The Tackle: Herald Sun chief footy writer Mark Robinson reveals his likes and dislikes from Round 18
HERALD Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson reveals his likes and dislikes from Round 18 AFL action.
Mark Robinson
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mark Robinson. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LIKES
1. Footy. What a weekend. Two potentially good games, three potentially poor games, but five games which gave us everything. No matter how many times this sport is abused, questioned and ridiculed, it always comes out the winner.
2. Waite and Henderson. This was supposed to have been written in Round 1. The problem was Henderson was underdone — as he was for half the season — and Waite, well, we all know what’s happened to Waite. Eighteen marks and 10 goals between them and Waite laid six tackles. The talking point now is what to do with him. He’s a free agent and can walk to another club, the Blues can sign and trade him if they wish, or they can simply offer him a another year and try to play Henderson, Waite and Casboult in the one forward line. Clubs are interested in him, but gut feel says he’ll stay.
ROBBO’S TACKLE: IS JAKE THE BEST IN THE GAME?
3. Patrick Ryder. Cracking final quarter, beating Will Minson for the ball at the centre square bounces and allowing the likes of Heppell and Goddard to have first use. At one stage, he trailed Minson by 10 hit-outs and at the end won 35-33. Eighteen touches, five marks, four tackles, four clearances and two goals probably makes him Essendon’s second-most influential player behind Buckets Carlisle.
3. Rhys Stanley. Game of his career. Nineteen touches, 14 marks, burnt opponents on the lead and, as Dermott Brereton likes to say, he has a cannon as a right-foot. Saints fans — perhaps all fans — who have seen this bloke flash in and flash out are now hoping it all comes together. His development, however, is reliant on how his team moves the footy. He is a lead and mark player which means the ball has to get to his area quick. If it’s bombed on his head, his weapon is taken away from him.
4. Nick Riewoldt. He’s played more important games, but perhaps not quite as excellent as his game against Fremantle. So much to like. The goals, the marks, the running, the push up the ground to give room to Stanley. Unquestionably, he is a class act. My favourite moment of his on Saturday? His cheerio to his sister Maddie who is in hospital receiving chemotherapy treatment. At a time when self-indulgence was understandable _ they had lost 11 in a row and not kicked a score more than 100 points for the season _ Riewoldt had thoughts of his sister and not himself.
5. Being injury-free. There’s two blokes at Geelong — Joel Selwood and Steve Johnson — who are over the injuries. Can’t you tell? Johnson was feared to have had a back problem and, to be honest, still don’t know what was wrong with Selwood for four weeks. Anyway, they are at their best. Selwood got another three votes in the Brownlow Medal and Johnson had 30 and kicked three goals. The Cats sit in second spot after 17 and a half rounds but not sure if they are among the two best chances to win the premiership.
6. Toby Greene. The cops got him and he will be dealt with, yet the incident may have turned his career. It’s Rossy’s positive thinking out of negative working here. Past two games have returned 67 possessions — 30 contested — and 14 clearances. He has a story to tell, but GWS says not yet. All interviews are on hold until after the court case unless, of course, Fox Footy or Channel Seven lean on the club and make him talk.
7. Sam Rowe. For so long was the guy who beat testicular cancer. Now he’s the bloke who beat testicular cancer and beating some of the best tall forwards in the competition. He’s old fashioned in the sense that he gets to contests and just stops his opponent, and you’ve got to love those pounding punches which send the ball 20m the other way. We talk about Carlton’s future and in Rowe they have a long-term key defender
8. Dom Cassisi. Brown, Hayes, Maxwell and now Cassisi in retirement, all with different attributes, but all with the same attitude. Cassisi has been the unknown warrior for Port, just going about his business without too much fanfare but with absolute respect. You don’t become skipper without thinking about the team first and he had fitting farewell yesterday. Kudos, too, to Melbourne at the end.
9. Shane Savage. Starting to make the Ben McEvoy deal worthwhile. Saints got Savage from the Hawks and Luke Dunstan with pick No. 18 (are they already the winner?) and Savage is finally playing the footy the Saints hoped for. Has has averaged 25 touches in his last four games, playing on the back flank and has been so influential, you have to ask: Why did it take so long for him to find a position?
