Jack Watts and Adam Treloar among the likes, Brendon Goddard and Ryan Griffen among the dislikes as Robbo runs rule over Round 1
MARK Robinson has given his verdict on the opening weekend. Tell him what you reckon and replay his live chat.
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MARK Robinson runs the rule over opening weekend, with Jack Watts and Brendon Goddard on either side of the line.
MORE TACKLE: THE JOY OF FOOTY CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING
WHAT I LIKE
1. Jack Watts
Skipper Nathan Jones said on Channel Nine yesterday that Watts had to be “hit up’’ over the past couple of years, and I’m presuming it to be about is work ethic and attitude. Yesterday, Watts’ third quarter included a tap back on the goal line for Garlett to goal, an all-too common dropped chest mark, and a huge effort to present and mark and kick a goal. Yet it was his final goal from the fence, 35m out, which stamped his leadership. The Suns were believing, and Watts killed their hope with skill and poise.
HUDDO, MICK AND ANDO WRAP UP THE FOOTY WEEKEND IN THE ROUND 1 EDITION OF THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST. LISTEN BELOW OR CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD VIA ITUNES
REPLAY ROBBO’S LIVE CHAT BELOW
2. The Js of the West
Johannisen and Jong, two players who have waited a long time, helped the cosmopolitan Bulldogs electrify Etihad on Saturday night. Jong had 24, seven tackles and a game-high eight inside 50s, while Johannisen kicked two goals in the third quarter when the Eagles had the ascendancy. The Dogs won the contested ball 156-137 and tackles 94-76 and still played breathtaking attacking footy.
3. Adam Treloar
Outside of Patrick Dangerfield, Treloar might be the most sought-after player in the competition. He’s clean, quick and uses the ball so well. Yesterday he had 32 disposals, 15 contested, five tackles and seven clearances. He’s out of contract at season’s end and GWS should be nervous.
4. The big Texan
Douglas, Sloan, Dangerfield, Smith, Betts ... the list of contributors is endless. The list of a truly captain’s game is one. Tex Walker played a game of such power and dominance it was something rarely seen in today’s football from a key forward. He tormented Joel Tippett to the point Tippett will need the coach’s comfort to restore confidence.
5. North Melbourne’s response
Coach Brad Scott ripped his team in the post-match, while offering the necessary words about the opposition. “But that doesn’t excuse for a second the insipid performance of our guys,’’ he said. The Roos today will put up captain Andrew Swallow for some sort explanation. It matters not much, really. The only way the Kangas respond to that rubbish is on the field. Brisbane next week. Turn up to play or don’t turn up at all.
6. David Mundy
Was queried about his selection in the 20s in my Top 50 and to those people, yesterday’s game is Exhibit A. The game was brutal and Mundy was brutal at the contest. His final quarter was supreme, his whole match an example of what is required. Twenty-nine touches and 10 clearances were the numbers but you had to see his attack on the ball for true perspective. He is a beast.
7. Clean hands, sure foot
It was a slippery slog at the Gabba, yet Steele Sidebottom played the game with surety. Before he was injured he was best afield and he ran at 100 per cent efficiency with his 19 possessions. The Pies as a whole were at 68 per cent efficiency. Pity Sidebottom is out for a month.
8. The St Kilda forward line
Finally, it wasn’t all about Nick Riewoldt yesterday. He was the key target, but Josh Bruce and Tim Membrey at least were cause for concern. They shared 24 possessions, nine marks, four goals and five tackles They aren’t Jack Gunston or Jack Riewoldt, but they gave a chop out, which St Kilda has been needing for half a decade.
9. Jeremy McGovern
As a key backman, he reads the play as good as Fremantle’s Michael Johnson, and is a better mark than his Docker counterpart. He’s a star, McLovin, as they call him. He took 12 marks, five contested and gathered 26 disposals, 15 of which were contested. That’s some game for a key defender. For the Supercoachers out there, make the trade now.
