The Tackle: No need for Eddie McGuire compo whingeing, Kangaroos coach Brad Scott must control his emotions
EXTENDED VERSION: EDDIE McGuire’s request for compensation from the AFL is nothing more than whingeing. RECAP ROBBO’S LIVE CHAT
Mark Robinson
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IF push came to shove, you’d say Eddie McGuire hates equalisation.
So much so, you have to wonder if the trip he made to the USA last year with AFL heavyweights and various presidents was not about finding out what its sports were doing to bunk up the unfortunates, but rather how he can best protect his team from infidels wanting his money.
He agreed to pay an equalisation tax, but only after fighting tooth and nail to keep it somewhat reasonable for his club.
But because he’s paying, he’s all over the so-called advantages the teams in the developing states are getting, his latest cause of concern being the academies.
He has every right to fight for what he feels he must do, because if no one fights then it’s a dictatorship by the AFL.
EDDIE’S CHEEKY COMPO CALL WAS DISCUSSED IN THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST. LISTEN BELOW OR CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE IN ITUNES
SCROLL DOWN TO REPLAY ROBBO’S CHAT
But now, McGuire says he’s going to ask the AFL for compensation after 40,000 fans turned up last night for the match against Collingwood.
As Luke Darcy says: Say that again?
The Sunday night fixture is experimental and earlier this year around 60,000 turned up for a match between Carlton and Essendon.
Last night’s crowd was severely hampered by a horrible day of weather and not suited for anyone except absolute diehards.
Certainly, parents weren’t keen to expose their kids to the elements and — it’s worth a mention — one parent of a family asked me without needing an answer: Have you ever been to a game in the rain and in the cold with young kids?
I accept it could become quite irritating.
But McGuire is asking the AFL for compo.
You have to admire his audacity, but it’s nothing more than whingeing from the Collingwood president.
But because Collingwood contributes strongly to the outrageously handsome media rights — because all clubs want to play Collingwood, because Collingwood draws huge crowds and because McGuire believes it is the Collingwood Football League — he believes his club was victimised last night.
Try asking the poor-supporting clubs about their unhealthy fixtures. It happens to them every second week.
Collingwood doesn’t even know what a burial shift is.
McGuire’s radio interview post-match will be futile, save for the fact that everyone knows McGuire isn’t happy.
He’s taken it upon himself to fight City Hall at just about every turn at the moment, but asking for compensation just might be Eddie at his mischievous best.
It could only get sillier if the AFL agreed.
As for the game, it was entertaining enough considering the weather.
The Blues lost it early, played catch up all night and then missed goals when they had the opportunities.
Once again, good teams kick goals when they are needed and Carlton couldn’t do it.
It’s the tale of their season.
TIME TO PULL YOUR HEAD IN, BRAD
BRAD Scott should expect a call from the AFL.
Perhaps even be issued a please explain as to why he confronted an opposition player.
They say nothing much good happens after 2am, and the same can be said of a coach getting in the face of an opponent after the battle.
Emotions are wildly fluctuating, but coaches more than anyone have to control themselves, and surely Scott would be regretting tackling (metaphorically) Tom Rockliff.
Everything filters down through the grades and Scott on Saturday night gave a poor example of sportsmanship and leadership.
One of the last coaches to involve himself with an opposition AFL player was Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, who unleashed a barrage of insults at Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd in 2009.
Clarkson was slapped with a suspended $5000 fine following the incident, during which he had to be restrained by Hawthorn, and now league footy chief Mark Evans,
WAS BRAD SCOTT OUT OF LINE? VOTE BELOW AND HAVE YOUR SAY
Scott doesn’t deserve such a response from the AFL, but he does deserve to be told to pull his head in.
Nothing physical happened between Scott and Rockliff, but all it would’ve taken was, say, “Sauce” Merrett to intervene and undoubtedly it would’ve got ugly.
Everyone thinks its began on the siren when Rockliff quipped at Brent Harvey.
But the truth is the pair were at each other all game. And in fact it stemmed from an incident last year.
Whatever was said on the siren, surely Rockliff crossed the line.
Boomer had every right to confront Rockliff and when the pair shook hands, it was the official seal the issue was over. Rockliff even apologised to Harvey as both teams gathered to salute Jonathan Brown.
Scott’s actions then reignited a fizzled confrontation.
He’s an interesting personality, Rockliff.
He’s the team’s best player and one of its most influential off-field.
Last year, he and former coach Michael Voss didn’t have an ideal relationship.
Voss wanted Rockliff to play a certain style in the midfield and Rockliff wouldn’t do what Voss wanted, so the coach banished him from the middle and sent him to full-forward for several weeks.
From then, their relationship never recovered.
Who knows if the relationship between Voss and Rockliff contributed to Voss being sacked as coach, but it certainly didn’t help the former coach in a torrid season.