10. Ballsy talk. Ross Lyon indicated Hayden Ballantyne’s suspension wasn’t so much an issue when questioned last week, but David Mundy certainly did. “I’m not sure about how Ross or the match committee think, but I wouldn’t have thought he’s an automatic, walk straight back in,’’ Mundy said. “I think he’s going to have to earn back some trust and really put his hand up.’’ Like it. Like it a lot. Could’ve sung from the party hymn book, but went for the jugular instead.
Honourable mentions: Dempster’s courage, Dom Tyson, Travis Colyer, Jake Stringer’s goal sense, Heppell’s final quarter, Macrae’s four quarters, Cam Wood, Nick Graham’s shepherd and goal, Bryce again, Goldstein’s eight tackles, Luke Delaney, Fisher back in town, Callan Ward again, Enright’s brain, Gray’s an All Australian, Westhoff the swingman and long live the bye rounds if this is going to happen.
DISLIKES
1. Fremantle. Ross Lyon has been pegged the genius for his ability to get his players to do their role — you know, we’re any time, anywhere football team — so the cynic in me asks if there was an alternative agenda. The reality in me doesn’t allow for cynicism. The Dockers were outworked, out-ran and outplayed by the Saints in what would be one of Fremantle’s worst defensive efforts under Lyon. When’s the last time any team took 136 uncontested marks against Fremantle.
2. Rossy’s reinforcement. Now, this is an issue for opposition teams. Lyon will turn the negative into a positive and sheet home to the players what happens when they are lazy, second to the ball and don’t run. This competition is changing by the game and the Dockers may have got a kick up the bum about what is required.
3. Aaron Black. It’s certainly more disappointing than a dislike. Always when you see a young player with talent and agility and it’s evident early, you wonder how far the kid can go. Good player, great player, and all-timer? Played only 39 games, but his graph has flatlined. Kicked 20 goals from 17 games after returning 33 goals from 18 games last year. It’s the one major area North has stumbled in this year — the key forward posts. Petrie was poor for 12 weeks, Black the same, Majak is learning, Tarrant is injured and Ben Brown has played just four games. Maybe Hansen forward again in bursts?
4. But it’s not Black’s fault alone: It’s difficult to maintain confidence in North Melbourne when they are confused — Nick Dal Santo’s word — about why they put in such inconsistent performances. Too many underperforming players against the Blues — Adams, Jacobs, Firrito, Bastinac, Cunnington and Atley — and you have to wonder if North likes to hunt and not be hunted. That it being a mindset issue.
5. Bad match-ups for Fletch. Got cooked on the lead by Jake Stringer and by Stringer’s agility at the fall, and Mark Thompson couldn’t find a match-up, so he benched him and then played him forward. The champ — and it’s not a term used to throw out willy-nilly — finished in defence and played a role in the final quarter. It is horses for courses for the Fletcher now, although James Hird will take strong convincing to not have him at the club in 2015. The ideal Essendon back six right now is Hooker and Hurley for the talls, Hibberd, Winderlich and Dempsey for the mid-sized and for their run, and Baguely for the small forward.
6. Jack Grimes. No need to put in the boots, because Jack will be kicking himself. He didn’t lose the game when he kicked it out of bounds with two minutes to play, for there were mistakes aplenty before that, but Grimes had to be better. He had to find his teammate who was free on the wing. In fact, the game was lost in the first half because the Demons didn’t take on the game in the first half like they did in the second.
7. Bad defence. Talking about the Dogs on Carlisle. Kicked his eighth in a stacked defence when the Bulldogs knew the ball would go to Carlisle. Still he marked it. The nearest opponent was ruckman Will Minson. A) he found space and B) he marked it without any opposition. Every fan at the ground was looking at Carlisle, and every viewer at home was looking for Carlisle. Why didn’t the Dogs?
8. Colin Sylvia. New club, new beginning, same old Col. The great fear is Sylvia will finish his career and we’ll wonder what to make of it. Seven touches and two tackles on Saturday and Ross Lyon’s patience will have been tested. Has played six games and his possessions are three, 17, eight, 12, nine and seven and he’s averaging two tackles a game. Won’t be surprised to see him out of the team.
