The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from Round 18 of the 2020 AFL season
Whatever you think of John Worsfold, Essendon fans should be thankful for the departing coach’s efforts in putting the pieces of a broken club — having just suffered through one of the worst scandals in AFL history — back together.
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Has Ben Rutten already made his first mistake as Essendon coach?
Have we detected some hypocrisy in the footy media?
And what about the unabashed joy of the Hawks when retiring captain Ben Stratton booted a goal late in his swan song?
Mark Robinson runs his eye over Round 18 and gives all his likes and dislikes as we head into the pre-finals bye
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DISLIKES
1. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE
Essendon coach Ben Rutten has given Joe Daniher permission to go away and think about his future and then inform the club of his decision. In the same interview with the Herald Sun, he spoke of the various levels of ruthlessness he wants to inject into Essendon. He should be ruthless with Daniher. Tell him he wants an answer by midday Tuesday. Tell him he only wants players fully committed to the Bombers. Tell him to stop mucking around the club. Tell him the days of cuddling players and bowing to their indecision are over. Tell him to sign on or move on. And because Daniher hasn’t already committed to next season, the likelihood is he’s leaving, anyhow. So, end this drama Joe. Tell the club what you’re doing.
2. COME ON, UMPIRE
That can’t be right, surely? With the score 68-57 and with a handful of minutes to play, Tom Hawkins was penalised for an infringement in a marking contest. The umpire was heard to say Hawkins jumped “too early”. How does that work? Moments before the ball arrived, Hawkins jumped, his opponent Tom McCartin was in front and turned to front Hawkins and was collected in the head by Hawkins’ knee. No studs up, McCartin misjudged the kick, Hawkins marked it and the umpire penalised Hawkins. Thankfully it wasn’t a game decider. That said, Hawkins received a free kick in the third quarter for in the back, which was a momentum swinger and another case of a player falling without being pushed.
3. HYPOCRISY
Last Wednesday night on Footy Classified, journalist Caroline Wilson got all giddy when looking at Richmond captain Trent Cotchin in his Speedos. Nothing too outrageous, just schoolgirl playfulness about a buff boy in his togs. She was particularly enthused about Cotchin’s Speedos. Can’t imagine the female electorate being so playful in its response if male media types passed similar comments about an AFLW player coming out of the ocean in a skimpy bikini. It was all said in fun, but there would be hell to pay if Eddie McGuire made the same comment about an AFLW player.
4. HUGH MCCLUGGAGE
Would be walk up All-Australian if he could kick goals. He could still be selected in the team on Thursday night if selectors finally recognise wingmen and not dispatch midfielders to the two wing spots. McCluggage is a worthy young player, but not sure he earns an AA jacket this year. He’s had 32 shots at goal this season — which is the third most behind Charlie Cameron and Eric Hipwood — and has kicked 7.20. Can you be an All-Australian with those numbers? Think not. Overall, McCluggage’s kicking efficiency is a career-low 57 when the league average is 64. He does almost everything right, but his goalkicking might see him overlooked for Geelong’s Sam Menegola and West Coast’s Andrew Gaff. Of course, that’s if the selectors start respecting one of the most important positions on the ground.
5. TIME HAS COME FOR SAM PETREVSKI-SETON
He was taken at pick No. 6 in the 2016 draft behind McCluggage at No. 3 and he has an enormous summer ahead of him in preparation for 2021, especially now that Kade Simpson has retired. Petrevski-Seton must become that Simpson-like creator and runner at halfback. He is a season and half into his role at halfback. In 2019, he spent the last seven matches in defence and has spent 98 per cent of game time in defence across 2020. He has talent, but he has to do more. This year he is above average for intercept possessions, but average for disposals and below average for metres gained. That has to change. At the weekend in a rugged contest he recorded 111 ranking points, 17 disposals and 276m gained, which was further indication he has the capabilities.
6. WHERE DO YOU START WITH THE GIANTS?
It was such a perplexing season that all the experts told us what went wrong but not how to fix it. Giants coach Leon Cameron was seemingly in the same boat. Connection, game plan, individual form … you name it and it’s been thoroughly dissected. There’s a couple of priorities. They need a ruckman, so they should speak to Melbourne’s Braydon Preuss. Do the trade if he’s keen. The other priority is in the forward half. The Giants this season ranked 17th for time in forward half differential (-6m40s), 15th for forward half intercept possessions (17.5), 15th for inside 50 differential (-5.1) and 12th for points generated from a forward half chain (31.1). It’s one of their major problems, if not the biggest problem.
7. BOY WILL BE BOYS
Fancy playing handsies, Jayden Hunt and Christian Petracca, after the national uproar over the incident with Richmond’s Mabior Chol. But there shouldn’t be an uproar this time because it was harmless fun. While Chol didn’t like the attention, Hunt and Petracca seemingly invited the advances. It comes under the “it’s not a good look’’ category, but it hardly deserves raging headlines of condemnation. The AFL described the behaviour towards Chol as “inappropriate, unacceptable and juvenile’’. The weekend’s incident was only juvenile.
8. CAN WE HAVE A MEMO PLEASE AFL?
The diving and staging is embarrassing to watch. Every second tackle from behind results in the player being tackled throwing himself forward with arms outstretched like he’s Superman. Plenty of players are doing it and it’s unbecoming and, worse, the umpires are sometimes sucked in. Former player Brendon Goddard highlighted Richmond’s Dylan Grimes on Saturday on ABC Grandstand: “He’s a serial stager that hasn’t changed … I think it’s getting to the point where it’s going to tarnish his career,’’ Goddard said. Grimes is not alone.
