Players deliberately ducking their heads to win free kicks

[Nardz]

i've noticed lately that players deliberately duck their heads when they see an oncoming player, to win a free kick, and in some cases (ie. chad cornes) this results in suspensions.

The rule is actually encouraging this, and causing the players to risk their heads rather than actually protecting the head. IMO i have no sympathy for a player that gets knocked out if they stupidly put themselves in this position.

Sydney were notorious for doing it last week...

 

[Falchoon]

i've noticed lately that players deliberately duck their heads when they see an oncoming player, to win a free kick, and in some cases (ie. chad cornes) this results in suspensions.

The rule is actually encouraging this, and causing the players to risk their heads rather than actually protecting the head. IMO i have no sympathy for a player that gets knocked out if they stupidly put themselves in this position.

Sydney were notorious for doing it last week...

I've been saying it for years, rewarding players for ducking into oncoming traffic is going to lead to horrendous consequences.

 

[sydney_hawka]

A few Geelong players notoriously duck for frees, and been doing it for years, and getting away with it.

 

[Nardz]

A few Geelong players notoriously duck for frees, and been doing it for years, and getting away with it.

one certain geelong player has almost pioneered it.

 

[LonerGun]

We've got Monfries who's not adverse to winning some in this way either.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

The rule changes that have been brought in lately I believe are having unintended consequences.

The ducking of the head has been around for years, so I'm not sure you can attribute to any one club or player.

10 years ago players learned to collapse their knees thus bring their entire torso down to get high free kicks - this still happens and is more often than not rewarded.

However, what is relatibely new is blokes who go for the ball - rather than coming up and looking for a team-mate - are actually keeping their heads deliberately low and driving forward with their heads. I.e they are initiating contact - yet they win the free kick. The problem with the new laws is that it provides a disincentive for players to protect themselves.

Players are either either leaving their heads down longer, the aforementioned drive with the head - or are turning their bodies into traffic when collecting the ball to draw the high contact.

 

[BONG RIPS MKII]

A few Geelong players notoriously duck for frees, and been doing it for years, and getting away with it.

luke hodge has been doing it longer than selwood and gets just as many free kicks from it

 

[Nardz]

The problem with the new laws is that it provides a disincentive for players to protect themselves.

exactly.

 

[soho]

see ball on ground in pack, crouch over and steam through the pack with head down, win free kick...

'oh, so courageous...'

 

[sydney_hawka]

luke hodge has been doing it longer than selwood and gets just as many free kicks from it

Absolute CRAP!!!

Luke Hodge plays in the spirit of the game, not for frees. On most occasions, he actually earns a free, not plays for it.

 

[winty]

see ball on ground in pack, crouch over and steam through the pack with head down, win free kick...

'oh, so courageous...'

What do you want them to do? Play paper, rock, scissors with their opponent for the right to grab the ball?

 

[Nardz]

What do you want them to do? Play paper, rock, scissors with their opponent for the right to grab the ball?

perhaps not use their head as an instrument to win a free kick?

players that do this deserve to be knocked out cold.

 

[winty]

perhaps not use their head as an instrument to win a free kick?

players that do this deserve to be knocked out cold.

How are players meant to pick the ball up off the deck without bending down to pick it up?

Maybe it's more a case of players learning how to adjust their tackles to prevent tackling too high in those instances. Or maybe their club could just fire off a DVD to the umpiring department highlighting it and try to get a helping hand that way...

 

[Nardz]

How are players meant to pick the ball up off the deck without bending down to pick it up?

Maybe it's more a case of players learning how to adjust their tackles to prevent tackling too high in those instances. Or maybe their club could just fire off a DVD to the umpiring department highlighting it and try to get a helping hand that way...

getting down to win the ball is one thing

deliberately lowering your head and intiating contact with a standing player to win a free is another. it is the same as diving IMO except with much more dangerous concequences.

stop trying to excuse an inexcusable act just because one of your own is notorious for it.

 

[JUBJUB]

Absolute CRAP!!!

Luke Hodge plays in the spirit of the game, not for frees. On most occasions, he actually earns a free, not plays for it.

That's fricking funny

Were you laughing while typing that post ?

