Early Tackle: Sam Landsberger’s Likes and Dislikes from round 17
St Kilda has used 135 draft picks since 2003, but where are the superstars? The recruiting misses have left the Saints battling for almost two decades, writes Sam Landsberger.
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The Cats are purring with an embarrassment of riches down the highway, while brothers Tom and Paddy McCartin are making life hell for all Sydney opponents.
At the other end of the spectrum, does coach Luke Beveridge come in for some heat with the Bulldogs’ poor form? And where does the league stand with the latest Covid wave?
These are just some of the items on the agenda in Sam Landsberger’s likes and dislikes.
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LIKES
LOCH HIM IN
The untold story of the 2017 draft was how close Carlton came to taking Tim Kelly at pick 10 — the Bryce Gibbs selection. But the Blues, burnt by taking mature-ager Blaine Boekhorst at No. 19 three years earlier, settled on taking a teenager and liked Ed Richards until he was 45 minutes late to a pre-draft interview. They turned to Lochie O’Brien and suddenly that is turning out OK. O’Brien has had moments that will make his career this year. That enormous tackle on Richards in round 2, smothering Luke Parker and chasing down Sam Wicks against Sydney and a booming goal from 50m against GWS. A question mark remains over Paddy Dow, taken at No. 3 in 2017, but Tom De Koning (No. 30) is an emerging star who will face brother Sam next week while O’Brien appears to be enjoying the trust invested by his new coaches. It’s been a slow burn, but it feels appropriate to pump up this hard-running wingman on the weekend Isaac Smith played his 250th.
SHAI ME THE MONEY
Shai Bolton should be Richmond’s next $1 million player, and whenever Dustin Martin departs the baton would’ve well and truly been passed.
Charlie Ballard’s season-shaping smother on Jason Castagna kept Gold Coast alive on Saturday and Noah Anderson broke Richmond’s hearts after the siren.
For Anderson, a Tigers fan growing up, he had flashbacks to missing a kick from a similar spot in an under-13s semi-final.
This time he drilled it, delivering Gold Coast a stunning win as the ink on Stuart Dew’s contract dries.
But Bolton helped the Tigers bolt 40 points clear and set up Castagna for what should’ve been the sealer.
He’s become one of those players who makes the crowd draw breath when he takes possession of the pill. There is anticipation of exhilaration. That’s testament to his class and his creativity.
Bolton more shimmies than runs, more caresses the ball than kicks it. Those skills are coated in honey.
On Saturday at Metricon Stadium he was golden, his fifth bag of three goals was in the bag by halftime.
He was selfless. He was everything recruiter Francis Jackson must have dreamed of in 2016 when Jackson was so enamoured with the West Australian he hoped he’d play poorly so he would reach Richmond’s first pick.
That was No.29 — the compensation for losing Ty Vickery (Hawthorn) — and the Tigers trembled when Tim English joined Western Bulldogs at No.19.
English and Bolton were South Fremantle teammates and the Dogs also had pick No.28.
But when they landed on Pat Lipinski, Bolton became a Tiger and ultimately the heir to Dusty’s throne.
That 2016 pool had a potent podium and was then littered with late diamonds — Todd Marshall (16), Tim English (19), Sean Darcy (38), Tom Stewart (40), Jack Graham (53), Josh Daicos (57) and Mitch Lewis (76).
Bolton (29) might have bolted to the top. As for small forwards, Eddie Betts has bowed out.
But in Bolton, Tyson Stengle and Charlie Cameron the game is blessed and the best of Kozzie Pickett and Izak Rankine is still to come.
CLEVER CATS
Chris Scott’s rotation policy started when he started as coach in 2011. It was borrowed from the English Premier League to help get games into kids like Daniel Menzel and Mitch Duncan games. The unexpected bonus was the performance spike enjoyed by established stars after a spell. Fast forward to 2022 and it has become as agile as it is effective. The Cats never intended on Patrick Dangerfield or Tom Stewart missing so many games, but it has accelerated their evolution. Now the management appears to have gone to new levels — captain Joel Selwood started every quarter on the bench on Thursday night, coming on after 6min 42sec, 3min 17sec, 7min 50sec and 5min 18sec. He played just 63 per cent. Tom Atkins, the centre square revelation, punched out a powerful performance from only 70 per cent game time. The extra responsibility has hardened workhorse Max Holmes (22 games) and the Cats now look a complete team. The rotation risk was the Cats could drop games and miss finals — but that was one Scott was happy to take in a bid to peak for a premiership. At 12-4 with a gentle draw he can sleep easy, and a conditioned Dangerfield might be on the verge of his most powerful September yet.
