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)
Away
The Cats again are viewed favourably by the umpires in away fixtures.
Prior to Friday night's loss to the Blues at the MCG, Geelong had a percentage of 131 per cent in the free kick stakes, but after losing the free kick count 22-19 against the Blues, it's come down to 120 per cent. Worry not, Cats fans, that's still, rather comfortably, the best return for an away side this season.
The Saints are next best, with 111 per cent. The other sides the right side of the away-fixture ledger are, in descending order, North Melbourne, Melbourne, Sydney, Hawthorn, Essendon and Richmond.
Four interstate sides populate the bottom four rungs of this metric; West Coast, Adelaide, Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney. Fremantle's imperious form looks even more impressive when cast under that shadow.
Victorian powerhouse Collingwood do not get the rub of the green in away fixtures - their away free kick percentage of 93 per cent is fifth-worst in the league, and the worst return for a Victorian club.
Away Free Kick Percentage Ladder
- Geelong
- St Kilda
- North Melbourne
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Essendon
- Hawthorn
- Richmond
- Gold Coast
- Carlton
- Brisbane Lions
- Western Bulldogs
- Port Adelaide
- Collingwood
- West Coast
- Adelaide
- Fremantle
- Greater Western Sydney
