The Tackle: Effort being given by teams outside top eight proves footy is in post-tanking era
THIS is footy post the tanking era, an era which no-one looks back at fondly. It’s all about effort. And for that, footy is thriving.
Mark Robinson
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SOMEONE mention tanking? Anyone?
GWS is cooked, Brisbane would be disappointed and embarrassed, St Kilda bared its soul for Lenny Hayes and Melbourne was Melbourne — dour and unable to score.
If tanking exists among them, I can’t see it.
THE TACKLE I: WHY JUDD SHOULD PLAY ON
THE TACKLE III: ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES
Outside of the bottom four, we have a spanking competition and clubs placed 11 to 14 — West Coast, Richmond, Carlton and the Western Bulldogs — will shape the final eight.
Indeed, West Coast looms as the most dangerous team in to play.
The Eagles sniff finals, they have beaten Adelaide and Collingwood and will be confident against Essendon this weekend.
Where has it come from?
It’s always the question when a team — and Richmond is the same — produces football many expected to be its trademark and not its exclamation mark.
People with masters degrees in football mentality might be able tell us if it is pressure of expectation. But right now, Eagles and Tigers fans are not overly caring.
They are seeing ultra-competitive and ultra-attacking teams, and finals positions are not beyond them.
Both teams can’t make it, probably neither team will make it, but they get to decide that. This week, the Eagles have the Dons (eighth) and the Tigers play the Crows (seventh), and they are four points behind both teams.
Can’t recall a season with so much on the line at Round 21.
Twelve teams are playing for September, while the Blues want to play anyone.
They can beat the Cats on Friday night and Cats coach Chris Scott knows that. He said Carlton was one of the form teams of the competition and he wasn’t lying. The Cats will be sore and may have a big-game hangover.
The Blues have an in-form midfield and Jarrad Waite is playing some of the best footy of his career.
They probably won’t win, but that’s not the point. The Blues are playing kids and Irishmen and with attitude.
It’s wonderful for the competition.
As is the Eagles and Tigers.
The Eagles were ruthless on Sunday and not-so suddenly the Bombers are fragile up forward. Carlisle has hit the wall again, Daniher is underdone and the smalls can’t kick goals, or don’t want to, such was their indecision against Richmond.
If the Eagles make it, and the Dockers stumble, then an all-WA final would nice.
By the way, a kid called McGovern could be around for sometime.
And what of the Tigers?
That’s six in a row and all the qualities we were looking for at the start of the year are materialising. Resilience and toughness comes to mind and it’s why coach Damien Hardwick played the happy fan after the game.
They stood up when challenged and then ran away with the game.
It gave the players and coach confidence in the direction and substance of the team. And there was a nod of appreciation from Jack Riewoldt for his skipper Trent Cotchin in the wash-up.
“We’ve developed a bit of steely resolve and I suppose all of the credit, or most of the credit has got to go to the captain,” Riewoldt said.
“He’s the one who has stood up and grabbed the group by the scruff of the neck, along with Ivan (Maric) and the rest of the leadership group, and said, ‘Boys we are not copping this and this is where we need to get better’.”
This is footy post the tanking era, an era which no-one looks back at fondly.
Footy 2014 is all about effort. And for that, footy is thriving.
THE TACKLE I: WHY JUDD SHOULD PLAY ON
THE TACKLE III: ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES
Originally published as The Tackle: Effort being given by teams outside top eight proves footy is in post-tanking era
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