10. Resilience
Buckets over the weekend, but no more on show than the Swans. Forty points down, they win by 12 and coach John Longmire had to be creative, if not desperate. He pushed Buddy Franklin up the ground, leaving Kurt Tippett to be the focus and his marking and agility was supreme in the wet. Franklin, Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack were remarkable in the run-down.
Honourable mentions: Simon White on Dustin Martin, Kane Cornes on Stephen Hill, Kamdyn McIntosh’s game one, Taylor Hunt, Jeremy Howe wing, Jobe Watson, Taylor Adams, Beams sticking up for Beams, Rich on return, Bontempelli’s 10 tackles, Wallis on Priddis, Jake Stringer’s beast mode, Shane Savage off a back flank and all of the Port v Fremantle game.
MORE TACKLE: THE JOY OF FOOTY CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING
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WHAT I DON’T LIKE
1. Cheap shot
Thomas Bugg nailed Nick Riewoldt in the final quarter yesterday. It was in the back, from behind, arguably off the ball, which resulted in two things: 1) No free kick, 2) Riewoldt taken from the field, not to return. Yes, the game is furious but reckon it was cheap more than unfortunate.
2. North Melbourne
Good teams win anywhere. Bad teams allow 10 unanswered goals in the first half. It was 10.7 actually. Embarrassing doesn’t cut it. They were beaten to the ball, beaten up when they won it, unaccountable and uncompetitive. The Crows applied fierce pressure, but it was still 18 v 18 and the Roos lacked leadership and calm heads.
3. Brendon Goddard
Final quarter, Swans charging, leaders have to be calm and assured. In the space of minutes, with the Bombers leading by two goals, Goddard kicked out of bounds from a behind, which led to a Bird goal and then a sloppy handball led to a Jack goal. Suddenly it was 60-60 and Sydney surfed a tsunami of belief. Goddard wasn’t alone in making errors, his were just so costly.
4. Ice, and I mean the bad ice
Spoke to two former footballers at the weekend and both of them had stories about ice use by AFL players. They don’t need to be named because it might only be hearsay, but their stories were alarming. Get the feeling the Essendon supplement saga pushed the issue of illicit drug use into the background.
5. The Suns
Coaches often deflect and dismiss praise of their teams, but Rodney Eade has a hint of truth about him. He reckons his Suns are years off playing finals and that the over-reliance on G Ablett is a major problem. Ablett was their best yesterday and could hardly lift his right arm. The Suns at home are a different team, but they aren’t playing finals if they can’t beat Melbourne on the road.
6. Holding one arm in the tackle
Saw it a couple of times over the weekend, and while it is perfect in its execution and it wins the tackler the ball, the consequence of serious injury is possible. Twice Jack Viney held Ablett’s arm with one hand and Ablett’s body with the other and slammed him into the MCG turf. It means the player getting tackled can’t protect himself as he hits the ground, as Ablett couldn’t. Many will say it’s the perfect tackle. Many used to say the two-armed tackle and sling into the ground was the perfect tackle. That, as we know, was deemed to be an illegal tackle. Let’s watch this space and just hope that shoulders don’t get popped along the way.
7. Carlton
The worst loser of the weekend outside of North Melbourne. Hopes abound in Round 1 and when Carlton friends text you after the game, detailing their frustration and anger in between swear words, you know it was an uninspiring defeat. Talent is an issue, the effort through the second and third quarters was pathetic, and late goals can be misleading. Altogether, it was a night to forget. West Coast away is a must win.
8. Ryan Griffen’s first outing
Maybe we’re asking too much of a player in his first game for his new club, but that’s life. He’s a star, he’s quick and has endurance and we didn’t see much of that yesterday. Fifteen touches, three tackles, four clearances was solid. It was his lack of running which stood out. Lack of defensive running.
9. Injuries
O’Meara’s knee hurt the most for some reason. Hate seeing the kids go down. Altogether there was Brown with his second ACL, Rockliff (ribs, lung), Thomas (shoulder), Myers (shoulder) and Sidebottom (hand). The cost is always heavy in Round 1.
10. Advertising lights at the G
What’s going on there? Accept companies are paying good dollar, but there’s no need for the disco lights. They are far too bright. They distract the punter from the footy which might be good for the companies but not many others.
