Mark Robinson looks at the good, bad and the ugly from Round 8

DAMIEN Hardwick and Nathan Buckley earn their break from the headlines but it all goes wrong for St Kilda and Lions. Re-play Mark Robinson’s blog

Sam Lloyd and Ben Griffiths celebrate Richmond’s win.

THE Blues, Bucks and Dimma, Suns and Lions and Brayshaw’s courage.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson looks at the Round 8 highlights and lowlights.

Join Robbo from 11.30am for a live blog to discuss all the big issues from the weekend.

LIKES

1. RICHMOND

Where do you start? Tough, tough win and scenes post-match might not get any better this year. Alex Rance’s last quarter was enormous, Jack Riewoldt was pure leadership (and lucky with the bounce), so was Brett Deledio, the Tigers had been waiting for a game like that from Ben Griffiths for sometime and he kicked five goals, Anthony Miles was back with 30 and 10 clearances, Brandon Ellis laid a huge run-down tackle, bloody hell even Steven Morris had 15 disposals, baby Cyril kicked two in the final quarter and, of course, Sam Lloyd kicked the winner. Always in games like this, there are moments, such as knock-ons and tackles and spoils, which in review are as matchwinning as Lloyd’s goal. Is it a coincidence the Tigers took on the game? The Tigers went through the corridor 29 per cent of the time against the Swans, up from 25 per cent in the first seven weeks.

2. DAMIEN HARDWICK

Love it when coaches join the players on the ground. It tells us two things. One, they were under some sort of pressure beforehand and two, the bond between player and coach is strong. In Round 2, Hardwick and his players were criticised for fluffing the Collingwood loss. On Saturday night, his players dared to win. So if Hardwick took the kicks for the way they played against the Pies at the end, he deserves the plaudits for the players’ attitude to take on the game against the Swans, not only at the end but throughout the game. Hardwick has been stoic under the spotlight and Saturday night was the release. It’s a fair bet he enjoyed the beers with players and staff back at the club after the game.

3. NATHAN BUCKLEY

Don’t forget Buckley — he has been as stoic as Hardwick and while others at the club have proffered excuses, Buckley has refused to give the players an out. He dished up tough love during the week and the players responded. No one could’ve predicted Brisbane’s ineptitude, but that’s not the point. The Pies rendered the Lions practically useless because of their attitude, defensive strategies and their ability to move the ball from the back half. Seriously, the Pies would win the ball at half-back, go zip, zip, zip by hand or foot and a Magpie would waltz into goal at the other end. The Magpies won the clearance count by 24, which was the biggest differential by any side in a game this season, and conceded just seven points from stoppages, their fewest in any game this season.

4. A TACKLE

Liam Sumner’s chase and tackle on Karl Amun, and then goal, was the turning point in a pulsating final quarter. It turned a possible Port attack into a Carlton goal and changed the entire momentum of the final five minutes. Then it was Matty Kreuzer who iced the game with the go-ahead goal. This was yet another win on the back of effort, especially after Levi Casboult went down in the first minutes. This was as gutsy a performance as Richmond’s the night before and, God love it, spirit is alive and well at Carlton.

Liam Sumner celebrates his match-turning goal.

5. BRENDON BOLTON

If the coach of the year was awarded right now, Bolton would be vying with the Scott boys for the award. He has instilled character into a group of young men and older statesmen that many of us thought would be impossible to find in his first season, let alone the first eight weeks. Quick quiz: Who sang the song with more gusto? Carlton or Richmond? I’ll say the Tigers ... just.

6. JOSH KELLY

Debate will rage for sometime yet about the trade of pick No. 2 (Kelly) for Dom Tyson and Christian Salem and it’s safe to say it’s win-win. But Kelly is something special. Past four weeks — as GWS demolished all before it — he has returned 27, 26, 26 and on Saturday 29 and eight clearances. To make it worse for opposition teams, Jacob Hopper in is his first game had 32 and an equal game-high nine clearances. Please, in his first game?

7. BRENDON GODDARD

Seemingly has to defend himself weekly about his body language and lack of impact, so when he puts it all together, it often goes through to the keeper. Many positives after quarter-time for Essendon, including Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s dash, Adam Cooney’s 32, Zach Merrett’s 36, and how Matt Dea was kicked out of footy in the first place is bewildering. But it was the skipper who marshalled the comeback. Had 38, which was his best disposal count since Round 12, 2013.

