The Tackle: Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson nominates his likes and dislikes from Round 20

HERALD Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson’s nominates his likes and dislikes from Round 20, plus top Tweets from the weekend.

The Tackle: Robbo’s likes, dislikes

LIKES

1. Jared Rivers. There are match-winning moments and match-losing moments — and Jared River is definitely in the former. Rivers left opponent Matthew Pavlich to claim a loose ball in the middle, which had two Dockers players set to pounce on it. Rivers won it, gave it to Selwood, back to Rivers, back to Selwood, to McIntosh and eventually Mitch Duncan kicked the goal. It was the play of the weekend.

THE TACKLE I: WHY JUDD SHOULD PLAY ON

THE TACKLE II: TANKING IS DEAD IN 2014

2. Ivan Maric. Knew ‘’Evaaaan’’ was important, but didn’t know he had quietly slipped to the top of the class in terms of morale and inspiration. Plenty to like about the Tigers on Friday night — their pressure was extreme after half-time — and it was Ivan who monstered them over the line. He was super against Patrick Ryder in the final quarter and it was fitting he kicked the goal after the siren to be mobbed by teammates. Clubs talk about process, strategy and tactics when a lot of the time it comes down to spirit.

Ivan Maric is mobbed by Richmond teammates following his post-siren goal against Essendon. Picture: Colleen Petch.

3. Tommy Bell. Career-high four goals, career-high 10 marks and perhaps a career-propelling game. It just has to be. Mick Malthouse is talking about finding players to take the club to its next premiership and he’s not only talking about draftees and recruits. Bell has to be a player who assumes control in the midfield. He’s 23 and played just 26 games, but the Blues need him to grow as a player very quickly.

4. Todd Goldstein or Sam Jacobs. Talking All-Australian and talking about the No. 1 ruck spot. Jacobs is favourite after yet another dominant display in Brisbane, but Goldstein is putting up an argument. He had a better season in 2013, but is solid in 2014. Jacobs should be a lock.

5. Take your pick (Hawthorn). Could go Lewis, Mitchell, Shiels, Roughead, Birchall or any of the big guns, but will settle for Will Langford. Wondered at times if he’ll be in the best 22 when Sewell is available but starting to think he is. Gone from stopper to ball-winner and, even though he can butcher the thing, he wins his own ball. Only trailed Lewis in contested possessions against the Demons with 12 to Lewis’ 15, which makes him ideal for a tough finals campaign.

6. Scott Lycett. Nic Naitanui said it best after the game: ”Three rucks hasn’t worked too well for us in the past, but Scott was great up forward today.” He’s right. When Lycett plays like he did on Sunday — he kicked four goals — beside Josh Kennedy and with Jack Darling dominating, the Eagles look menacing. Now, all the Eagles have to do is get Lycett’s signature on a new contract before rival clubs. If they haven’t already, start dangling some big dollars.

Despite Brisbane losing to Adelaide, Tom Rockliff picked up 40 disposals.

7. Tom Rockliff. Stand up Mr Rockliff, you are officially a 2014 All-Australian. He can’t miss out this year. As statement games go, yesterday’s was top of the range. Had a quadruple-double for a team beaten by 105 points. His stats: 22 kicks, 18 handballs, 10 marks, 10 tackles. Add six clearances and seven inside 50s and we’re talking about one of the great midfielder’s games. So, the AA midfield is Fyfe, Ablett (still), Pendlebury, Rockliff and Kennedy. Anyone else?

HUDDO TRIES TO NARROW DOWN THE ALL-AUSTRALIAN MIDFIELD IN THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST BELOW OR CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE

8. Great hands. The Tigers did it on Friday night when they handballed their way out of trouble at half-back and turned into sensational ball movement for a goal. It happened again on Sunday at Etihad when the Dogs moved from the back-half to the forward-half, where Bontempelli kicked the goal. It’s a sign of a confident team. Get it, move it quick and keep running. It was brilliant to watch.

