The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from round 20, 2022
Izak Rankine was supposed to sign with the Suns weeks ago. Clubs believe he will stay, but it appears there is plenty of interest from rival suitors.
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Will the real top four and top eight contenders please stand up.
With three rounds to go Carlton, Fremantle and Brisbane have the wobbles while St Kilda clings to eighth spot.
The Blues have matches to come against Brisbane (away), Melbourne (MCG) and Collingwood (MCG) and haven’t yet locked in a return to finals, with the Saints, Dogs and a Richmond side that refuses to die all within striking distance.
Meanwhile, the Dogs have a tough decision to make on Josh Bruce, unsung heroes stand up and Jack Ginnivan is still making headlines.
Scroll down for all Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from round 20.
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DISLIKES
1. Blues on the road
They have a 2-3 win-loss record out of Victoria this season and the two wins came against West Coast and the Giants, one team being one of the easybeat of the competition and the other team having sacked their coach in the days leading up to the game. The three losses have come against Gold Coast (round 4), Fremantle (round 6) and Adelaide on Saturday night. And this week they meet Brisbane at the Gabba. Ouch. Always, flaws are exposed on the road and if you’re Carlton and planning on playing finals and you have the Lions, Melbourne and Collingwood to come, you simply have to get it done against the lowly Crows. It was old, stinky Carlton in the back half on Saturday night. They committed 26 turnovers in their defensive half, which was the second-most in a game this season, and the Crows kicked 38 points directly from those turnovers. And up the other end, the Blues couldn’t score themselves, and that had nothing to do with Jack Silvagni being on the ground or not. Carlton’s front six was McKay, Curnow, Durdin, Owies, Motlop, and a combo of De Koning, Silvagni (medi sub), Fisher and Cottrell. Some Blues fans were suggesting that there was some psychological influence because Silvagni was surprisingly dropped, but that surely is rubbish. Because if that rattled the team, or parts of the team, then the Blues are fragile.
2. This hurts the most
The Lions were 42 points in front and lost by seven points to the competition’s most heroic team of the past five years. Heroic because the Tigers have the ability to introduce a swashbuckling brand of footy and when that happened in the second half, the Lions could not halt it. A 50-point turnaround in two quarters is a diabolical two quarters of footy and one not easily parked. Coach Chris Fagan believes you win or you learn, and he will have plenty to discuss from the second half with his players, like stopping momentum, not being overwhelmed at stoppage and taking you chances. In fact, the Lions could’ve claimed the win if Mitch Robinson and Charlie Cameron kicked goals, and Big O was unlucky to be pinged for a push in the goalsquare because what he did happens most weeks. There were other mistakes, like controlling the footy, and it wouldn’t be lost on Fagan that the Tigers kicked seven goals off Brisbane turnovers in the second half, which right there in a nutshell, is the Lions’ greatest problem: they can’t adequately defend.
3. Bruise-free footy
It’s sort of understandable at the end of a season, as North Melbourne looks to the end and Essendon, at least on Sunday, notched up a ho-hum win. Footy’s not footy when there’s little pressure and on Sunday, North Melbourne’s pressure was 157, the fourth-lowest pressure game this year behind Essendon in round 9 against Sydney, Geelong in Round 1 against Essendon, when the Bombers were witches hats, and Port Adelaide in round 18. Essendon’s pressure rating was only 171 on Sunday, so that wasn’t exactly storming the beaches, either. The positive was North won clearance easily (42-22), but they went inside 51 times for 66 points. It was an ordinary game from both teams.
4. Jack is still in the headlines
Well done to Jack Ginnivan for giving Fox Footy an interview after the game, which invited the footy world into the mind of the talented young Pies forward. He spoke of his mental health, and the support he’s getting, just one week after he posted a still of himself being tackled by Mason Redman as his insta profile pic. Because he spoke of his mental health, should the media and fans not talk about the issue now? We know he should’ve received a free kick against Redman and the AFL and the umpires got it wrong, but on Saturday, there was another high contact situation with Ginnivan, he didn’t get the free kick, and that decision was right. All of this started because Ginnivan had a penchant to lead with his head and drop his body in a bid to receive a free kick. People call it a skill, others say it’s not in the spirit of competition, and perhaps dangerous. Part of me feels sorry for him, because the media/fan attention is maximum on the young man and he has been victimised by umpires, or at least been on the wrong side of inconsistency. But most of me says he has to deal with it, it’s self-inflicted, and if he plays every situation on its merits, then the umpires will look after him.