LIKES
1. DOGS WIN, BUT PAY PRICE
They did it the Bulldogs way — a winning field, won the territory, their pressure was 201 in the second half and, impressively, their ball use was at 81 per cent efficiency, which was their best of the season — and the third best by any team this year. Their better players are in form, but their better forwards are in doubt. Aaron Naughton has a facial injury and was in hospital by the end of the third quarter. Mitch Wallis suffered a shoulder injury and ended the game in pain on the bench. Wallis has kicked the most goals for the Dogs this year with 24. Naughton is next with 14. If they don’t get up, coach Luke Beveridge will need to conjure something. He wouldn’t go back to Josh Schache... would he?
2. PATTY WHACKS THE SWANS
In the last 31 minutes on Sunday night, Patrick Dangerfield — at full-forward — had seven disposals, kicked 3.2 and wracked up a whopping 104 ranking points. He ensured the Cats won a top-four berth. In just two seconds near the final siren, Mark Blicavs smothered a James Rowbotham shot at goal, won the ball and, in doing so, earned 18 ranking points. He potentially saved the Cats from losing a top-four spot. Both players were enormous when it was required, Dangerfield especially, and he remains the key to Geelong’s aspirations.
3. PARTY-TIME FOOTBALL
Cast your mind back to Round 4 when Hawthorn and North Melbourne played the worst football of the season and compare it to Hawthorn’s rout of Gold Coast. Not even Gary Ablett Snr and God could make sense of the comparison. Maybe the message was to enjoy yourself, and if so, why can’t the Hawks and all teams play “enjoy yourself’’ football every week? What a joy to watch and what a joy it was to see Ben Stratton kick a goal in the final quarter and the entire Hawthorn family embrace it. Paul Puopolo also had a final game to remember. Well played to Stratton and Poppy and well played Alastair Clarkson for orchestrating a sensational farewell.
4. I’D LIKE TO SEE MELBOURNE’S VERSION OF RUTHLESS
Will Melbourne walk the talk? After the loss to Fremantle in Round 16, coach Simon Goodwin spoke of the need to get ruthless. “We need to start becoming more mature as a club and more unconditional in the way we go about our business,” Goodwin said. If the Demons are as strong as their words, the career of Harley Bennell is in jeopardy. The talented forward seems to live in the last-chance saloon, and this might be his last-chance mistake. If it’s over, Bennell can blame no one but himself.
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5. ROWAN MARSHALL
St Kilda’s weapon is their Mozz Squad, their mob of midfielders and small forwards and defenders. Then there’s Rowan Marshall. He looms as the dangerous key forward in the finals and his contribution might just determine how far the Saints go. His combo with Paddy Ryder this year has been a success. In 2019, Marshall spent 97 per cent of game time as a ruckmen and three per cent as a forward. This year, the breakdown is 59-41 and he is averaging 110 ranking points, 18 disposals and five score involvements. Arguably, he is St Kilda’s most important player going into the first final because he’s a real threat to rip a game apart. He also takes the pressure off Max King. Spending more time forward hasn’t had any impact on his output.
6. TITCH HAS GOT THE ITCH
Staggeringly good return for Richmond’s Shane Edwards. Actually, beyond comprehension. He last played three months ago against Melbourne in Round 5 and was thrust straight into the midfield in his return game against Adelaide. No easing him back into the team from coach Damien Hardwick, either. He attended the fourth-most centre bounces (11), behind Dustin Martin (16), Trent Cotchin 15 and Jack Ross (12) and didn’t skip a beat. He had 18 disposals and eight clearances, many of them having him glide away from the stoppage. Edwards with the ball in hand and on the gallop is a wonderful sight. Still, he’s not the first choice for Jack Riewoldt on the lead. He told 3AW he likes to lead to Jack Graham
7. CALLUM AH CHEE
Brisbane is turning some of Gold Coast’s unwanted players into treasured players, firstly with Jarryd Lyons and now with Ah Chee. He’s become a kind of swingman for Brisbane, a defender who can play forward, but it’s in defence where Ah Chee is planting his flag. Against the Blues he took eight intercept marks which was the equal most recorded by any player this season with Nick Haynes (Round 15) and Jeremy McGovern (Round 13). This year he has spent 75 per cent of game time in defence, 23 per cent as a forward and two per cent on the wing. The Lyons trade was one of the most curious in recent years because he’s become a crucial player for the Lions. Ah Chee’s deployment to Brisbane is also shaping to be another huge win.
8. KADE SIMPSON
Such is his team-first attitude, he refused to be chaired off the ground on Saturday night, choosing to share the moment with the retired Matty Kreuzer. His goal in the wet in the final quarter, and the resultant pile-on from his teammates was a glorious moment at the end of a stellar career. Plenty has been said in his week of retirement and perhaps former teammate Chris Judd described him best. “I reckon from the time I was at the club, just so often when the game was close it was ‘Simmo’ who was committing to some incredibly courageous act or just doing something that almost seemed impossible and just consistently getting it done time and time again,” Judd said. It is the highest of compliments.
9. JOHN WORSFOLD
Classy send off for John Worsfold on Saturday and in typical Worsfold character, it was measured and without over-the-top fanfare. Essendon fans are frustrated after yet another despondent season, but the social media abuse of Worsfold is unwarranted. He arrived at a club in disarray and gave his all over five years — which meant his relationship with his family suffered because of the distance — and the club is a better place for having Worsfold at it. It didn’t work out on the scoreboard as was hoped, but not everything within football clubs are judged by wins and losses.
Originally published as The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from Round 18 of the 2020 AFL season