The Tackle: Carlton surges as Essendon crumbles, while Port Adelaide’s the real deal after beating Geelong
THE TACKLE: ESSENDON is being haunted by its past while Carlton and Mick Malthouse are embracing their past. RECAP ROBBO’S CHAT.
Mark Robinson
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ESSENDON is being haunted by its past and Carlton and Mick Malthouse are embracing their past.
The Bombers have issues on the field, which has plagued them for a decade, and off the field, chairman Paul Little is acting as though the footy club is a rich man’s play thing, where there’s rules for him and rules for others.
The turnaround at Carlton inside three weeks has been stunning and ahead of Friday night’s blockbuster against a humming Collingwood, it has been welcomed.
It is an insult to Malthouse that his Blues are said to be playing Brett Ratten-style, when in fact the Blues are playing passionate footy, a hallmark of Malthouse’s coaching for three decades
Defence remains king, but attacking footy was never a no-go area.
The last 10 minutes of Saturday’s night win over West Coast was underscored by a sloppy Eagles, a manic defensive Carlton and brilliant surge football - and if we can talk about individuals, then Robbie Warnock in the ruck, and Dale Thomas and Marc Murphy.
Warnock’s tap work late in the game was at instructional-video level, Thomas’s smother and dash were Daisy at his energetic best, and Murphy is front and square in many facets. Thirty two disposals, 11 tackles and nine clearances is a strong contribution.
So much for the sport being in trouble.
The final quarter at Etihad was mega dramatic. It was cruel, unlucky, pulsating and inspirational, everything we love about Australian Rules.
Pick a Carlton player there is a story. Kane Lucas’s clearance to Dylan Buckley was a) arguably the most influential act Lucas has done on the footy field and b) joyful because of Buckley’s execution and adrenalin-loaded reaction.
What about Brock McLean from the scrap heap? And Bryce Gibbs’ devotion to the task? And Troy Menzel’s poise for the final goal?
It wasn’t only the Blues who punctuated a sizzling Round 6.
RECAP ROBBO’S CHAT IN THE WINDOW BELOW:
North Melbourne was stoic in the west, so much so that a more admired performance under Brad Scott doesn’t come to mind. There was Brisbane, Gold Coast and Gazza’s continued contribution to Brownlow Medal voting and, of course, the Magpies gritty comeback against the Bombers.
Etihad Stadium yesterday had yet another thriller, won by the surging Crows. Posters at the death and another sensational smother, this time by Rory Sloane, made the similarities with Saturday twilight a little too spooky.
The Bombers, however, are a club in the doldrums.
After six consecutive goals against the Pies, they allowed Pies the next nine.
On Saturday, Thompson said defence has been an issue at Essendon for a decade. In that time, Essendon has given up the fourth most points average against, behind Melbourne, the Suns and Giants.
Essendon has conceded 80.7 points per game this season, ranked ninth from a defensive point of view. The Cats rank No. 1 at 68.8.
The Bombers have been outscored by 24 points from stoppages, ranked 14th, and they are in the negative despite winning 14 more clearances than the opposition.
Certainly, fixing the defence is a work in progress.
So, too, is the consistency of message at Essendon.
Little’s comments on Friday, pondering the disadvantages of ‘’self-reporting’’ to the AFL their use of supplements and injections, were gobsmacking.
Little has ruled this club since taking over as chairman.
As part of his edict, he has decreed the club had to move on and denied others, such as exiled coach James Hird, from speaking about what happened. Even when Hird’s wife Tania spoke out, there was an emergency board meeting to decide if Hird would be sacked.
But yet Little felt empowered enough to pour more petrol on a fire that had dwindled to embers, which certainly would’ve annoyed the AFL.
The beauty of it is, though, now that Little has said they shouldn’t have self-reported, his next mission as Emperor of Essendon is to find out WHY they self-reported.
Maybe he should talk to former chairman David Evans, for God knows Evans isn’t talking to anyone else.
PORT’S CHARGE THE REAL DEAL
PORT Adelaide’s credentials as a premiership contender are genuine.
The fairytale of 2013 has become the juggernaut of 2014 and today Port Adelaide sits atop the AFL ladder.
Who knows what will happen from now until the end of September, but it would be foolish to argue against Port having a significant say in developments.
And what a story.
The staggering turnaround from basket case in 2011 to overwhelming respect from the competition is based on qualities that endear Port to all in football: relentless pressure, hard tackling, hard running and more than a touch of superstar.
They offloaded Geelong by 40 points last night.
It was clinical and exciting and, although the Cats might have had a Hawthorn hangover, there was no denying Port Adelaide.
“We keep going, we keep running, we played hard, tough and exciting for our fans,” coach Ken Hinkley said.