5. Dogs’ whimper
The Bulldogs’ issue wasn’t missing Alex Keith in defence – he was sensationally dropped on Thursday night – because Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron combined for only 4.4 in a match where the Cats kicked 14.10 and won by 28 points. No, the issue was the Bulldogs’ inability to defend the whole ground and not the last line of the defence. The Cats kicked seven goals from chains starting in their back half, which was the fourth-most conceded goals in a match by the Dogs this year. They also conceded 74 points on turnover, which was the second-most they have given up in a game this year. So, they gave up the ball, they couldn’t defend the turnover and they couldn’t contain Geelong’s ball movement. That isn’t going to get you the four points when you play Geelong at Geelong, and against any team really.
6. What’s the plan with Josh Bruce?
OK, Sam De Koning got Aaron Naughton for the second time this year, Ugle-Hagan was solid, but Bruce continued to look so far from his best. He’s a big guy and ACLs are a serious injury and time will be needed to get the confidence back. And just look at Brisbane’s Eric Hipwood struggles since his return from the same injury. But the Dogs don’t have time. They need more impact from that key forward role. In his three games back, Bruce has had a collective 14 disposals, five marks, one mark inside 50, one contested mark, zero goals and five score involvements. That’s not Josh Bruce, all things being equal. But do the Dogs carry him still and hope his form/confidence returns? The solution could be Sam Darcy, who took 14 marks in defence playing against Werribee in the VFL at the weekend. But Darcy will only play if coach Luke Beveridge believes he’s ready. The problem is Bruce is not yet ready for senior combat.
7. Why does it take so long?
The Eagles were down by 30 points at halftime and kicked 3.3 to 4.2 in the third quarter and then 7.1 to 3.3 in the final quarter. That 7.1 was their second-best quarter of the season, their best quarter being the 7.3 kicked against Carlton in round 17. The question is, why now? The Eagles would probably answer that it’s better late than never, and when you’re looking for small wins, 7.1 in the final quarter on the road is a telling small win. The first half of the season had the Eagles 1-10 with a percentage of 49. Since round 12, they are 1-7 with a percentage of 76. Their average losing margin went from 65 points to 29 points, so in fact there’s been a bunch of small wins. Yes, there’s something to work with, but overall they are 2-17. They almost beat the Suns on Sunday, as the Suns’ defence capitulated again. That’s three 100-point scores against them in three past weeks, and West Coast’s second 100-point score of the season
LIKES
1. Richmond is alive and kicking
This extraordinary team continues to do the extraordinary, led by a player, Shai Bolton, who is quite extraordinary. Players who swathe through the opposition with speed and surge towards goal are football’s most captivating players, and Bolton might be peerless in that regard. There might be a new catch-cry in football: Who’s on Bolton? Yes, he is that good. The football world watched the Lions’ lead of 42 points disappear as Richmond’s familiar, intense and brutal brand of footy came to the occasion. Coach Damien Hardwick flipped the magnets and in the end it was a team effort loaded with individual talent, led by Bolton, Tom Lynch up forward, Dan Rioli off a back flank and a young lad named Noah Cumberland, who kicked the winner this week after missing out the week before. What a player he shapes to be. Once again, it’s proven too hard to kill off the champs and if they lost on Sunday, finals would’ve been a struggle. But they didn’t, and while they are still alive and kicking, the rest of the competition will be glancing over their shoulders.
2. Dyson makes a case
The Essendon’s skipper’s move to the wing post-bye has rejuvenated a career which was starting to stall at half-back. It’s been a win-win for him and the team because any team needs strong leadership to play that wing role. And at half-back, Mason Redman especially and Nick Hind have given the Bombers some spark. The issue is Heppell’s contract. It’s about money and length – when isn’t it in any contract – and the sort of football Heppell is playing might require him being offered a two-year deal. Just maybe the wing was his position all along, and not half-back. He had 28 disposals at 86 per cent efficiency against North Melbourne.
