The who is the most protected player in the competition thread?

[bluespooner]

I find it a bit sad seeing Gary Ablett Jr playing for free kicks when his old man was such a tough and hard player.

A good player but lets himself down by staging.

 

[Papa Juggs]

It's Joel Selwood by a long long way.

I've never seen a player rack up the 5 free kick games like he does.

Luke Ball is a close 2nd but not all the umpires love him like Joel.

 

[Waspy79]

1st - Gary Ablett
equal 2nd - Lindsay Thomas, Matt Campbell, Brent Harvey
3rd - Shaun Burgoyne

I guess all of his unjust suspensions are evidence in your favour?
Shaun Burgoyne protected - you are taking the piss.

 

[tazhawk]

Judd, Ablett, Harvey, Goodes.

 

[ripitup27]

I think it's just a matter of most supporters not understanding the rules.

In the cases of Ablett and Harvey, how many times do you see them get caught with the ball, manage to get a little handball out, yet opposition fans scream 'BALL' like they'd actually been caught with it?

And how many times do these players also get tagged ridiculously tight and get free kicks because, yes, they are being held on to?

It's not a matter of these players being protected, it's a matter of them being so good that opposition players have to break the rules to stop them and more often than not get caught doing it.

 

[vinum coupe]

I'm going to post here then have a look at the thread.
My bet is the OP and hawks supoporters will be jumping on GAJ. In fact my guess is that the OP is a hawk man.

I'm scared to look, but off I go

 

[vinum coupe]

Hmmm, not much hawks sledging

For mine it is Ablett.
I liken him to Shane Warne.
Warney was easily the most looked after bowler in history. In that, he actually talked to the umpires. Asked them 'why wasn't that LBW' told them the types of ball he was trying to put down, and pretty much made them award a wicket when he got the delivery right. Smart

And I think Ablett and Geelong have just been smart in getting the umpires to notice any improper blocking etc by the opposition.
I don't subscribe to the thought that he gets away with more than anyone else.

 

[Bombers_Forever]

1.Goodes
2.Harvey
3.Ablett

They know they can get away with it too so why wouldn't you milk it?

 

[Hoops]

15.2.3 Holding the Football — Prior Opportunity/No Prior Opportunity
Where the field Umpire is satisfied that a Player in possession of
the football:
(a) has had a prior opportunity to dispose of the football, the
field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against that Player if
the Player does not Kick or Handball the football immediately
when he or she is Correctly Tackled; or
(b) has not had a prior opportunity to dispose of the football, the
field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against that Player if,
upon being Correctly Tackled, the Player does not Correctly
Dispose or attempt to Correctly Dispose of the football after
being given a reasonable opportunity to do so.

Thanks Quinz I think the football public has to learn this rule