9. Horror hits home. Can’t imagine the pain of parents losing their three kids in the MH17 horror and yesterday in Perth, one mum and dad went to the junior footy in Perth, where one of their boys played under-12s. The football community held them, of course.
TOP TWEETS
@jessicaclark_8: Dislike: North Melbourne (for the millionth time this season!)
@gareth_iain17: surely big jakey Carlisle makes it two weeks in a row!!
@Jonesracing82: dislike split rounds & no FTA games on sat arvo or Sunday, not everyone can have a Membership & Foxtel as well
@lavruban: Like: Underdogs (Saints, GWS, Dees, Dogs) played better than expected. Dislike: Not enough footy with the split round.
@agrestad11: Like: Pedersens massive last quarter chase and tackle. dislike: the change in interpretation of holding the ball today
@mcmda: L- yes, 8 goals and 7 tackles for Carlisle D- tipping.
@WCheffirsSport: Dom Cassisi’s shot from 50m bouncing upward on the goal line. That ball had no sense of occasion.
@ThePaineTrain07: Like: 5 terrific games. Dislike: Only 5 games. Lose the split rounds AFL.
@ziggy_33: like : @GerardWhateley losing your bet, dislike: dies senior players mistakes in the last quarter cost us the game
@TonyFanfulla: likes: saints took us back to those great years between 07-10. #ilovelenny
@mbandyle: like — Saints team pressure and Stanley’s coming of age. dislike — that this effort has been missing the past 3 months
@SidebySide: L: The thought of GW tackling, chasing and then washing Tiger #MakeSureTigerisDirty
@DanLarussoLives: likes ... dom cassisi. Great leader steering the ship through tough times
@FeathertopDT: like: Carlton getting a win, we need confidence Dislike: Carlton getting a win, we need draft picks.
@gedda82: Jake Carlisle’s honorary doctorate in markology.
@_evelyn_w: Dislike — news today majority of fans want an equal draw, (some) players have said it too. Corporate greed hijacking our game
@BoldTrease4: Melbourne FC being a pleasure to watch ... love the endeavour and the highs/lows of a team trying to walk the walk.
@boopnat03: n reiwoldt absolute champion that plays on one leg eachweek family sickness and gives his sister a reason to smile:-)
@p_pappa: like, north players saying Scott has been soft dislike north’s pathetic performances against lower sides.
@swadeology: Like: Waite B.O.GDislike: Waite B.O.Greminding us what Carlton don’t get often enough
@godemons27: Dislike umpires making stupid calls deep into Q4 that gift defining goals eg free against Watts’ successful spoil vs. Port
@martydownunder: LIKE: Monster game by Jake Carlisle in Carey-esque performance.
@xtremekiwiphill: Jake Carlise was very good, but his performance is well overshadowed by that of the St Kilda football club !
@akerr2412: Paddy Ryder in the ruck a 5 midfielder today and 2 goals will be missed in the 8 goals from buckets
@mickobrien83: dislike the flat footys at the Adelaide Oval.
@Pstevo13: dislike being a north supporter every second week #consistency #plz
@creighzynate: Like Juddy to soldier on! Proves he can still tango with the best.
@peteismaximus: Dislike Leigh Matthews Juddy comments.
@AlanHardie2: Like Tiger getting washed Dislike @GerardWhateley kids won’t get to watch Pulp Fiction #afl360
Originally published as The Tackle: Herald Sun chief footy writer Mark Robinson reveals his likes and dislikes from Round 18
‘In games we give up’: Flag hero savages Dons as board war looms
‘We are no longer feared, we’re certainly not respected’ – Essendon premiership player Paul Weston has had enough. He tells MARK ROBINSON exclusively about his plan for change.
‘We’ve got champions who are zombies’: Mitchell’s plea for help
Last Monday, at just 58, Barry Mitchell was lying in Epworth Hospital wondering if the game he loves had almost killed him again. This is his confronting story the footy world needs to hear.