Captain Travis Boak was best afield and finished with 32 disposals, 16 of which were contested, nine clearances and two goals. He is the player who epitomises Port’s transformation.
In the glow of last night’s performance, Fox Footy commentator Gerard Healy called it a moment in time when Boak rejected Geelong’s advances and re-signed with the club.
It might prove to be, especially if Boak one day holds up the premiership cup.
Clearly, he, coach Hinkley and president David Koch were the key signings, but there are plenty of others.
On the field, Port Port will be tested — remember, it was 5-0 last year and then 5-5 after 10 rounds — but you sense more resolve, certainly greater depth and more experience, this year.
Boak, Brad Ebert and Hamish Hartlett are the A-graders in the midfield, Kane Cornes is another A-grader in his run-with role and Dom Cassisi is the grunt.
Jared Polec and Matty White have supplied more run and Ollie Wines and Matthew Broadbent are between the runners and the grunt.
Chad Wingard and Robbie Gray are the specials. They had 36 touches and five goals between them last night and after five rounds might well be on their way to having three all-Australian selections between them (Wingard won a debut berth last year).
Port at Adelaide Oval has quickly become one of the most feared assignments in football.
That is now three games at the newest jewel in AFL crown for three wins of 57 points (Adelaide), 113 (Brisbane Lions) and 40 (Geelong).
While Port has improved, another of last year’s finalists, Richmond, has dropped significantly off the pace.
Injuries have hurt them — particularly those to Ivan Maric and Brett Deledio — and White took his speed across the South Australian border, but it’s too easy to go for excuses.
They won 15 games to Port’s 12 in the home-and- away rounds last year, but one team is heading south and the other surging north.
The Tigers beat Hawthorn by 41 points in Round 18 last year and lost yesterday by 66 points.
It is a monumental drop-off, especially because the Hawks, with their pace and slick ball movement, made the once feared Tigers, look like crabs.
Richmond plays Geelong next week and another loss would make it 2-5 after seven rounds and finals would appear a pipe dream.
That would be a bitter pill to swallow, for right now the Tigers’ resurgence last year is shaping as a one-season wonder.
LIKES
1. Footy. Issues remain in the sport, but the sport continues to make fools of people. AFL is being bashed senselessly with only coaches strongly defending it — surprise, surprise, for they are the ones dictating how the games are played — and now the AFL has fought back. Was a terrific weekend full of drama, wonderful goals, courage, and close finishes. The game does need tinkering to stop the rolling mauls, but gee there’s plenty to like about it.
2. Cyril. Hope it doesn’t take a scathing column in the opposition paper to motivate Rioli because yesterday’s game was one his best. It’s true he doesn’t need many touches to have a huge influence and yesterday it was 17 disposals, four goals and the six tackles helped. He is inconsistent, but inconsistently brilliant. The question is: Do you want him playing for your team? The answer is an overwhelming yes.
3. North Melbourne. Had won one game in 10 at Subiaco, and flew west with questions about how they handle pressure. They out-toughed the Dockers on Saturday night which is a fair effort. Boomer was mighty as was Sam Gibson and Nick Dal Santo, but I liked the backline. Michael Firrito, Luke McDonald, Lachie Hansen and Shaun Atley were all stoic, and is it me Kangaroos fans but when Nathan Grima plays well so too do the Kangaroos? Had 21 touches and six defensive rebounds, but it’s his willingness to involve himself in contests, like most of his teammates, that was the difference.
4. Patty Dangerfield. Love the hilarity when people say the game was tougher 20-30 years ago, even 50 years ago, when players were getting picked off by violent acts. Want to see tough? Watch Dangerfield against the Dogs, a willing opponent. Dangerfield had 28 disposals yesterday — 21 of them contested. And they’re not your normal contested variety. This bloke is an animal. He has a lion into a wildebeest kind of attack on the ball which only Joel Selwood rivals.
5. Courage. Take your pick this weekend. There was Shuey and Rosa against Carlton, both backing back into the unknown in marking contests. Firrito did it against Fremantle. There were countless smothers which is a different kind on courage. That award goes to Dale Thomas, who flung himself at the boot of Sharrod Wellingham. Going to contact Champion Data this week to find out if smothers have increased in games because I reckon there were 15 in the Blues-Eagles game.
6. Dan Hannebery. Thirteen clearances and 24 touches speaks volumes of the young man, but it can’t be a total love fest because he, like Sydney, waiver with their consistency. Hannebery’s numbers this year are 12, 29, 18, 15, 29 and 34. His tackle numbers are 9, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 3. His clearance numbers have been 1, 3, 1, 3, 6, 13. He’s all over the shop, although the curve appears to be heading north.