8. JORDAN LEWIS

Might be biased but another skipper, albeit a stand-in with Luke Hodge out injured, is Jordan Lewis, who also had a line of observers wondering where his footy was going. Responded against Richmond the previous week and against the Dockers on Saturday it was 25 disposals, eight tackles, eight clearances and nine inside 50s. Lewis’ issue was he was playing within the flow of the game without helping to decide the flow. He plays his best footy when he’s on edge, getting down and dirty, and he, Liam Shiels (15 disposals, 15 tackles) and Will Langford have returned attitude to the midfield.

9. COREY ENRIGHT

Probably running third in the B & F behind you know who and vied for best afield honours on Friday night with Motlop, Guthrie and Dangerfield. Hand up, thought he was cooked midway through last season and now there’s a possibility 2017 is not beyond him.

10. JACK REDPATH. Kicked three goals, took 11 marks, five of them contested, and you have to wonder if he is now the No. 1 key forward at the Bulldogs ahead of Tom Boyd. He was on the end, once again, of hardworking midfield led by Libba’s 19 tackles and 25 disposals, Hunter yet another 30 and Matthew Boyd the marshall at the back.

DISLIKES

1. SYDNEY

One of the more truly heart-thumping scenes of recent years would not have happened if Sydney forward Dean Towers looked right and kicked the ball to Lance Franklin near the boundary line wing. There was under a minute to play, Franklin was alone and Franklin could’ve used 20 seconds, gone long to the pocket, where a stoppage was likely. Game over. Towers made a huge mistake and it cost the Swans the game. Others contributed to the loss before that, though. Heath Grundy and Ted Richards at the MCG are not the same as Grundy and Richards at the SCG. The extra space exposes their pace. Odd game from Luke Parker, too. He started well, disappeared, lumped around a bandage on a knee, and came home strongly, but 20 disposals ain’t good enough from him.

2. BRISBANE

This was disgraceful. No run, no guidance, no leadership, no thought, no dare and seemingly without a game plan for the first two quarters. At halftime it was 28 shots at goal to three. They are $12 million in debt, their best player Dayne Beams might be out for season, the skipper is injured, their bottom eight are either young or out of their depth, and their top eight, other than Dayne Zorko, are off with their fairies. The hand should be shaking with shame when they get paid this week.

3. JUSTIN LEPPITSCH

The coach questioned himself after the game in such a devastated tones that you have to wonder how quickly he can shed the disappointment and move on to next week. Posed it on Sunday and will pose it again, if Nathan Buckley’s team dished up that kind of ineptitude, physically and mentally, serious questions would be asked about his immediate future. In their 52 matches under Leppitsch, the Lions have won the contested possession count just nine times — five fewer than anyone else — and have won the clearance count 15 times — three fewer than anyone else. It’s been a long, painful ride which has required a truckload of patience.

4. NOW TO THE GOLD COAST

Problems galore for Queensland footy, not least at the club which has cost the AFL a purported $200m. Injuries are a huge concern, and that can’t be ignored, but they have exposed a soft underbelly. Problem is players such as Dion Prestia and Jaeger O’Meara, who are out of contract at the end of the season, will probably ask themselves: Why should I stay here? The AFL would be worried because it’s a crisis in the north. More immediate are the worries for coach Rodney Eade. Gold Coast out-pressured its opposition in the first three matches for three wins and have been out-pressured in their past five matches for five defeats. Since Round 4, they have a pressure factor differential of -104, which is ranked 18th by a long way.

5. LEVI CASBOULT

Carlton’s most influential player could be missing for two months with a fractured tibia. Feel for the big bloke. No better contested mark on the competition and the kicking for goal was coming along. It’s more than that, though. Casboult has been heavily criticised, but would argue he is a heart and soul player for the club. Simpson is the legend, Cripps, Murphy and Gibbs are the stars, but Casboult is inspiring. Big key forwards are like that and he will be a significant out.

Levi Casboult is helped off the ground after injuring his leg. Picture: George Salpigtidis

6. SCOTT THOMPSON

Others were poorer, such as Smith, Seedsman and Douglas, but rarely do we see Thompson put together two average games like he has against Geelong and last week against the Bulldogs. He might be carrying a niggle and that would explain why he was so fumble below the knees. If he’s not injured, then he’s in a worrying slump. In a midfield which is struggling, save for Rory Sloane and Sam Jacobs, the Crows need all their big guns firing. He’s 33, Thompson, had trouble dealing with Mark Blicavs, and the next few weeks will tell us if the game has got the better of him.

