aLadies and Gentlemen of PRE, I have shocking news regarding the farce.
I was approached this morning by a statistically minded person with a great interest in that side of the game. We had a chat about the game Thursday and some of the umpiring that was perhaps a little harsh on Carlton and I expressed that I felt many Richmond supporters would feel it was overdue to get the rub of the green.
He gave a little smile and said 'Really?' with an air of confidence and I then explained the free kick differential and the farce etc, naturally assuring him I don't support the notion.
Again with a little twinkle in his eye, he asked me how I thought umpires could influence a result if they were trying to cheat. Being of pure virtue when it comes to umpiring, I was unable to come up with a methodology that would work.
"Wouldn't it be as simple as paying free kicks to help a team score?," he asked. "After all, if you were to pay 5 free kicks to one team in the goal square and 25 to the other team in the backline, the team with 5 would go a long way towards winning". Undeniable logic which I had to agree with.
Finally, after luring me into the trap, he dropped the bomb. Over the last 20 seasons, which club leads the competition in scores from direct and indirect (a chain where a free is paid and the team maintain possession to score) free kicks?
You guessed it, Richmond.
Now without LTRTR
I have no way to verify this information but this person is of the same ilk when it comes to collating statistics and I have faith in their credibility.
It may well be that the farce is in fact, the greatest farce of all.