 

[The Convert]

It is occuring in Sydney Footy too. One good North Shore player got at least 2 frees on the weekend by bending over to get ball then instantly turning towards his opponent whilst staying bent over thus earning the kick despite the opposition players both doing everything possible to avoid high contact by arm or body. A running person cannot just stop

 

[winty]

getting down to win the ball is one thing

deliberately lowering your head and intiating contact with a standing player to win a free is another. it is the same as diving IMO except with much more dangerous concequences.

stop trying to excuse an inexcusable act just because one of your own is notorious for it.

And which player would that be? Selwood?

If so, it's one of the biggest beat-ups I've ever seen in football. Unfortunately for Joel, the media have been sucked into the whole charade too. I've seen many instances that Joel is in the process of getting to his feet after winning a hard ball and getting tackled high in the process, and the commentators have said "Oh, he ducked into it."

I could understand the complaints if he went to ground clutching his face afterwards, like Milne did in the grand final after receiving a love tap to the stomach, but more often than not he continues to play on, often with the tackler still holding onto him.

I agree those who are on their feet, see an opponent in front of them and deliberately duck into the tackle, a la Judd and Blake in Round 5 this year, shouldn't be paid, but to suggest Selwood does the same thing is a crock IMO.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

If so, it's one of the biggest beat-ups I've ever seen in football. Unfortunately for Joel, the media have been sucked into the whole charade too. I've seen many instances that Joel is in the process of getting to his feet after winning a hard ball and getting tackled high in the process, and the commentators have said "Oh, he ducked into it."

Joel does it, so does Adam and even Scott is now guilty of it.

However Joel being a pre-eminent player has brought more attention to the tactic.

So where Adam used to get frees, and certainly Joel initially - poor old Scott hasn't had the benefit of a few freebies early in his career due to his brother's antics being showed up.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

see ball on ground in pack, crouch over and steam through the pack with head down, win free kick...

'oh, so courageous...'

Instead of Collingwood having a cry and sending off a DVD to the AFL maybe they could have kept it inhouse and shown it to their playing list* to demonstrate how to win their own hard ball

You never know, it might just help them get past a Preliminary Final one of these days

*Dale Thomas excepted.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Absolute CRAP!!!

Luke Hodge plays in the spirit of the game, not for frees. On most occasions, he actually earns a free, not plays for it.

Luke Hodge is a serial head ducker. Sorry, but it's true. Chance Bateman is a diver, and Buddy Franklin fakes contact and injury almost to the extent of the Italian soccer team.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

one certain geelong player has almost pioneered it.

stop trying to excuse an inexcusable act just because one of your own is notorious for it.

At least watch what he does. You must see Selwood get paid a free kick and just start yelling at the television, because he doesn't drop his head and run into blokes.

He picks up the football, gets tackled around the shoulders and raises his arm, which makes the tacklers arms slide up to his head. This is a tactic to escape a tackle, and it almost always works. The free kick being paid is incidental, but muppets love to whinge about it. The channel 7 commentary team have a lot to answer for.

So many thick people who just jump to conclusions. I've heard that he drops to his knees to get free kicks, and now he apparently runs head first into people. No wonder he keeps getting them, people don't even bother using their eyes.

 

[bunsen burner]

And which player would that be? Selwood?

If so, it's one of the biggest beat-ups I've ever seen in football. Unfortunately for Joel, the media have been sucked into the whole charade too.

Delusional much?

Both Joel and Adam Selwood do it all the time. They go for the ball but as soon as they sense they will get caught or can't get the ball they draw a free kick.

This needs to be cut out of the game. other offenders:

Ashton Hams from West Coast.
The Collingwood bloke who debuted last week. Straight off the bat he was bending the knees to draw high tackles.

 

[bunsen burner]

Geelong supporters: delusional.

Joel Selwood is the master of drawing a free kick. he goes in for the ball but as soon as he senses he can't win it or will get wrapped up he bends the knees and draws a free.

It's a disgrace and the umpires need to stamp it out. Free kicks need to take an AV out on the whole Selwood family.

 

[rgill]

Are there too many rules. I want to know why umps get a hard time over their decisions. If you have 3 minutes, fill in my survey:
http://opinio.online.swin.edu.au/s?s=AFL_Umpires_2010

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Geelong supporters: delusional.

Joel Selwood is the master of drawing a free kick. he goes in for the ball but as soon as he senses he can't win it or will get wrapped up he bends the knees and draws a free.

It's a disgrace and the umpires need to stamp it out. Free kicks need to take an AV out on the whole Selwood family.

Old mate bunsen, how are ya?

So does he bend the knees, or run headfirst into tackles?