7. ANGUS BRAYSHAW

The young bull is getting punished for his courage. Suffered a second concussion within three weeks playing in the VFL, which is a concern itself. When respected medico Doc Larkins joins the debate, it is definite worry. “With Angus Brayshaw, it’s a greater concern than average. If he had another concussion, I reckon he wouldn’t play again this year,’’ the doc said on 3AW on Sunday. Sounds ominous.

8. JUSTIN WESTHOFF

Took a mark with minutes to play and instead of going for goal from 50m and hopefully kicking it sweetly, he opted to jab to the top of the square. Port lost the ball, the Blues swarmed and eventually Gibbs gave it to Simpson who gave it Murphy, who hoisted it into the 50m, where Kreuzer kicked the goal. And game over. Wonder if Westhoff would do the same again if he had his time again.

Josh Bruce after the final siren at Subiaco.

9. REALLY, ST KILDA?

Beat Melbourne, pushed North and then surrendered to West Coast in one quarter. Don’t know if it says more about St Kilda and the frustration it must be for supporters, or West Coast and the frustration it must be for supporters. The Eagles stink on the road and demolish teams at home, and the Saints look like cage fighters one week and meek the next. At quarter-time, Josh Kennedy had five goals — no key defender in the Saints team to play on him — the Eagles led 57-9, and the Saints only had pride to play for.

10. BLACK FACES

Seriously, Frankston Bombers? Apology was welcomed, but thought should’ve gone into the night in the first place.

BEST TWEETS

@zane_seoud: Robbo, Docherty better be in your likes this week! He does it again and again

@uneasylistening: like Marc Murphy’s helmet dislikes swans not milking the clock

@perrisken: Pleased for @ncb_cfc focus, belief, intent & integrity sustained through not so good times-#resilience

@The_BB_44: dislike: AFL posting huge profits annually yet still no full time umps, loses credibility weekly due to this.

@mfagan18: likes the competition — great games, close results, great footy, plenty of ‘wow’ stories — dislikes QLD footy in trouble!

@SSzabo13: like- the Essendon fans standing ovation.

@efisher173: L: Buddy v Rance the best 1on1 duel since 90s. D: Tigers being able to switch it on, means they just didn’t b4.

@twoputtshakur: I liked the complete and utter bottle that Sam Lloyd had kicking the winner for Richmond against the Swans

@hamishmitchel: like Rance telling reporter “he loves his team” about 3-4 times in the interview, good to see some passion

@Noremac14: like: teams playing for their coach ... Only taken 7 weeks. Dislike: ruck lotto

@ArchieBendeli: dislike: The doggies throw the ball more than handball. Like: The blues eyeing off a finals place now.

@aperebus: dislike: @stkildafc should have eliminated these kind of results by now. Disgusting performance.

@premportfolio: like: The Blues winning 4 in a row for the first time since 2001 Dislike: hot jam doughnuts at Etihad being cold

@akerr2412: never ever giving up ... nomination 1 Essendon, nomination 2 Carlton and grand prize Richmond

@32 Angus: like: Seeing the #29 dominate again for Geelong dislike: the old #29 struggling for form

@Lukemacinsomnia: time to put Leppa under the spotlight mate. I’m Lions fan, we are going no where — Complete and utter rabble.

@emydura5: Rowe and Liam Jones ... Always maligned, full of ticker #steppedup

@Terryzarsoff: I ask has the Lions improved under Leppitch after the sacking of Voss

@riffwithbiff: Like: My beloved Port Adelaide. Dislike: How they can break my heart so often #coulduseadrink

@PhilB42: like the one and only Sam Lloyd! Dislike inconsistency of holding the ball rule. Dropping the ball isn’t a legal disposal

@davecarnovale: L: Lloyd the hero, Carlton & the Mason Cox stare at Merrett! D: Brisbane looking like Fitzroy, horrible & Port

@jaykippa: weak, insipid, deplorable, disgraceful display of football by @brisbanelions

@robgj83: dislike: constantly bagging pies when free, rich, Ess, bris clearly have bigger problems.

@DeLuca_JD: dislike: “experts” saying the 8 is set. Not even close.

@lynchy4610: Hampson ruck work. Huge in tigers result

@kellyfranco0: like: Rory Sloane an absolute beast gave 110%. Dislike: the rest of the Adelaide midfield — soft

@lcrowth15: dislikes: Bulldogs throws. Like: tackle kings, Libba 19, also don’t forget Viney with MFC record 16

Originally published as Mark Robinson looks at the good, bad and the ugly from Round 8