9. Fremantle v Geelong. The game. The drama. The by-play. The finish. It had it all. Taylor and Enright at the back for the Cats, Mackie’s two goals, Fyfe in close, the Dockers’ comeback despite injuries, Max Duffy, Selwood’s heart, Barlow’s heart, Johnson v Crowley, Fremantle’s pressure, Pav’s poster and, in the end, Mundy’s missed goal. Of all the theatre, loved the Dockers’ fans riding Pavlich’s final kick from the flank. Up they went and down they came, arms clasping their heads. Congrats to both teams.

10. Well done, Dogs. The Lenny Hayes tribute played out to the end, thanks to the Bulldogs forming a guard of honour. The players honour the greats with sincerity. Look forward to asking Bob Murphy on AFL360 his thoughts: Were they with the boys to celebrate or was he thinking of the champ in Hayes?

The Western Bulldogs formed a guard of honour for retiring St Kilda veteran Lenny Hayes.

Honourable mentions: Titch Edwards, Heppell’s second half, Kade Simpon for AA, Mick Firrito protesting, Cunnington is back, so is Toby Greene, Max Gawn is the future, Robbie Gray, Ben McGlynn again, Rory and Tex and Brad Crouch, Crozier’s goals, Harry’s marks and Ross Lyon at the end.

DISLIKES

1. Anzac Day schedule. Gill McLachlan hinted that there might be an 11am start (EST) to the game in New Zealand. It’s not right. Anzac Day morning is for remembering, not for footy on TV. The AFL will face a huge backlash if they go ahead with it. Already, the RSL is angry. They weren’t consulted, it said. It sits uncomfortably with me.

2. Steve Johnson. Why oh why would he do it? Discussion for much of last week was about Johnson needing to keep his limbs to himself for the sake of the team. The kick to the neck/head of Lachie Neale wing was stupid. He will get cited, even though the contact was low. Under no circumstances can a player deliberately fling his foot at another player and that’s the nice way of putting it. The MRP can’t let it go.

3. Gold Coast. Massive game, finals on the line, ticker being questioned — and the Suns don’t lay a tackle in the first 12 minutes. The backside — or is that heart? — has fallen out of the Suns and finals would now require a miracle. There was effort after quarter-time, but they couldn’t play catch-up. Smacked in the middle and couldn’t kick goals. Worse, the commentary is being patronising. The Suns are being praised for a successful season. Ask Guy McKenna if he’s feeling successful right about now.

Adelaide’s Andy Otten suffered another serious knee injury against Brisbane.

4. Andy Otten. Will be tested like never before after suffering yet another ACL injury, this time to his good leg. His first ACL forced him to miss the 2010 season and now he is set to miss most of the 2015 season. It’s a shame because Otten was a potential star at half-back. Once again it was innocuous. It’s the second time in four seasons he will be forced to miss an entire season. You have to wonder if Otten has the desire to keep going.

5. Mitch Robinson. Street fighting at 5am is unhealthy for the body, lying to your football club is unhealthy for your career. Not passing judgment on the fight because Robinson may have jumped in because Jeff Garlett was getting a beating. And mates being mates, that can happen. The critics now say Robinson should be sacked. Disagree wholeheartedly. Robinson has to address issues and he can do that wearing a navy blue jumper. In fact, the Blues need more players with attitude like Robinson on the field.

Some footy pundits believe Carlton should sack Mitch Robinson. Picture: Colleen Petch.

6. Garlett bashing. He’s had a terrible season — played just nine games for 12 goals — but has experienced some off-field issues that clearly has affected his performance on it. A 5am sip and fight is not ideal and if the Blues want to dispense with him, there will be clubs ready to pick him up.

7. Blind Freddy. What happened, umpire, when Lance Franklin pushed Jack Hombsch in the back, collected the ball and kicked the goal in the crucial second quarter? How can it not be interfering with an opponent? It was one of two goals Franklin kicked on the much-improved Hombsch, who was equally as strong as Franklin overhead.

