Richmond wins more high-contact free kicks than any other clubChris Vernuccio
Herald Sun
June 25, 2015 10:00AMJOEL Selwood remains the undisputed king of winning head-high free kicks but his Geelong barely makes the top four on the 2015 “too high” ladder.
The top team is not West Coast, which has had the spotlight on them in recent seasons over its “dropping the knees” tactics to draw free kicks.
Richmond is the new No.1 when it comes to winning free kicks for high contact this year, a total of 90 after 12 rounds — 10 more than the next team, Brisbane, according to Champion Data.
And it seems Tigers trio Anthony Miles, Trent Cotchin and Dylan Grimes are flying under the radar for their ability to attract free kicks from high tackles.
Selwood may lead the way for players who have been tackled high with 21 free kicks, but his Cats have earned a staggering 29 fewer head-high tackle frees than the Tigers — and from one extra game.
Miles (17 free kicks) and Cotchin (16) are ranked third and fourth in the AFL respectively.
Grimes is the other Tiger in the top 10 players to receive head-high free kicks and the defender showed last Friday night against West Coast he too knows how to get hit in the head.
Grimes received three free kicks against the Eagles – all for high contact – to take his tally to 12 this season.
Even commentator and Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling marvelled at the audacious way Grimes elicited high contact from Eagles opponent Luke Shuey early in the final quarter, saying “he almost went looking for that”.
While it has been Selwood and Eagles players who have been accused of ducking in past years, Richmond splits the two clubs when it comes to winning head-high tackle frees since 2010.
There is no suggestion that Richmond players have employed ducking tactics, but the 776 high-contact frees they have received in that time is an extraordinary number for a team that has avoided public scrutiny from other clubs, commentators and fans.
North Melbourne goalsneak Lindsay Thomas has been criticised this season for ducking his head to win free kicks, but he is No.5 on the list behind Miles and Cotchin and Brisbane’s Allen Christensen.
Geelong has won 797 high-contact frees since 2010, 21 more than the Tigers and 32 ahead of West Coast (765).
The AFL this year made a rare mid-season tweak to high-contact rules to prevent players in possession from “driving” with their heads into other players.
HIGH TACKLES FREES IN 2015
BY CLUBRichmond 90
Brisbane 80
North Melbourne* 76
Geelong* 61
Fremantle 60
Sydney 59
GWS* 56
West Coast* 55
Carlton 54
Essendon 54
Melbourne* 54
Port Adelaide* 53
St Kilda 50
Western Bulldogs 50
Adelaide 43
Collingwood 41
Gold Coast 41
Hawthorn 38
* played one extra gameTOP 10 PLAYERSJoel Selwood (Geel) 21
Allen Christensen (Bris) 20
Anthony Miles (Rich) 17
Trent Cotchin (Rich) 16
Lindsay Thomas (NM) 14
Dylan Grimes (Rich) 12
Marc Murphy (Carl) 12
Jack Ziebell (NM) 12
Luke Parker (Syd) 9
TOP 5 AT RICHMONDAnthony Miles 17
Trent Cotchin 16
Dylan Grimes 12
Jack Riewoldt 5
Shaun Grigg, Taylor Hunt, Alex Rance, Nick Vlastuin 4
* Stats supplied by Champion Datahttp://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-wins-more-high-contact-free-kicks-than-any-other-club/story-fndv8t7m-1227413106053
