Opinion An Urgent Enquiry is Required into the Umpiring of Certain Matches Mid-Season 2023

[Cleansweep17]

Your contention is strongly backed by the numbers which are astounding

But you might just have to accept the fact that you barrack for a very dirty side

On SM-A225F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Dude your coach literally just came out and wants shorter quarters because his players keep getting injured. No shame.

 

[Kappa]

2023 Toyota AFL Season

Rd 8 Richmond won the free kick count 17-16 v West Coast Eagles.
Rd 9 Richmond won the free kick count 21-14 v Geelong Cats.
Rd 10 Richmond won the free kick count 10-9 v Essendon Bombers.

Ok 2 of the free kick count wins were by 1 free kick but there needs to be a high level enquiry conducted into how Richmond Football Club were ever allowed to win 3 consecutive free kick counts. I know this has since been corrected by the AFL, because I checked - supporting evidence in the table below. But it is not enough, we the people need to know how Richmond were ever allowed to win 3 consecutive free kick counts. This is the stand rule era after all.

Anyway for those who are interested here is the evidence proving the AFL responded to this deeply concerning crisis that was the hat-trick of Richmond free kick count wins...

Match	Richmond Free Kick Count W/L?	Winning Margin	Losing Margin
2023 Season
Rd 11 v Port	L		9
Rd 12 v GWS	L		5
Rd 12 v Dockers	L		11
Rd 14 v Saints	L		13
Rd 16 v Lions	L		2
Rd 17 v Swans	L		1
Rd 18 v Eagles	L		3
Rd 19 v Hawks	L		2
Rd 20 v Demons	L		2
Rd 21 v Dogs	L		2
Rd 22 v Saints	L		9
Rd 23 v Roos	W	1
Rd 24 v Port	L		5
Season 2024
Rd 0 v Suns	L		1
Rd 1 v Blues	L		7
Rd 2 v Power	L		10
Rd 3 v Swans	W	1
Rd 4 v Saints	L		2
Rd 5 v Eagles	L		9
Rd 7 v Demons	L		12
Rd 8 v Dockers	L		9
Rd 9 v Bulldogs	L		3
R 10 v Lions	L		11
Rd 11 v Bombers	L		3
Rd 12 v Cats	L		1
Rd 13 v Crows	L		10
Total wins/losses for the 26 games period	2W 24L
Total Margins for the 26 game period		+2	-142

Now I would like to draw everybody's attention to the very last row in the table above. I really think we should be putting pressure on the AFL over Richmond being allowed to get away with a 2 free kick surplus from the 2 free kick count wins they somehow conned out of those 26 games. We gain some solace from the 142 free kick deficit in the 24 free kick counts Richmond thankfully lost in that period, but it is not enough. We must do something about that pesky annoying 2 free kick surplus arising from the 2 matches of 26 where Richmond won the free kick count. It just doesn't look right and my heart goes out to all Swans and Kangaroo supporters, god only knows how low they must feel.

P.S. that table is 100% accurate, double checked.

It would be interesting to see the individual player breakdown to see if its a handful of players giving away all the frees or an even mix

 

[smasha]

Richmond board.

Evidence too damning?
You want it hidden under the carpet?

 

[smasha]

We can't make finals now anyway.
If we win every game,we will finish ninth.
Umpires may read this post then magically give us free kicks.

 

[smasha]

AFL don’t like clubs having too much success.

We can see that within a week they can change the whole game of afl based on “interpretation” of rules.

If they can do that they can manipulate games however they like, and you cannot get rid of bias in an umpires brain.

Humans are emotional.

 

[Headless]

Anybody else think Richmond would have gone back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back at a minimum if not for the stand rule?

I call it "The Richmond Rule" because it was specifically introduced to ensure one of the most financially rewarding clubs didn't sixpeat.

 

[Engimal v3]

Why don't other teams do this against Richmond then? They don't do it against Richmond to the extent that over the last 4 seasons Richmond are AFL #18, AFL #18, AFL #17, AFL #18 for free kicks received. That has absolutely nothing to do with Richmond's playing style.

Because Richmond are 17th on the ladder. Who would copy what you guys do?

 

[Mr Meow]

Anybody else think Richmond would have gone back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back at a minimum if not for the stand rule?

I call it "The Richmond Rule" because it was specifically introduced to ensure one of the most financially rewarding clubs didn't sixpeat.

What else would you expect from the CFL?

Corrupt Football Leage, I call it.

To be clear, I swap the word "Australian" with "Corrupt".

 

[Headless]

What else would you expect from the CFL?

Corrupt Football Leage, I call it.

