Most of us are posturing as to why the free kick counts are so skewed towards the E girls and some are skirting around the favoritism theory. But if you watch the umpires closely you'll see how they award free kicks! When they get a clear cut (in their mind) free kick, they run in and pay it to the egirls with great gusto, when really they are paid to be impartial.
Paying a free kick should always be a last resort as it interrupts the flow and integrity of the game and should really be paid with an aire of reticence and maybe even a consoling of the offending player so that they can get better and do better next time.
We live on planet earth and those that think favoritism, corruption and money do not play a part in our game are just in denial.
Even going back to the 2013 Grand final, Fremantle were a superior team at an unfamiliar field. We were quicker faster stronger. We typified the day by being first to the ball and hawthorn were found wanting but ran with great pace ariving late at the contest. On numerous occasions the hawks arrived late at pace and did damage to Dockers players but were not penalised. If we had been umpired in the spirit of fairness and objectivity we would have won that game.
As all Dockers KNOW IN THEIR HEARTS, to win a grand final Fremantle must be 25% better than the opposition to account for the natural bias of the umpiring. Just as the 1992 & 1994 Eagles teams had to.
I only have respect for Eagles teams prior to our arrival in 95.
With that said Jeff Dalgleish who paid 19 of 23 free kicks to the egirls in our home derby is umpiring this week.
Is it worth going to the game? Ambiguous question, I'll be there barracking for a fair go!