As for the current coach, Scott, he has more issues than taking exception to what Rockliff said to Harvey.
They could’ve iced the game at quarter-time and didn’t and then the Kangaroos and Scott allowed the Lions to regain momentum and pleasure themselves with supreme outside run.
Scott made a major mistake not curtailing Pearce Hanley, perhaps a game-losing mistake.
Last week, Hanley had Fremantle’s Ryan Crowley run with him for three quarters and Hanley only had nine touches for the game.
On Saturday night, the Irishman had 34 disposals, 12 handball receives and 816m gained.
The next best was Andrew Swallow with 455m gained.
In the second quarter alone, Hanley had 16 disposals and 439m gained. Only one other player had more than 439m gained in the entire game and Hanley did that in a quarter.
In many respects, it was the best individual quarter of the season.
You’ve got to feel the Kangaroos are big heads, for which the players and the coach must be held accountable.
Did they expect to win? Because after quarter time the basics of playing defensive football were abandoned. Important things like being responsible for an opponent.
When the Kangaroos crash to a team it should beat, the spotlight continually turns to the coach.
For 18 months, the Kangaroos have subjected themselves and their supporters to alarming periods of non-competitive football.
Against the Lions, it was seven goals in the second quarter. Against the Gold Coast in Round 7, it was seven goals in the first quarter. Against Collingwood in Round 5, it was 10 goals in the first half.
In Round 9, the Kangaroos beat the Lions by 87 points. On Saturday night, they were beaten by four points.
Last year was all about closing out games. This year they have lamented their starts. Every week.
All in all, they are a team no one has trust in and, not for the first time, the fans’ trust in the coach is being tested.
LIKES
1. The Bont. We know the Dogs have found one, but love how Marcus Bontempelli keeps finding moments to impress. Two goals in the final quarter were class, the second one a contender for goal of the year. Most young players panic with the ball in traffic. Most young players don’t have second and third efforts. At the death yesterday, Bontempelli twice stripped James Frawley of the ball, won the ball, lost the ball, won the ball again, broke three tackles and lobbed a right-foot kick — he is naturally left-footed — from the near the boundary line to kick the goal. And, yes, it was as good as it was described. He is a star in the making. He is Scott Pendlebury all over again. And he makes the Dogs fans smile.
2. The smother. About as good an indication of desire as any act on the field. The best of the weekend was Adelaide’s Matty Wright. Late in the final quarter and the game still to be decided, Wright dived in front of a Tom Jonas kick. The ball strayed in Adelaide’s forward line, it was shuffled forward, Dangerfield grabbed it, dished to Crouch who kicked the goal and the Crows were ahead by 16 points. Crouch was rapt, of course, but it is Wright who the coaches will point out in the review.
3. Brisbane. Overshadowed a fraction by the events at the end, but there’s denying the spirit and young talent at the Lions. Already applauded Hanley’s second quarter, but what about James Aish? Their first-round draft pick had 23 disposals, nine marks, nine tackles, four clearances and two goals. The kid is a winner. And so, too, is Stefan Martin. Played five games this season and has returned to be a terrific tap ruckman, ball winner and clearance winner. Don’t know what happened against Fremantle, but like the Lions at home. What a night for J. Brown.
4. Gazza. Almost getting blasé about the triumphs of the little champ. Had 45, of which 24 were contested, six tackles, eight clearances, unfortunately 11 clangers, but still combined for 157 SuperCoach points. Plenty of one-twos, but also plenty of hard work and willpower. Another three votes surely.
5. Trent Cotchin. The football world was upon the Tigers captain. Too short with the ball. Too much possession behind centre. Too much link and not much substance. Can only answer with five goals and 31 touches. The haters will hate and social media was dominated by the comment: It was only against St Kilda. The bloke can’t win. Went at 84 per cent efficiency and still there are haters.
6. Richmond. The day with the Tigers and Jake King for young Nate was a beautiful day. He has a battle, the young fella, but he and his family won’t ever forget how the Tigers made him feel. A Tigers official was almost crying as he told me how Nate’s parents were almost crying in the rooms when the boys sang Happy Birthday, gave him a cake and Cotchin gave him his Ian Stewart Medal.
7. Lance Franklin. That’s four BOGs in six games and perhaps six BOGs for the season. A Brownlow Medal fancy? Surely behind Gazza, but a quinella sounds inviting. Terrific against GWS and, in 13 games, has proved the doubters so wrong. So much for ruining the Bloods’ culture. So much for never playing great football again. His form has raised the question again: If you’re in the schoolyard, who would you pick first? Gazza or Buddy? I’d take Buddy.