To be clear, I swap the word "Australian" with "Corrupt".

That's very clever.

 

[FreddyTwoShoes]

This thread is reminiscent of the SHocking and BScott conspiracy threads from MR a few years ago.

As a very recent and somewhat naive poster I was sucked into the vortex of those threads.

I’ve learnt my lesson. Just going to nod and smile now.

 

[Lsta062]

Free kicks received on average per match Richmond FC:

2021 AFL #18
2022 AFL #17(within 1-2 free kicks for the season of being #18)
2023 AFL #18
2024 AFL #18

Now come on, there is no conceivable way the 17 other teams were not as highly disciplined in matches against Richmond in 2022 as they were in the other 3 seasons listed. So how did the AFL allow that to happen that Richmond were not AFL #18 for free kicks received in 2022?

The things Richmond have gotten away with here are shocking. Enquiry please.

It's even worse if you look at the average free kick differential rankings since 2017:

2017 18th
2018 18th
2019 13th
2020 17th
2021 18th
2022 18th
2023 17th
2024 18th

How did the AFL allow Richmond to get to 13th in 2019 and 17th twice (in 2020 and 2023)???

 

[Lsta062]

The Hardwick style was to intentionally infringe and hope that fewer than 50% of them were pinged, meaning 50/50 contests were skewed towards Richmond winning the ball.

I dont know if Yze does this too, or if its the older dogs unable to learnnew tricks.

Similar to Bevo getting the players to throw or drop the ball when tackled knowing the AFL didnt want more frees being paid so they would get away with it.

Coaches using the rules to their advantage.

That was in 2017-2019 though. We do not play like that anymore and haven't for a long time. If it wasn't gone by the time the stand rule came in, then it was gone when it came in.

There is no explanation for why we are consistently on the bottom other than bias. I'm not saying it's malicious or deliberate bias, but it could be unconscious bias due to umpires expecting us to infringe based on our 2017-2019 years. Hence, they are keeping a closer eye on us in contests rather than our opponents. All you need to watch is our game against Port Adelaide or Fremantle at the MCG this year to see what I am talking about.

 

[sthmelb_dimmies]

God how have Richmond been able to get away with this as well...

Free kicks received on average per match Richmond FC:

2021 AFL #18
2022 AFL #17(within 1-2 free kicks for the season of being #18)
2023 AFL #18
2024 AFL #18

Now come on, there is no conceivable way the 17 other teams were not as highly disciplined in matches against Richmond in 2022 as they were in the other 3 seasons listed. So how did the AFL allow that to happen that Richmond were not AFL #18 for free kicks received in 2022?

The things Richmond have gotten away with here are shocking. Enquiry please.

Pls include 2016 Grand Final

 

[Bluelegs]

Anybody else think Richmond would have gone back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back at a minimum if not for the stand rule?

I call it "The Richmond Rule" because it was specifically introduced to ensure one of the most financially rewarding clubs didn't sixpeat.

The AFL won't rest until every Richmond supporter prefers ruby league to Aussie rules.

 

[Headless]

The AFL won't rest until every Richmond supporter prefers ruby league to Aussie rules.

It's even worse when you look at the free kick counts.

 

[Bluelegs]

Pls include 2016 Grand Final

I don't think Richmond played in that game

 

[Headless]

I don't think Richmond played in that game

More evidence.

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

Mods: Desperately need an in season off-season thread for clubs and supporters that are already checked out....

 

[Bluelegs]

AFL don’t like clubs having too much success.

We can see that within a week they can change the whole game of afl based on “interpretation” of rules.

Which club were they trying to prevent from having too much success with the htb adjustment?

 

[Chronz]

Evidence too damning?
You want it hidden under the carpet?

Yes.

 

[Gavin Excell]

It's Richmond

Nobody cares

 

[Headless]

Which club were they trying to prevent from having too much success with the htb adjustment?

If you can't see it, mate, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Bluelegs]

If you can't see it, mate, I don't know what to tell you.

I really love the use of the 45° laughing emoji here, Headless.

 

[Headless]

I really love the use of the 45° laughing emoji here, Headless.

2017 2019 2020

 

[Cleansweep17]

It's even worse if you look at the average free kick differential rankings since 2017:

2017 18th
2018 18th
2019 13th
2020 17th
2021 18th
2022 18th
2023 17th
2024 18th

How did the AFL allow Richmond to get to 13th in 2019 and 17th twice (in 2020 and 2023)???

Anybody know how the Suns are going this year in regards to free kick differential. Could Dimma be a factor? AFL can’t stand his smartass remarks.