7. Dancers. Gazza did it at the Gold Coast, making fools of several GWS players and Marc Murphy waltzed around a couple of Eagles, which is rare in today’s football because of the huge numbers at the contest. Gazza’s was special. Right baulk, left baulk and back on the right for the goal. He got another three votes at the weekend, prompting talk of winning a third, even a fourth Brownlow Medal. Perhaps it’s time to not only ponder whether he is better than his old man, but could he be the best footballer that’s played the game?
8. Honesty. Agree or disagree, the former players in the media are not holding back, particularly on West Coast’s Nic Naitanui. And it’s difficult to disagree. Scott Lucas said Naitanui was only good to watch on TV because you could see highlights. “Watching him live, he’s a very ordinary footballer. He’s a poor footballer, but he’s an outstanding athlete. In 94 games of AFL footy he hasn’t done enough.” And Matty Richardson: “Nic Naitanui is a highlight reel at the moment. Everything he does is a highlight, but in between he doesn’t do a hell of a lot.” The spotlight is on Nic Nat and his contract. Is he worth $1 million?
9. Dayne Beams. He is genuine class with a huge tank and a glorious ability to read the game. He gets to contest after contest and on Anzac Day was a major factor in Collingwood’s response after quarter-time. Huge numbers — 32 touches, nine tackles and nine clearances — and with Pendlebury outworked the Bombers midfielders. #brownlowsmokey
10. Silence. Will never take for granted being at MCG when the bugle is played and rapt for everyone a knucklehead didn’t spoil the minute’s silence. Watched most of the games and didn’t hear noise at the other grounds.
DISLIKES
1. NZ games. Like the idea of expansion but what’s the point presenting AFL games in the conditions which New Zealand has supplied at the Cake Tin. It was a horrible match to watch and imagine a horrible game to play in. Players fumbled and couldn’t hit targets. The good news was Justin Leppitsch finally won a game as coach.
2. Richmond. Shadow of the side which won 15 games last year and early indications are their momentum has stalled. Where has the run and dare gone? Maybe opposition sides have denied them space and apply greater pressure? Maybe they over-performed last year? Maybe injuries to Maric, Rance and Deledio have exposed a lack of depth? Maybe the a greater emphasis on defence has unbalanced the offence? Something’s wrong. You can’t point the finger at their intent because the class factor stood out yesterday. #problems.
3. Essendon. With the Tigers, they sit 2-4 and headaches abound. What to do with the forward line? Suspect Jake Carlisle will get axed this week for the returning Tom Bellchambers. It would enable Mark Thompson to play Ryder/Bellchambers forward beside Daniher when not rucking, and Thompson will be hoping Brendon Goddard is available. Their style is curious. They try to play uncontested footy which won’t win you finals, but at the same time their pressure on Collingwood in the first quarter was first class. Michael Voss believes they have too few line-breakers. Dermott Brereton has concerns about the one-on-one stuff. They play both facets in a game which produces the inconsistency.
4. Levi Casboult. What is Mick Malthouse to do with the big fella. Was telling late, and if the Blues lost, he would’ve been even more telling because his kicking at goal is a nightmare. Am sure the Blues coaching staff work with him, so why does he still drop the ball both hands? He has hands though, taking nine marks, one of which was crucial in the dying minutes. Reckon Malthouse will persevere with him, yet don’t know if the kicking coach, if there is one, will keep his job.
5. Funny world. Paul Chapman gets crunched by Clinton Young and Young might get cited _ although Chapman didn’t get a free kick. It’s not worth a report. Neither should Hawthorn’s Josh Gibson have been reported. He jumped to spoil, collected Reece Conca and then the ball. It was a heavy hit, not a malicious one, and it wasn’t a bump, it was a spoil. It’s why we have 50m penalties.
6. Jack. Yep, Jack Watts is in the gun again and can’t wait to see how Paul Roos handles this one. Roos doesn’t accept mediocre effort, and Watts is putting the coach in the corner. It won’t be a surprise to see him axed this week. Even after this long, can’t work out Watts’ best position. People say put him behind the ball, but what does that achieve in his development? He doesn’t get enough ball in the middle and is not manic enough to fight for position in the forward line.
7. Centre bounces. Love how we try to keep the tradition of centre bounces, but they are spoiling the game. Time and again they are recalled and time and again the crowd sighs in frustration. While I’m at it, close the bloody roof at Etihad, it’s crazy watching players miss the ball because of the sun.
8. Umpiring. Lost in the “let-it-play:” attitude is the fact players are being tackled to the ground after they have got rid of or have been disposed of the ball. Yes, it’s a tough game to umpire but players are being severely dealt with without getting protection of the umpire. It happens every game. It happened to Travis Boak yesterday. It happened in the Eagles-Blues game in the final quarter. Players are hanging on too much after the ball is gone.