8. Fyfe and Hill. Stephen Hill won the medal, Nathan Fyfe won more admirers if that’s possible. Hill has elevated his game and any time he has 32 and kicks three goals, it’s difficult to see the Dockers losing. Fyfe signs a three-year extension — which has to be up around the $650,000-$700,000 per season — and peels off a 31-disposal ripper. Will check with Champion Data, but would love to know how many times these two wax with the ball.
9. Umpire interaction. People want umpires to be robots, I like them to be human. Gary Ablett won a 50m penalty for his team and Luke Hodge had to jog back nearly to the goal square to stand the mark. “That’s right, f---ing Gaz ... f---ing Gaz,’’ Hodgey said to the umpire, clearly believing Ablett gets a good run. The umpire took it well. No need for another 50m penalty for indecent language.
10. Steven Motlop. Game winners are like diamonds and Motlop sparkles as well as anyone. His two late goals were said to be easy — you’re kidding — but they would be easy sitting in the stands, or sitting on the couch. Still, you have to kick them under enormous pressure. He did. The Cats win. And they are percentage off fourth spot. Who’s the idiot who questioned the Cats mentality?
Honourable mentions: Jordan Lewis again, Brisbane’s celebration of Jonathan Brown, re-emergence of Paul Duffield, Eric McKenzie, McGovern’s seven contested marks, Heppell’s 40, Bartel’s last quarter, Scott Thompson’s third quarter, Rance on Riewoldt, Shane Savage finally, Wallis on Jones, Will Minson’s aggression and welcome back Steele Sidebottom.
DISLIKES
1. North Melbourne. Already given them a touch-up, but once is never enough. Kangas fans are doing their heads according to my Twitter feed and who can blame them. Was a terrible loss to Brisbane and now they are back in the fight for a finals spot. You can’t even say their draw is favourable because victory depends on which North Melbourne team turns up. The good. The very good. The spasmodic. The poor. The very poor.
2. Knees to the head. Heath Shaw can never be accused of being frightened. He charged back to spoil Kurt Tippett and fell a metre short and fell after a knee to the head. Thankfully, he has a head as thick as oak and he wasn’t seriously hurt. Felt for Heath and for his uncle, Tony, who was commentating on the game. The fact Shaw didn’t move for considerable time was hard to watch, let alone being a person so connected to him. Still, bravery is what it takes to play AFL.
3. Picking on Picken. Bulldog Liam Picken gives away a free kick and abuses Chris Dawes because, it would seem, Dawes was getting into Picken. The umpire pays 50m against Picken and the Demons kick the goal. Picken wasn’t abusing the umpire, but you suspect he might’ve sworn. Hodge did the same thing in Launceston and there was no 50m penalty. So, you can swear if you’re not abusive at a player, but can’t abusively swear at a player? That can’t be right. Surely, the umpire thought it was directed at him.
4. Melbourne. Paul Roos is frustrated. Demons fans were frustrated. The first half yesterday was terrible from Melbourne. Panicked kicking. Sloppy kicking. Turnovers. And the Dogs took advantage. Sorry to say, but it wasn’t even an honourable defeat.
5. Mitch Robinson. When does it dawn on Mitch that he can’t keep punching opposition players in the head? He has carry over points and can’t see him escaping because of insufficient force. He can be a terrific asset with his aggression at the ball, but is next to useless sitting in the grandstand.
6. Injuries. Cyril Rioli is a huge blow, a premiership-challenging blow and if the Hawks can somehow win the flag this year, it certainly will be one for the ages. Rioli has massive issues with his hamstrings. You must have issues if a visit to Dr Whatshisname in Germany is in order. The other blow is to Jackson Trengove. He’ll be lucky if it’s a twisted ankle and not a complete disruption to ligaments.
7. Incorrect disposal. It’s getting worse before it’s getting better. It’s made worse because you go from one game to the next and what’s paid in one game doesn’t correlate to what’s paid in the next. At the Bulldogs, Robert Murphy deadset “dropped the ball” in the final quarter when tackled. The umpire called played on. Murphy had prior opportunity, but the umpire gave him the benefit. It’s not only fans getting frustrated. Former Sydney tackling supremo Jude Bolton took to Twitter to voice his displeasure. “What’s happened to illegal disposal? Reward the tackler too!” Bolton tweeted. What’s happened, indeed.
8. Bailed out. Melbourne’s Rohan Bail grabbed the ball, ran to try to find space, had Jake Stringer on his tail and, in the end, rushed it through for a behind. He was under pressure, as the rule states, so I don’t think he should’ve been penalised. The commentary about him after another option doesn’t cut it. Mostly everyone who rushes a behind has another option. Stringer kicked the goal — his second in a row — and the Bulldogs were on the hop.
