach Hayden Kennedy, obvious free kicks will be paid but incidental contact will mostly be ignored.
The change has drawn overwhelming praise from coaches and fans, with Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley recently labelling the more liberal interpretations “heartening”.
The large reduction in free kicks is even more significant than it appears on face value.
The Sydney-GWS game was played in terrible conditions that saw 49 free kicks paid in torrential rain, with the average free kicks down even further to 29 for the rest without that contest.
Round 1 is also traditionally seen by umpires as a time to crack down on rules before interpretations are relaxed and players adjust, with last year’s Round 1 average 45.6 per game.
In Essendon’s win over North Melbourne on Friday night the Dons gave away just nine free kicks for the game, with the Roos conceding only a dozen.
Kennedy, who umpired 495 senior games in his umpiring career, told the Herald Sun this month the “incidental” contact might be overlooked.
New rules also allow more freedom for players to battle opponents in marking contests, with players in recent years told to move the ball on in a contest or they are penalised.
The figures come despite a huge increase in tackles and scrimmages which usually increase free kick counts, with Kennedy admitting umpiring was extremely hard.
“It is very difficult with the congestion. (New umpires boss) Wayne Campbell was with me at the first NAB Challenge game and he was amazed how many tackles there were and realised how difficult it was to make so many decisions in a short space of time.”
Said Pies coach Buckley of the change last month: “I prefer it that way, to see that is heartening and as long as there is consistency in how it’s applied you can play around it and coach around it.”
The AFL would be disappointed with a Round 1 howler which saw Sydney’s Ben McGlynn rewarded for high contact when he clearly slid into GWS player Lachie Whitfield and took out his feet.
The sliding rule was reinforced on the AFL’s Rules DVD shown in the pre-season to players, but the free kick was an isolated mistake rather than an interpretation change.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/far-fewer-free-kicks-paid-across-round-1-as-umps-told-to-only-pay-obvious-infringements/story-e6frf3e3-1226862601719
