It's excellent fodder for talkback radio, panel shows, and social media comment sections.
Free kick chatter dominates water cooler conversations in offices everywhere in a sports-mad nation such as this one.
But what do the numbers say? Who is getting favourable treatment, and who might look to tighten up their tackling technique?
(Data retrieved from AFL Tables)
Home
Despite patchy form, the St Kilda Saints have not lost a free kick count in a home game this season, going a perfect 5-0 in that metric.
Cumulatively, they have had 110 frees awarded, while conceding 81 in their five home matches, for a percentage of 135 per cent. They have won just two of these five home games, despite a league-best return for frees in these contests.
Three teams hover around the 117 per cent mark - Collingwood, Sydney, and Richmond. The Swans have been awarded 147 free kicks on their home turf this season - the most in the league - with Geelong (113%) closely following on 146 free kicks awarded in home contests. The boutique stadiums called home by these clubs, in the SCG and Kardinia Park, clearly present an advantage, statistically.
The two expansion clubs, in the Gold Coast and GWS are last and second-last respectively for free kick percentage on their home decks. The Suns have conceded 27 more free kicks, and the Giants 22 more than their opponents, in home fixtures.
Home Free Kick Percentage Ladder
- St Kilda
- Collingwood
- Sydney
- Richmond
- Western Bulldogs
- Geelong
- Brisbane Lions
- Fremantle
- Adelaide
- West Coast
- Essendon
- Melbourne
- Hawthorn
- Port Adelaide
- North Melbourne
- Carlton
- Greater Western Sydney
- Gold Coast