9. Sunday Night Football. They came, they tried, they failed. The AFL is certain to give up the Sunday night timeslot after further evidence last night that the fans don’t like it. It was the lowest home and away crowd (40,936) between Carlton and Collingwood at the MCG since June 9, 1894. The rain and cold didn’t help, but the message is clear. And it would seem the AFL is listening. This from AFL media boss, Patrick Keane, on Twitter last night ...
Sunday evening match in school hols was a trial for AFL before next broadcast discussions but 40k crowd well short of pass mark hoped for.
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) June 29, 2014Thursday trials in 6 locations have been well received but some 13000 reserved seat holders didn't attend tnite & AFL takes that msg onboard
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) June 29, 201410. Eddie McGuire. Ed could whinge for Australia if it was an international sport and his bluster about ringing the AFL today for compensation surely is said in jest. Two things: 1) Poorer supported clubs have to put up with bad fixturing every second week, and 2) don’t blame the AFL if you’re one million fans don’t bother turning up.
Dishonourable mentions: Cloke in the back to Rowe: How can that not be a free kick?
BEST TWEETS
@LeanneRayner72: getting in early with the likes- BONTIIIIIIIIIIIII enough said!
@AngelaRowland03: Motlop Magic!!!!
@liamthompson1: Betts standing up in key moments. Paid the big bucks and delivered today.
@WhippingBoySEN: Like: Cotchin’s first quarter — set the tone and was in everything. Dislike: Todd Carney. Imagine that happening in AFL ...
@DanielMcLean40: Likes: Motlop, Brisbane, Adelaide & THE BONT! Dislike: North Melbourne ... where do I start ...
@LionelRitchie18: it’s all about #Bonti #GOTY #star #younggun much love, dislike boomer and Scott going to rockliff after the game
@RyanCook13: Like: Brownie singing the song one last time. Dislike: More hamstring worries for Cyril.
@BIGnosestu: dislike Brent Harvey and Brad Scott for sooking.
@BradWay2: Ceglar keeping McEvoy out of the side. Did the Hawks expect him to come on so quickly, I doubt it.
@blakeg1993: One Word #BONTI
@wingazz: Likes — Bonti does it again for the doggies Dislikes Pies v Carlton at 1910 on a sunday night..
@MrFridgeMurphy: dislike illegal disposal being no more, is beyond a joke that an “attempt” to dispose is all that’s needed
@mfagan18: dislikes: blues let Betts go for daisy — why? Likes: Adelaide Oval and the crowd support — unbelievable.
@AaronSCHQ: Like: Gary Ablett, huge again in a loss. Superstar. Too obvious? Dislike: Scott approaching Rockliff. Didn’t need to.
@CamRay1984: crows! Sauce Jacobs All Australian form!!
@dingoderek: Likes: Browny’s Fairytale send off. Dislikes:Brad Scott’s disrespect during Browny’s presentation
@TheGovernorSM: Likes: It seems that you cannot write off @GeelongCats . Remember the @HawthornFC era from 86-91? People wrote them off!
@RLF93: Like: Stephen Hill, Dislike: Brad Scott
@FeathertopDT: L: footy — legend of the game says he’d hate it from a fan pov & we get 5 crackers. Doom sayers every year proved wrong
@maddiewines: LIKE — “No one chair me off, I just wanna walk off with youse.” Brilliant quote from a brilliant leader. #BrownySalute
@leesacatto: like: AFL women’s game. Intensity, skill, passion, ferocious attack on footy, big grabs, amateur players. #CanPlay
@themalkproject: L: Best half of football from the Bombers since Rd 2 vs Hawks. D: Umpiring = awful. What is Wayne Campbell doing?
@AWhenan: fortresses went out of fashion in the 13th century! Portresses went out in showdown 37
@Ratsac_utd: Big Sauce, all the talk about Lobbe, a true professional! Gave the young buck a lesson in tap rucking and aggressive run!
@OO_17: dislike: the WB jersey is predominantly blue. the Demons jersey contains blue. So what do the umps wear this round? BLUE!
@menzball: dislike Roosy having a sook about the game. Two teams out there with the same umpires, same rules. Get over it.
@little_detail_s: Like, Eddie Betts pocket at the Adelaide Oval, and him giving some love back
@Merr_Gilla: like the decent draft pick the dees will get for Frawley #$700Lulz
@Specialgrant: North Supporter #enoughsaid. Send donation for therapy. Currently in foetal position. #justkickthegoaldrew.
@bladegod: upgraded season ticks to reservd seats CollvCarl Last row levl 4 absolute disgrace waste of $40+ scam?Seatseverywhere
@savonabenjamin: Like Trent Cotchin, not just cause he had a great game but had a disposal efficiency of 83.9, it’s about time.
Originally published as The Tackle: No need for Eddie McGuire compo whingeing, Kangaroos coach Brad Scott must control his emotions
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