8. Desperation. Mark Thompson went with Joe Daniher, who was in his first run back from a spell, and clearly he wasn’t ready for what was a high-intensity game. With Carlisle failing, both with finding the ball and with his brain, the Bombers didn’t have a threatening forward line. Other than Paul Chapman, the Bombers really don’t have a natural forward, which makes it difficult to consistently kick winning scores.

9. Roughy’s report. The leg flayed, but got the knee and not the ankle. He doesn’t deserve to miss a game like that because it was instinct and not malice. Carry-over points might hurt him, but it shouldn’t get to that.

10. Long seasons. GWS is cooked. Bodies are tired, bodies are already in rehab and we have three games to play. Solid effort in the second quarter, but surrendered 12.9 to 1.4 after half-time. And people want to extend the season?

BEST TWEETS

@Bombergrl2000: likes- Dyson Heppell, brownlow medal smokie!!

@cameron_deman: Like: Richmond’s tackling pressure in the 2nd 1/2 on Friday. Won them the match IMO.

@nickrog83: like: Matt Priddis. No frills, hardly rated, but goes all day every day.

@Rommas: Likes — Eagles starting to figure out Simmos game plan Dislike — WHERE THE HELL HAS THAT BEEN ALL YEAR!

@lukemcalister: Like: Rory Sloane. Not fast not a great kick but through hard work has become a truly exceptional player.

@pheebsmullo: like: KAYNE TURNER and LENNY HAYES dislike: Carlisle brain fade that cost 100m in the end

@joegarretto: like — being on holidays in Europe whilst pies self destruct dislike — lack of intensity and spirit. Is there any at pies?

@timothylane: Dislike — umpires indulging Geelong’s ducking, diving, staging and whining.

@theboiroy: the amount of focus on the Johnson / Crowley match up. Who cares. One of the great games of footy was being played.

@TheGovernorSM: Likes: @GeelongCats composure last night to beat the Dockers. Carlton game is a danger game.

@gavinprendergas: its bloody good viewing when collingwood get an ass kicking watch this space bucks under the pump

@jpbones17: surely you can write a column bout the standard of umpires in fact you could fill a whole paper on that subject

@realmrcricket: like Chris Judd’s class dislike no Jesinta Campbell option in HS footy survey for hottest wag

@marke_miller: like the Irishman for the Blues on debut, dislike Garlett’s lack of effort at Willy

@Marajax: Like @Robbo_heraldsun The Tackle. Dislike Sam Newman’s Tackle

@AusSports84: the great 3 players if their generation (Hird Bucks Voss) do not belong in the coaches box.

‏@AzzaG1989: Like: jake stringer. Dislike: TV coverage cut short.

@mattgirgolas: Dislike Buddy’s almighty push on Hombsch when game was in the balance — how can three umpires all get it so wrong?

@ArthurCloke: Like — Bad News Ben Brown. Dislike — E-Bola virus.

@johnfeeney24: likes: Chris Judd puts in a blinder. Is he going to hang around? Dislikes: Stevie J. Keeps hands/feet to yourself

@sweettommy82: that ground intruder ran harder and had better evasive skills than most @CollingwoodFC players today.

@little_detail_s: dislike Lycett hasn’t signed a new contract yet

@GeorgiaLove71: Like: The banter between Spud Firrito & umpire — was highly entertaining. Dislike: Injuries to Wellsy & Majak.

@chrismartin938: Like Ricky Petterd, much maligned by Tigers, has obvious limitations, but has a dip, puts head over ball and self in danger

@DamienBudd: dislike — ‘in the back’ free against Rivers for his tackle last night on Sandilands. Worst decision of the year

@skumfy: likes — benny mcglynn, boy has never backed down since his first day at box hill.

‏@chookie94: like: bulldog players forming a guard of honour for Lenny. Dislike: not getting a win for Lenny.

@JmccarthyAus: like latest and ongoing duel between Crowley and Johnson. Great to watch and great for game.

@Richardsgere17: dislike: blokes hogging EFT machines at tab doing 30 leg baseball multis. Like: swans hard to beat play 4 qtrs every week

Originally published as The Tackle: Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson nominates his likes and dislikes from Round 20