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

[TigerHunter]

Because he puts his body on the line every time

No one is saying he doesnt He does his fair share of over acting as well.

The whole premise of protected species is just so unappealing for our game. The most skilled players shouldnt be treated better than the average afl player who gives his all.

 

[Some Idiot]

The player who just gets the world from the umpires......You only have to breathe on them and they get a free.

Post your Top 3:

1. Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs)

2. Gary Ablett Junior (Geelong)

3. Nick Riewoldt (St.Kilda)

Dogs V Cats prelim final Rooke bulldozed Johnson and got away with

 

[Soul_Pie]

As much as I like Selwood as a player he gets an incredible run with the umpires. He does everything in his power to draw a free kick and the umpires fall for it every time, whether it be dropping the knees, ducking the head, falling forward in a tackle...

 

[lions_den]

Goodes

[/thread]

 

[fishguts]

Can someone explain to me how Lloyd is a protected specie when he averages more frees against then for?

 

[windyhill]

The player who just gets the world from the umpires......You only have to breathe on them and they get a free.

Post your Top 3:

1. Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs)

2. Gary Ablett Junior (Geelong)

3. Nick Riewoldt (St.Kilda)

Pretty much covered it for me Kooley. (Hird used to be No.1 btw)

 

[bluespooner]

Can someone explain to me how Lloyd is a protected specie when he averages more frees against then for?

When his ratio is 3 to 1 against like it is for Franklin you can take Lloyd of the protected species list.

Never known a side to get as pulverised by the umpires as Hawthorn. Absolutely, flogged Geelong in the GF, yet the umpires decided to keep the cats in the contest.

 

[Some Idiot]

Lloyd kind of was but mostly he was just a good actor, times have changed though

 

[QuietB]

Angus Monfries is a monty in this - last year, 50 frees for, 11 against. That is almost 5-1.

Others that are loved; Joel Selwood 63-21. Ablett 44-19. Judd 45-23.

Those that are lacking a little love from the men in white; Buddy 27-74! Goddard/O'Bree/Barry all 15-37. Brad Ottens 13-34 is not that flash also - especially for a cat.

 

[CrowMania1990]

Not suprising Ablett or Judd get alot of free kicks, at skilled stadium as soon as ablett's even touched the crowd scream murder and the umpires give away a free.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

It is difficult.

Sometimes I think giving heavily tagged midfielders the benefit of the doubt can be beneficial.

It is difficult to assess with stats because it is both subjective (how to interpret them and the and actually assessing when frees are deserved) and reliant on watching actual games.

For instance frees earnt vs frees not deserved.

Some stats for perusal, I included Frees For, Frees Against, Tackles, Contested Possessions and Contested Marks.

Determining their validity is completely upto the person interpreting them I guess, though I certainly wouldn't include Matthew Lloyd in the "most protected players" list anymore.

Personally I would nominate (due to combined viewing games+comparing stats): Gary Ablett, Chris Judd and Angus Monfries.

Maybe Luke Ball....but I don't really think so.

No doubt I am completely off.

 

[windyhill]

Lloyd kind of was but mostly he was just a good actor, times have changed though

Lloyd has averaged 1 free kick a game for his career. Marvellous acting that.

 

[Bone Crusher]

Can someone explain to me how Lloyd is a protected specie when he averages more frees against then for?

It's because he stages for frees and gets them. Get anywhere near his back, and his knees collapse in an attempt to draw a push in the back. Quite often, it works.

The number of free kicks he gives away is irrelevant.

 

[Il Naso De Gastev]

and how many times does he duck his head into a tackle a game?

Erm, none.

He puts his head over the footy and, if anything, sometimes buckles at the knees earning high tackle free kicks. Big difference between dropping at the knees than ducking your head.

 

[Audacious]

Goodes

 

[Dyerhard]

As much as I like Selwood as a player he gets an incredible run with the umpires. He does everything in his power to draw a free kick and the umpires fall for it every time, whether it be dropping the knees, ducking the head, falling forward in a tackle...

Selwood and Ablett are the greatest actors in the league. Bomber must coach it into them. Ablett taught Selwood all his tricks and the umps buy it every time.

 

[Some Idiot]

Lloyd has averaged 1 free kick a game for his career. Marvellous acting that.

Times have changed I rarely see him get free kicks these days even if he deserves it but I remember when he was kicking 90-100 goals per year he was getting 2 or 3 goals per game just from free kicks

 

[Hodgepodge]

Ablett, Stokes, Chapman. The Geelong forwards must practice diving, they have it down to a fine art.

 

[year of the cat]

Key forwards.

 

[Ruddeger07]

Ablett, Stokes, Chapman. The Geelong forwards must practice diving, they have it down to a fine art.

How about your players that get protected ?
You know the ones Dylan Howard named for their off field habits but they can't be re-named due to court action.

 

[Burzum]

Times have changed I rarely see him get free kicks these days even if he deserves it but I remember when he was kicking 90-100 goals per year he was getting 2 or 3 goals per game just from free kicks

That's funny since he only averaged 1 free kick for a game in the years he kicked 90+.

 

[damochandler]

adam goodes easily. when you get charged with charging a player twice in the same year. you should get more than a reprimand on ocasions. ablett isnt protected and all you have to do is look at the carr incident last year. the afl didnt protect him there did they

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Did anyone actually read the OP?

The player who just gets the world from the umpires......You only have to breathe on them and they get a free.

Goodes is reported all the time by the umpires, it's the tribunal or MRP who let him off. I guess I shouldn't expect a reading level any higher than grade 2 on this forum.

 

[windyhill]

Times have changed I rarely see him get free kicks these days even if he deserves it but I remember when he was kicking 90-100 goals per year he was getting 2 or 3 goals per game just from free kicks

If this was any way true, Lockett`s record would have been passed 4 seasons ago

 

[ChuckNorris]

Selwood and Ablett are the greatest actors in the league. Bomber must coach it into them. Ablett taught Selwood all his tricks and the umps buy it every time.

Stupid comment.

They are hard at the ball as simple as that. The classic coaching cliche is 'put your head over the ball and the umpires will look after you'.

Reading through most of this thread, it seems the best players in the comp get the most frees. Not all of them are there of course, but most of them are paid because they are first to the ball. Some players certainly exploit these rules by diving and staging, which makes it a skill in itself to some degree.

Now in the last couple of years, the umpires are told more so than ever to protect the head as much as the players are told this as well. Perhaps this is why we are seeing the blokes like Joel Selwood, who throws himself in and under packs, getting paid a lot of frees.

They are not actors as you put it in your well thought out argument, just twice as hard at the ball as your only hard nut (whoever that is).