We have had some movement at the top of the 2023 Free Kick Ladder since we last visited it in Round 4.
Always a point of contention, the free kick rankings show which clubs are on the right side of the umpire’s calls and who cops the brunt of the officiating.
After Round 8, we have a new top two, although the top five is made up of the same clubs as our earlier edition.
At the bottom, the same club remains rooted to the foot, while there are three new entries in the bottom five.
Best/worst differentials
The Brisbane Lions have jumped into top position with a differential of +27 where they sit above Fremantle on +25.
Collingwood has slipped from first to third on +19, with Melbourne at +17 and Carlton on +16 making up the top five.
Down the other end, Port Adelaide comfortably owns the worst differential of -48, some 22 clear of second bottom Hawthorn on -26.
North Melbourne is third bottom on -19, with GWS -12 and Geelong -11 the remaining teams in the bottom five.
Most/least frees for
The Adelaide Crows have won the most free kicks (170), slightly ahead of the Dockers (169), with the Demons and Magpies locked together (167) and the Blues (164) comprising the top five.
The Giants are at the other end of the scale with just 117 frees for (at an average of 14.6). They are at the foot below the Hawks who have won 130 frees, with Essendon (131), the Western Bulldogs (144) and Gold Coast (146) next.
Most/least frees against
The Power have the worst differential overall due to their worst infringement record. They have given away a massive 200 free kicks (at an average of 25).
Their neighbours the Crows have infringed on 172 occasions, the second worst in the league, with the Kangaroos (169), the Cats (162) and Swans (160) next.
The least frees against currently sits with the Bombers on 126. The Giants have infringed 129 times, while the Suns (133), the Lions (136) and St Kilda (142) have given up the least.
Interesting note
The Suns are yet to lose a free kick count in 2023.
They have been ahead of the ledger on six occasions this season and even with their opponent twice.
However, in five of those six wins, they have received no more than two free kicks than their opponents in those games.
The Round 8 Free Kick Ladder
