Here we go again.
We have checked in on the all-important free kick ladder following Round 8.
Four weeks after the first edition of 2021, there have been some interesting moves.
Having sat second on differential, the Western Bulldogs have slid up to top spot with a +22 result, replacing Adelaide who have dropped one rung.
The big mover is Geelong who sat equal bottom with -27 after Round 4 but has rocketed into the positive and now occupy ninth position.
Remaining at the bottom with a huge -50 differential is perennial offenders Richmond who have attracted the least free kicks for (129) and given away the second most (179). They’ve been on the negative side of the free kick ledger in six of their eight games.
Brisbane sit second bottom overall at -40 after giving away the most frees (188).
Check out the frees for, against and differential ladder below.
| Position | Club | Frees For | Frees Against | Differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | W.Bulldogs | 156 | 134 | 22 |
| 2 | Adelaide | 183 | 163 | 20 |
| 3 | GWS | 168 | 152 | 16 |
| 4 | Carlton | 175 | 159 | 16 |
| 5 | Melbourne | 160 | 145 | 15 |
| 6 | Essendon | 170 | 155 | 15 |
| 7 | Sydney | 169 | 157 | 12 |
| 8 | North Melbourne | 172 | 162 | 10 |
| 9 | Geelong | 169 | 163 | 6 |
| 10 | Gold Coast | 142 | 137 | 5 |
| 11 | West Coast | 145 | 142 | 3 |
| 12 | Collingwood | 157 | 160 | -3 |
| 13 | Port Adelaide | 158 | 163 | -5 |
| 14 | St Kilda | 139 | 148 | -9 |
| 15 | Fremantle | 138 | 154 | -16 |
| 16 | Hawthorn | 145 | 162 | -17 |
| 17 | Brisbane | 148 | 188 | -40 |
| 18 | Richmond | 129 | 179 | -50 |
Again on the agenda are the individuals, specifically which players attract the most free kicks.
Cats captain Joel Selwood is clearly in front with 25 frees for, and a positive differential of +14 having given 11 away.
He is five ahead of Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps (20) with Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy (19) and Giants star Toby Greene (18) making up the top four.
Then there are a handful of players locked on 16.
| Player | Club | Frees For |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Selwood | GEE | 25 |
| Patrick Cripps | CAR | 20 |
| Brodie Grundy | COL | 19 |
| Toby Greene | GWS | 18 |
| Zach Merrett | ESS | 16 |
| Peter Wright | ESS | 16 |
| Jack Macrae | WB | 16 |
| Todd Goldstein | NM | 16 |
| Oscar McInerney | BRI | 16 |
| Clayton Oliver | MEL | 15 |
| Kayne Turner | NM | 15 |
Magpies big man Grundy has edged ahead on the standings of the players who give the most free kicks away.
He is up to 21 against, marginally more than Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe and Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko (both 20).
Zorko’s Lions teammate Zac Bailey has offended 19 times, with Cripps (18) and Richmond’s Marlion Pickett (17) next on the list.
Of the players in the top 10 for frees against, Magpies veteran Steele Sidebottom has received the least with just four.
| Player | Club | Frees Against |
|---|---|---|
| Brodie Grundy | COL | 21 |
| Nat Fyfe | FRE | 20 |
| Dayne Zorko | BRI | 20 |
| Zac Bailey | BRI | 19 |
| Patrick Cripps | CAR | 18 |
| Marlion Pickett | RIC | 17 |
| Sean Darcy | FRE | 16 |
| Tom Atkins | GEE | 16 |
| Jake Aarts | RIC | 16 |
| Joe Daniher | BRI | 16 |
| Steele Sidebottom | COL | 16 |