Crackers Call: Eagles lead the way in staging

One of the biggest art forms in football is staging for a free kick.

It's spreading like wildfire and the West Coast Eagles, who are top of the table, are some of the best duckers you've ever seen.

The
leader of the pack is none other than Ashton Hams, the little fella
that runs to players so he can get caught and get a free kick.

The Selwood boys Scott and Adam seem to have been taking tips from their brother Joel at Geelong as well.

Drawing
a free kick is a real art form and now that there's so much tackling in
football, drawing a free and getting a clearance is something people
have to look at.

Umpires have got to be aware when a bloke is milking the system.

They will soon stop it if they don't get a free kick.

The
football is hard to earn at the best of times but getting the ball in
your hand from a dubious free kick makes it all worthwhile.

Umpires should be vigilant for this very ordinary habit that's creeping into league footy.

I live in Essendon, I see them get their lawn mowers out every time they win a game of footy.

The inhabitants are very proud of their football team.

There are some people in the media already talking them up for the top four and double chance.

They've
been quite good, granted that, especially as they've struggled through
soft-tissue injuries and still found a way to win.

But before
anyone gets carried away about the magnificent job James Hird and Mark
Thompson are doing with this team Matty Knights couldn't do anything
with, let's wait until mid-season.

Essendon will probably make the eight but talking them up for the top four, I'm not convinced.

The league would love to see it because the cash registers would be ticking over.

The
Bombers have improved but before we all start congratulating them let's
wait for a few more weeks and see how they're placed at the halfway
mark.