Umpiring decisions have gone from a major source of frustration to a non-issue for Kyabram football officials as Bombers games in 2023 have required the least amount of decisions of any Goulburn Valley team this season.
On average, from its 14 games this season, there have been only 40 decisions made on a weekly basis.
Only Echuca, which averages a tick over 42 free kicks paid every week, comes close to the indifferent status of the Bombers as far as umpires in the GVL are concerned this year.
Some will suggest that is a much better scenario than the 2022 free kick figures which showed Kyabram had an average of 29.6 free kicks paid against it and only 21.5 paid in its favour.
That 50-plus free kick figure is only matched by one team this season, Mansfield.
The free kick against figure for Kyabram in 2022 was four more than the second worst club, Echuca, which shared Kyabram’s status as the team to earn the least free kick (also with 21).
In 2023, the Bombers give away (on average) eight less free kicks and receive almost three less free kicks on a weekly basis.
That is a scenario coach Paul Newman will no doubt grab with both hands.
Echuca earns just 20.8 free kicks, on average, every week this year and the Bombers are bottom with an average of 18.6.
In regard to its playing personnel, as you might expect given the overall team numbers, Kyabram players do not feature prominently in regard to free kicks for or against.
Toby Wooller is 20th on the list of free kicks for (the first Bomber mentioned on the Premier Data list), with 22 free kicks in his favour and 12 against.
Amazingly, Tom Holman is the next player on the list (87th overall) with 13 free kicks for and 17 against.
Holman is 43rd on the list for free kicks against, the second-ranked Bomber behind Tom Burnett (18)
Joe Atley’s reputation as the “iron-man’’ of Goulburn Valley football appears to have gained more than just the attention of opposition mid-fielders who he regularly butts heads with at stoppages and loose ball contests.
Even the men in green appear to have recognised the extraordinary presence he has had in just about all of his 13 games with the Tigers this season.
Atley has earned 39 free kicks this season (the most in the league) and has had 32 paid against him (equal third).
It is a big turnaround in fortunes for Atley.
Last year, in his four games with the Tigers while free from his Essendon VFL commitments, he earned just seven free kicks and gave 18 away.
Atley is one of only two players to feature in both the top 10 lists of free kicks for and against, the other being Tatura star Ethan Penrith (involved in 65 decisions by the umpires, 21 of those in his favour.
Rochester’s 13 games this season have averaged 48.1 free kicks (24 in their favour and 24.1 against), third behind Mansfield (50.8) and Shepparton Swans (49.2).
The Tigers almost 50-50 split is the closest of any team in the competition, the GVL Eagles giving away three more free kicks than they receive and the Swans having almost five more paid it their favour than they give away.
Atley has six more free kicks than Benalla ruckman Josh Marchbank and Shepparton coach Xavier Stevenson is equal third (on 32 free kicks) with another on baller — Mansfield’s Harry Mahoney.
Shepparton United mid-fielder Sheldon Bogdan has backed up his status as the most penalised player in the competition.
Last year he gave away 55 free kicks in 16 games (receiving 24 in return) and was seven ahead of Echuca’s Jack Mchale.
Shepparton Swans livewire Zac Banch was the player to receive the most free kicks last year, by some margin.
In nine games this season Banch has earned 20 free kicks and had 10 paid against him.
He was on the end of 63 favourable decisions last season (in just 17 games), 16 ahead of Euroa ruckman Andrew Smith and with Mansfield forward Ben Christopher third.
Shepparton Swans (27) and Shepparton Bears (25.9) have had the most decisions paid in their favour.
Interestingly five of the top six GVL teams — in regard to free kicks — will not be involved in finals this season.
Only sixth-ranked Mansfield, which earns 23.9 free kicks on a weekly basis, is among the top half-dozen teams to earn favourable decisions from the umpires this season.
The Swans, Bears and Tigers are on the dais in regard to whistles in their favour, while bottom team Benalla and Tatura (ninth) are ranked fifth and sixth — behind the fourth-ranked Eagles.
There is an amazing nine free kick gap between the umpire’s “favourites’’, Shepparton Swans (27), and the bad boys of the competition — Kyabram (18).
Mansfield’s 50-plus (on average) weekly whistle blows see them cop 26.9 free kicks against, almost three more than second-ranked Rochester (24.1).
Shepparton United (24), Seymour (23.2) and Euroa are the other top teams in the unwanted statistical category.
The teams who have the least amount of decisions made against them this season have been bottom team Benalla and Shepparton Bears.
The Bears have the biggest positive free kick differential, receiving four more free kicks then they give away on a weekly basis (giving only 21.8 away on a weekly basis).
Benalla, which receives 23.5 free kicks (fifth), gives away the least amount of free kicks in the competition (19.6).
