Bone’s beef: Why did Adelaide Crows coach Don Pyke let Brisbane star Lachie Neale off the leash?
Lachie Neale has been in Brownlow Medal form since arriving at Brisbane. So why didn’t Adelaide Crows tag him before he led the Lions to a one-point win? Blog live with Bone at 12.30pm today
Chris McDermott
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Lachie Neale gets 39 touches and is hailed a hero as Brisbane defeat the Crows by one point.
That performance is a three-vote certainty come Brownlow Medal night.
Matt de Boer holds Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps to just 12 disposals in the Giants’ 93-point massacre and hardly rates a mention.
He may not even get invited to the Brownlow count.
BLOG LIVE WITH BONE AT THE TISER SPORT FACEBOOK PAGE AT 12.30pm
Whether you’re a fan or not it is impossible to argue their impact in moments like these.
When one player can have such a significant impact on a game of football, like a Neale or a Cripps, it is always best to have a tagging option or pay the price, like the Crows did.
They cannot escape criticism. They have to this day.
Neale’s numbers cannot be denied.
They were obvious to all leading up to the game and they are even more obvious in the aftermath.
How could Crows coach Don Pyke have ignored it?
No Neale. No Brisbane win.
Restrict his 39 possessions to 20 and the result would have been different.
His numbers say it all: 39 possessions at an unprecedented 84 per cent efficiency. Unheard of for a midfielder; 22 contested possessions but significantly another 16 uncontested; 12 clearances; and four inside 50s and a goal assist.
That’s a very good day from the lad from Kybybolite.
Where was the hard tag?
Why wasn’t Riley Knight given the role?
This was a significant game in the Crows season against a fellow top-eight contender and they blew it.
The coaching staff must accept its share of the blame.
They either failed to recognise an area of vulnerability in this game or failed to give appropriate instructions to the players concerned.
The lesson must be learned and if they are serious about playing finals in 2019 the use of a tagger must be discussed. Vigorously!
He will be a key player in the next four weeks.
Get it wrong and the Crows’ finals dreams will be over.
Elliot Yeo and the West Coast Eagles.
Clayton Oliver and Melbourne.
Lachie Whitfield and GWS.
Dustin Martin and the Tigers.
They must be stopped.
There is no margin for error.
Second chances rarely pay off for AFL coaches
History suggests strongly that if you miss out on a premiership at your first try as a coach, you should not get another chance — unless you’re Mick Malthouse or Malcolm Blight, writes Chris McDermott.
When two tribes go to war
It was the game that stopped a state — the first Showdown between the Crows and Power on April 20, 1997. Chris McDermott shares his memories for Part 1 of The Greatest Showdowns series.