The abnormally large amount of free kick paid in Round 10 has sparked debate from the football community amid a crackdown on umpire dissent.
Hawthorn’s five-point win over Brisbane in Launceston saw a total of 63 free kicks paid — the most in an AFL match since 2012 and fourth-most overall since 2000.
It included several contentious decisions paid, with Lachie Neale penalised for some light pushing and shoving, while Tom Mitchell was pinged for a mild push on Tom Fullarton in the fourth quarter that led to a crucial goal.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s First Crack, North Melbourne legend David King declared “we’ve lost our way with umpiring at the moment.”
Although not specifically having a go at the umpires themselves, King also called out the league’s top…