RARE INGREDIENTS
Geelong won clearances 8-3 when former steeplechaser Mark Blicavs went up against Max Gawn and 9-1 when he went up against Luke Jackson. Blicavs also spent 50 minutes following Christian Petracca, with the disposal count fairly even (9-12). Melbourne conceded a season-worst 46 points from stoppage — and at 6.10 it could’ve been uglier — while the clearance differential of -18 was its worst since round 12, 2018. That dominance was decisive because it turned to territory — and exiting through GMHBA Stadium’s narrow wings is damn hard (the MCG is about 30m wider). Blicavs, 31, is listed as 198cm and 101kg and he is the AFL’s Mr Everywhere. In 2015 he won the best-and-fairest playing third man-up at ruck contests from a wing and in 2018 he won it at full-back. The current flexibility is aided by the explosion of 204cm full-back Sam De Koning, who took Ben Brown, relieving Blicavs from the backline. Scott pointed to the Cats conjuring a team for steeplechasers (Blicavs), Irishman (Mark O’Connor) and local footballers (South Barwon’s Tom Stewart and St Joseph’s Tom Atkins). They are cooking with rare ingredients.
THE McCARTIN MEN
They’re not quite the Scott siblings, but backline brothers Tom and Paddy McCartin are making life hell for full-forwards. Tom locks down on the main man and Paddy cuts across to pick opposition entries off. On Friday night Tom, 22, had nine spoils and restricted Aaron Naughton to one goal in the first three quarters, courtesy of a soft of-the-ball free kick. Paddy, 26, had seven intercept marks on a night the Swans scored 77 points from turnover and restricted fellow No. 1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to 1.1. If you were told pre-season a No. 1 draft pick would be leading the AFL for intercept marks after round 17 you would’ve put your house on 2015 dux Jacob Weitering. It’s not. It’s McCartin (2014) and his weekly bravery continues to be breathtaking. Hard to think of a 50th game milestone worthy of more applause.
TACKLING TOUGH
Sam Reid’s long, strong arms locked Bulldogs in eight tackles in the third quarter on Friday night. Reid laid 13 tackles, Calllum Mills 16, James Rowbottom nine and Sydney 88. The Swans scored plenty off that defensive work. On Saturday at the MCG young Magpie Beau McReery nailed seven Roos. McReery, 21, is fast, strong and tackles to hurt like an NRL bully. Will Hoskin-Elliot wrapped up Curtis Taylor at half-forward in a critical moment in the last term. They can change, tackles. Reckon Matt Rowell, Josh Dunkley, Tom Atkins, Sam Berry and Mills are among the best in the game.
THE MAN TO REBUILD ROOS
North Melbourne should make Sydney’s national recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple its No.1 target. Watching Chad Warner burst out of stoppages on Friday night and James Rowbottom impact with tackles and clearances against a team long powered by Dalrymple’s talent pointed to his imprint on both clubs. He took Warner at pick 39 in 2019, Rowbottom at pick 25 in 2018 and All-Australian Dogs Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel (injured) at picks 45 and 46 in 2015. Throw in Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Aaron Naughton and Tim English with early selections that other clubs would regret missing and it’s a resume the Roos can’t ignore. The building blocks started to solidify on Saturday. Bookends Ben McKay (seven intercept marks) and Nick Larkey (five goals) enjoyed perhaps their best games while Luke Davies-Uniacke (33 disposals, 12 clearances, 14 inside 50s and 11 tackles) enjoyed one of the great games in recent times. The Kangas’ list team walked out in May and the Herald Sun revealed this week club bosses had appointed Ken Wood to guide the salary cap and external data and analytics consultants to work on last year’s draft. If Dalrymple – or anyone, for that matter – could be poached then perhaps they should simply be entrusted to do their job.
DISLIKES
GENERATION OF SO-SO SAINTS
St Kilda has used 135 draft picks since taking Sam Fisher at No.55 in 2003.
None of those players have become All-Australian.
Yes, Fisher — named on a halfback flank in the 2008 team — was the last player identified by the Saints to earn that honour.
Champions from the Ross Lyon era — Riewoldt, Montagna, Ball, Goddard and Milne — were all drafted before Fisher.
Captain Jack Steele has made the past two All-Australian teams but he was drafted by GWS while Sean Dempster made 2012 but was first picked by Sydney.
Jack Sinclair, taken with a rookie pick in 2014, should break that drought this year.
Sinclair is so beautifully balanced. He changes direction so quickly and easily with his dancing feet.
The halfback’s weaving goal against Fremantle, threaded wearing the No. 35 with flowing hair, resembled the great Robert Harvey.
But the Saints need more players of Sinclair’s ilk to change their direction.
Sinclair, 27, started hot on Nat Fyfe and the Saints should’ve been further in front.
Last week he earned 10 coaches votes and more might be on the way on Monday.
They remain outside the eight and if it wasn’t for four goals from centre bounce the s margin would’ve been embarrassing.
The positive for coach Brett Ratten is Max King, Rowan Marshall and Jade Gresham could all get to that A-grade level.
