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The lopsided free-kick count and officiating in Collingwood’s narrow win over Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night copped a hammering from some of the game’s greats, with Matthew Lloyd declaring “it was just a landslide” for the Magpies.

Collingwood picked up 33 free kicks, compared to just 14 for the Bulldogs, who were playing as Footscray for the night to recognise the club’s 100-year milestone.

Two contrasting umpiring calls in the dying minutes, for insufficient intent, were the target of significant ire from footy fans. Bulldog Bailey Dale was penalised when the ball ricocheted off his leg in defence with less than five minutes to play, while Magpie Nick Daicos wasn’t penalised when he crossed the boundary line on the wing with footy-in-hand in the final minute.

AFL boss Andrew Dillon backed in the game’s officiators on Saturday, saying the game was overseen by an “experienced umpiring panel”.

But Bulldogs midfielder Ed Richards said the officiating was noticeable on the field.

“I’m always one to say put the whistle away, you don’t have to get yourself involved too much if you’re an umpire,” Richards told 3AW in the rooms afterwards.

“Hopefully I don’t get in trouble for saying that.”

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Richards also spoke about the treatment of giant Bulldogs forward Sam Darcy, declaring: “I still think he could get a few more free kicks, if any umpires are listening. Just because he’s seven feet [tall], [it] doesn’t mean he doesn’t get his arms chopped.”

Former Geelong great Jimmy Bartel joined ex-Essendon champion Lloyd in their strong condemnation of some of the decisions.

“[It was] a great contest, [but] terrible umpiring,” Bartel said on 3AW.

His co-commentator Lloyd said the match had “as bad as umpiring against a side probably that I have seen”.

“I don’t get caught up in umpiring too much but 33 to 14 Collingwood’s way … it was 6-5 early the Pies’ way and then it was just a landslide,” Lloyd said.

“They would be disappointed with that, the Western Bulldogs.”

Lloyd suggested that Collingwood, Carlton or Essendon fans would not have coped with such a one-sided free-kick count.

Dillon said he was aware of the free kick count and the adjudicating would be reviewed as normal by the league.

“I’ve seen the free kick count, the [umpiring department] will review that game, and we’ll get an assessment of that on Monday,” Dillon told 3AW.

“We ask a lot of our umpires, they do an incredible job. But we want to provide the facilities, and the opportunities and the training for them to be as good as they can be.”

Speaking in his press conference after the game, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge spoke about his frustration in the clear free kicks his side gave up.

“It is not a safe place for any senior coach to be talking about adjudication of the game,” he said.

“I was frustrated with some of the blatant ones that we gave away. In the end, I just treat it as swings and roundabouts. I knew about the differential at the end of the game, but we’ve got to move on.”