9. Idiots. We have psychos in this world, knuckleheads and plain old idiots. People who invade sports arenas, such as the MCG, are idiots. What possesses a man to jump the fence and ... for what? Don’t get it.
10. Eddie bashing. The Collingwood president deserves a whack sometimes, but not over his C-bomb on live TV last night. It was a mistake. It can happen.
TOP TWEETS
@Matty_TheC:Like: Cyril!..silenced “underachieving” critics with a magical 3rd Qtr. DISLIKE: Roos vs Longmire. boring defensive rubbish!
@Snashy19: Like: Port become a contender Dislike: Dayle Garlett’s disrespectful display during a minute silence playing bush footy
@schlumps84: DISLIKE: @EssendonFC. Weak performance after 1/4 time. LIKE: @PAFC. Wish we could show half the heart they do.
@djos77 Like: Rory Sloane’s last quarter Dislike: Casboult on a set shot #thetackle
@n4nirvana: likes: @PAFC emerging. 2014 Port squad is like the 2007 Cats squad + the 2014 Cats Squad is like the 2007 Port squad
@GeorgiaLove71: L: Firrito — really pleased for him that he’s in very good form, Grima — stepped up in absence of Thompson & Boomer — champ
@camjanssen: hope you will talk about @GeelongCats inability in other big games unless is it @HawthornFC #jeffonthemoney
@TheWhitey32: like: Sloane’s smother dislike: the after the 3/4 siren shirtfront on Dangerfield — precedent set last week??
@stevekent_: ..and you have a whole week to overrate Port on 360. Not contenders till they beat someone decent at the MCG #softdraw
@jburst32: L: Footy and its stars bring their best at a time of calling to silence the critics. Swan, PAFC, Hawks, Rioli, Murphy. wow
@WPRaskell: like: Port clearly have improved Dislikes: Tigers, clearly haven’t improved, better this year? Please Dimma! blowtorch time
@MrTigger70: Dislike. Hardwick is in denial. @Richmond_FC is a bunch of recycled hacks. Need another list overhaul.
@emtwenty: like: Marc Murphy 23 tackles & 60 disposals in last 2 weeks. Dislike: tigers in denial. Gone backwards.
@p_pappa: like, boomer harveys tweet about freo crowd. dislike, hardwick saying tigers better then 2013
@jpw3004: Marc Murphy’s leadership where are the haters now #gun #leadsfromthefront
@norm_ington: Like: power in final quarters. Dislike: Ebert not given applause. Exemplifies Ports gut running. Underrated.
@Upuspupus: Patrick Dangerfield (and his girlfriend)
@BarbHossen: dislike the idiot that ran on the ground during the Hawthorn/Richmond game
@lukecooper14: Like- Jaryd Blair’s toughness, Rory Sloane’s smother Dislike- Richmond’s heart
@north4lyf: North Melbourne beating Fremantle at home, freo hadn’t lost their in 14 matches. Hardest away trip not been talked about
@Sara_Sz: LIKE: Dylan Buckley and Troy Menzel for Carlton brilliant young talent #thetackle
@PresidentWilko: Like: Justin Leppitsch tasting his first victory as a coach Dislike: Games in NZ with ordinary crowd numbers
@kangas290873: dislike you saying that North had most at stake on 360, tigers, dons ??? Like boomer, port
@Mozarticus: likes book (again) took another step towards elite. Swan, match winner. Cornes destroyed selwood. Dislike tigers, gutless
@Munga 14: Noosa’s impressive come from behind win against arch Rival Maroochydore. #aflq
@Caasssayy: dislike: bad sportsmen @ the footy. Man told 7yro kid to shutup for cheering for eagles. Disgraceful. Kids 1st game too!
@charliehodge33: LIKE: Gold Coast at Metricon. DISLIKE: Congestion, only 3 teams scoring over 100pts this round
@Leapingleobarry: like-Goodsey back. Dislike-Buddy. Playing for frees, giving away frees & 50m penalties. Not pulling his weight
@adsie21: Dislike Shaun Grigg not laying a tackle or chasing an opponent in first 6 games and still gets a game
@jwrightgiant: Dislike. Josh Hunt having more Posters than a mechanics workshop. Like. Still missing 7 of our starting 22 and had OK game.
@M_CampoCC: Like: Brisbane finally getting a win on the board! Dislike: Nic Nat’s continuing underwhelming performances.
@ShortBlokeJosh: likes-91,000 silent fans at the G being respectful. Dislike-fans blaming umps instead of own players for losses
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