No ‘free’ ride for 2022 Bombers

By Rohan Aldous

Jul 26, 2022

Under attack: In two games against Rochester this year the Bombers have given away 78 free kicks. On Saturday, against Seymour, ruckman Zac Norris (pictured under pressure from Nathan Marrone and Dan Russell) gave away a game-high five free kicks.

Kyabram’s free kick count from its round 14 Goulburn Valley League match with Seymour on Saturday may well be the straw to break the camel’s back.

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The Bombers have not won a single free kick count this season and could have been forgiven for thinking that may change against Seymour, which is the second worst offender in regard to giving free kicks away.

They would have been wrong doing so. Kyabram lost the free kick count 18-33, the count sitting at 11-21 at half time before 7-12 were paid in Seymour’s favour for the second half.

It is the second occasion this year that the umpiring has been in Seymour’s favour when it faced the Bombers. Seymour lost the round eight battle with Kyabram 89-34 on the scoreboard, but the Bombers lost the free kick count 16-31.

Before Saturday’s round of matches the Bombers had been on the wrong end of 391 umpiring decisions, an amazing 56 more than the second worst performing team in the 12 team competition — its round 14 opponent.

Seymour, however, has a far better comparative return from decisions in its favour. Its free kick for and against count stood at 325-335 before Saturday.

Courtesy of the Bombers match, it is now in the black on the free kick count.

Kyabram, prior to Saturday, had given away 391 free kicks and had just 275 go its way. That’s a difference of 116, extraordinary considering the next largest difference between free kicks for and against is 68 — ladder leader Echuca.

To further emphasise the unfortunate situation for the Bombers, seven GVL teams in the competition have received more free kicks than they have given away. Of the five in the red, two are within a range of 20 free kicks.

Only the Bombers, Echuca and Shepparton are heavily in the red. Shepparton Swans has the largest positive differential, having received 79 more free kicks than it has given away.

Prior to Saturday, Bombers ruckman Zac Norris was 15th in the league for giving free kicks away. He may shoot up the ranks after giving away five free kicks on Saturday.

Anthony De Pasquale, Kaine Herbert and Aidan Robinson all gave away three free kicks on Saturday, defender Jack Sheldon the major beneficiary of the umpire’s whistle with three free kicks for and none against.