MORE TACKLE: THE JOY OF FOOTY CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING
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BEST TWEETS
@pumpa44: If we are going to have barracking commentators this year like @SpudSays (Danny Frawley) surely we can have one for each team.
@Showbags81; Like Alan Toovey’s cool head and leadership in last Q. Dislike umps still thinking holding rules shouldn’t apply to Cloke
@tasmanlvrLike: no, LOVE: The Dees with chasing pressure, ball movement and heart for the first time in around 10 years
@teddohrmann like: Dom Tyson — smooth as silk with a touch of razzle dazzle dislike: Carlton trading their fwd line away
@Matthew_Dower: North Melbourne were afraid to touch the ball. Lacking leadership ... gutless from the team
@DanielMcLean40: Likes: Western Bulldogs. New coach. New captain. Lose best midfielder. Played some of the most exciting footy.
@RBrettell13: like- Michael Hurley, could go close to AA this year. dislike- Michael Hurley’s hair. Sort that thing out.
@justinkeane92: Like: Melbourne and Western Bulldogs Dislike: Injuries, a real sucker punch to your fans and teams 2015 hopes.
@tatsyellow46: dislike injuries to jaeger rockcliffe brown katsch like McGovern deadset gun after only 14 games
@madzzz_b: like: footy’s back, Melbourne winning. Dislike: Sydney fans booing Hird when he was on the big screen
@Twiggyflow: Like: Aaron vandenBerg. Dislike: Nothing.
@sb1193: Like — Kamdyn McIntosh’s debut and tiges for sticking with him, dislike — blues and suns lack of defence
@Mark_UNC: big like; watched every game so far in Rd 1 and I have not been even slightly bored. Massively exciting footy
@AnthonySwitch: like; The Bont — no 2nd year blues, how good is he going to be!! Dislike; one dimensional eagles, serious list issues
@weedo04: after 5 games #like Richmond being on top of the ladder #like Carlton being on the bottom! #dislike lids reported #gotiges
@PratoWork: liking a matured Jack Riewoldt, dislike WCE making it through the summer with little scrutiny despite lack of direction
@XX_PINGERS_XX : Like footy is back and holding the ball is back finally.Dislike nothing to dislike looks like a great season ahead
@nash25: dislike disgraceful @EtihadStadiumAU false advertising. The so called cheaper $5 beer is actually a smaller cup
@rjbrriggs: like: dogs full game effort (every supporter deserves to see that) dislike Scott Selwood hardly ever played the ball on sat
@leigheustace: like: no amount of drug scandals can get in the way of our love for on-field narratives from round 1 year after year
@LeanneRayner72: Likes Young pups. No griff, Cooney, Higgins, Libba NO WORRIES ! Dislike No freakin footy on Good Friday!
@lachie66: LIKE: listening to the Dees win from my balcony in the Maldives. DISLIKE: not being able to be there at the G #toughlife
@MarcusHenry18: Like 34 Essendon footy players — integrity, heart and loyalty to each other. Amazing group of young men led by Jobe W.
@LachyG89: The unveiling of the Robbie Flower Wing. A tribute to a great man and a player who made that part of the ground his own.
@thegoldenduck05: dislike North’s inability to handle a power forward year in year out
@Adam_Phillips87: Dislike Mick talking up the season and a woeful performance first up against the Tigers. Hard to be excited about that
@BeccaHayne: Likes: My Saints having a dip — in for the bad times and the good. DL: “Gameday experience” — my poor ears...
@chookie94: Like: Saints boys sticking up for Nick after he was knocked. Showing heart and spirt will eventually bring better results.
@Lozzemarine: L: So many fans loving life and footy, singing and dancing along to Uptown Funk at 3/4t on Thursday :D Also K McIntosh. GUN
MORE TACKLE: THE JOY OF FOOTY CAN OVERCOME ANYTHING
Originally published as Jack Watts and Adam Treloar among the likes, Brendon Goddard and Ryan Griffen among the dislikes as Robbo runs rule over Round 1
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