But so many vanilla picks are the primary reason behind what has been a disappointing decade.
BULLDOG BACKLINE
Two questions came to mind watching forward Mitch Hannan line up as an intercepting defender after three months out with concussion and a couple of quarters in the VFL backline. 1) How badly did the Dogs want to drop Tim O’Brien? 2) Have they moved on from premiership player Zaine Cordy? Footage of Hannan not watching Isaac Heeney at a centre bounce — costing the easiest of goals — was damning, perhaps more so for the coaches than Hannan, given his lack of craft and defensive mindset could’ve been anticipated. What was O’Brien thinking, having crossed as a free agent to play that role? Adam Treloar was also surprisingly deployed in defence as the Dogs conceded 100 points for the third time in four games. The midfield didn’t help on Friday night, and looked slow with Bailey Smith, but the brittle backline is statistically easy to beat one-on-one and easy to transition against. Sydney had 35 scoring shots – eight more than North Melbourne had been giving up on average.
HEAT ON BEVO?
The likely changes from last year’s top eight are — IN: Fremantle, Carlton, Collingwood, Richmond; OUT: Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, GWS and Essendon. Giants coach Leon Cameron is gone while Ken Hinkley (Power) and Ben Rutten (Bombers) have faced scrutiny all season. So where does that leave Bevo and football boss Chris Grant? Unlike those other coaches, Beveridge has a premiership. But while the 2017 freefall was forgiven by supporters who had waited a lifetime for 2016, impatience has returned. The Dogs — 19 points up in the third quarter of last year’s grand final – are an average side who had the makings of an extraordinary list. Luke Hodge described Beveridge as a “broken man” at the post-game press conference where the coach questioned his club’s drop in preparation. Was that a whack at the professionalism of the players? The fitness department? Or is there a disconnect with the coach? Consecutive losses totalling 94 points is the club’s worst two-week patch since 2018. Beveridge said last week the alarm bells weren’t yet ringing. But the language on Friday started to shift to being encouraged by where this team can eventually get to. Sharp improvements from Tim English, Ed Richards and Rhylee West standout as the positives and Sam Darcy might join that conversation this month. After their worst six-and-a-half quarters for the season it is appropriate to start thinking about 2023 because this won’t be their year.
COVID CLOUD
A Covid cloud is forming over the AFL less than two months from finals. Brisbane’s weekly cluster that started with coach Chris Fagan sits at around 20, including staff, and could balloon again on Sunday morning. Elsewhere Izak Rankine, Oleg Markov, Mason Redman, Mitch Hinge and Connor Idun are also out with the virus. Has short-term immunity from the mass pre-season infections faded? What happens if a club faces an outbreak in September? Well, the AFL has said all year long that the show must go on — just ask West Coast. Will clubs in the premiership hunt urge all players and staff to get booster shots if they haven’t already? Or encourage them to enter a mini bubble approaching September, where they limited socialising and promote masks and social distancing again?
The AFL must take the first step and reintroduce charter flights as community numbers surge, particularly in Queensland. The risk of continuing to fly on public Virgin flights is one simply not worth taking.
BEN BROWN
Ben Brown has been targeted inside 50m one-on-one 45 times this season. He has taken one mark from those battles — a junk-time grab on Marcus Adams (Lions) late in the fourth quarter. He has been out-marked eight times. The Demons don’t trust Sam Weideman or Mitch Brown and so it’s a mighty concern for Melbourne as the absence of Tom McDonald — the swingman they attempted to offload in 2020 — aches. On Thursday night the Dees took six marks inside 50m, their equal fewest this season, and the disconnection is also disarming Kozzie Pickett and Charlie Spargo while Bayley Fritsch has been accused of being goal hungry. Contrast Brown’s numbers to Geelong goliath Tom Hawkins, who gobbles 38 per cent of his one-on-ones. The next best in the AFL is Darcy Cameron (Collingwood), who marks 25 per cent of his one-on-ones.
INCONSISTENT CALLS
Tough job, umpiring. Jack Ginnivan had his head ripped off by Luke Davies-Uniacke in the forward pocket and was pinged for holding the ball because umpire Nathan Toner said he ducked. Umpire Eleni Glouftsis also ignored Scott Pendlebury’s claim he was taken high by Tom Powell. But when Aidan Corr got Ginnivan around the neck, umpire David Harris did blow the whistle. None of the decisions were howlers, but suspect fans, players and coaches would prefer all or none are paid. However the most staggering inconsistency was the decision not to send debutant Josh Carmichael’s bouncing snap to ARC. The brave goal umpire was clearly certain it wasn’t touched on the line. But how much time is wasted by sending obvious ones upstairs, let alone this bouncing ball with scores level in the last quarter? Still not sure whether it was touched. Also still not sure the Pies are the real deal. They’re one win from first but their percentage — often an astute indicator — ranks 11th.
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