Tonight is symptomatic of a long-term problem going on. We receive an average of 16.7 free kicks a match, the 2nd lowest in the league behind Carlton. We concede 21, the third highest behind Footscray and Port. That's a difference of 4.3 a match, the highest by some way in the league and interestingly inverse to the Eagles.
Tonight was 22-14, a baffling stat considering we laid 34 more tackles. The third quarter was the only one where we received more free kicks and I jokingly said to my family 'The umpires will soon rectify this mistake.' I was right.
Two bafflingly different interpretations of holding the ball. Chopping the arms could not have been more inconsistent if it was left to a coin toss. Non-controlling umpires finding frees only for West Coast.
The game started well, the umpires put the whistle away and it was good. Then they decided to influence the match and influence they did. Tonight is a prime example of either incompetence or corruption and it's been going on all season which makes me lean towards the latter. Gieschen will inevitably come out and defend these muppets, once again bringing into question why this numpty with no umpiring experience is in charge of the bunch of rank amateurs umpiring our game. And they are amateurs, this is a part-time job and they certainly seem to be treating it as such. No wonder Shaun Ryan (a rare example of competence) quit for his day job.
Pay peanuts, get monkeys and this year the monkeys hate the Saints.