3. Rankine’s signature
Izak Rankine was supposed to have been signed by the Suns weeks ago, but as soon as he plays a great game of footy, it would appear a bunch of clubs phone his manager and talk turkey. Clubs believe he will stay at Gold Coast, but it is round 20 and he’s not signed for next year, so, as they say in Dumb and Dumber, you’re telling me he’s a chance? It’s probably fair to say he is intriguing more than gettable. Still, he has Shai Bolton traits and at 22 has a long and fruitful AFL career ahead of him. So, what’s he worth? The Suns’ small problem is clubs will offer more for him to leave than what the Suns can offer him to stay. But it will be healthy either way. On Sunday, he kicked three goals from 12 touches, and of those 12 touches, seven involved scores. He sprinkles gold dust, Rankine, and is a priority signing for the Suns.
4. Straight talking at the Giants
Mark McVeigh’s never been one to pussy-foot around and if something had to be said, he’d say it. He named eight players who could hold their heads up after the loss to the Swans on Saturday and accused the rest of “checking out’’. You’ve got to admire his forthrightness, but at the same time, you have to ask if McVeigh has contributed to part of the lethargy sinking his team. Three weeks back, McVeigh was asked if he would be interested in coaching North Melbourne. He answered: “I think I would. I’ve obviously got a passion to do it.’’ He added: “First and foremost for me, though, it’s this footy club. This is where I want to be and this is who I want to coach.’’ Guessing here, but the players probably only heard the first comment and not the second, and if in fact that was the case, and even if it was a throwaway line at a midweek presser, the players could easily lose their edge. And they have. The Giants have lost five in a row and the weekend’s loss to the Swans was insipid. They scored heavily when McVeigh first took over, but their past four weeks have returned 39, 59, 54 and 39 points. The white flag went up some time ago with this mob.
5. The other Zach at the Cattery
There are contenders for most improved player at Geelong and if No.1 is Tom Atkins, then No.2 might be Zach Guthrie. What a story. He’s played 33 games in his five seasons and at times a settled AFL career looked to be a bridge too far. But this year he’s played 15 of 19 games as a defender, and at 187cm he can play on array of opponents. On Saturday night, he played mainly on small forward Rhylee West. Last week it was Sam Powell-Pepper, the previous week it was Corey Durdin, before that Bayley Fritsch and in round 15 against Richmond, it was Jack Riewoldt and Maurice Rioli. His emergence in the defensive role, and that of Sam De Koning, has meant coach Chris Scott has been able to use Mark Blicavs however he pleases and Blicavs has loved the roles, for he is a strong All-Australian contender. Guthrie, meanwhile, would be rapt he has found a spot and by the end of the season could be a premiership player.
6. One kick wonder
Always we talk about how many times midfielders touch the ball and their influence, and often are amazed when, for example, Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh both have 40 disposals and the Blues still lose to Adelaide. Arguably, the more important player at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night was Nick Murray, who had one disposal for the whole game. The key defender – selected by the Crows before the start of 2021 season via the Supplemental Selection Period – played his 26th game against the Blues on Saturday. His opponent was the leader of the Coleman Medal, Charlie Curnow, who kicked two goals. Murray had six spoils and one effective kick, that coming in the third quarter, a long kick down the line which wasn’t marked by a teammate. Doubt the coaches will give him a vote – maybe Matty Nicks could fit him for one? – but he absolutely will get votes in the best-and-fairest.
7. The skipper
Footy fans love to dislike players and Joel Selwood would probably fall in that category for fans outside of Geelong. But there wouldn’t be – or shouldn’t be – a single footy fan who doesn’t respect the 350-game veteran. What a player he’s been: Brave, inspiring, relentless. There were glorious scenes on Saturday night for Selwood, as there were for Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury for the same milestone a few weeks back, albeit that wasn’t at the MCG. Wouldn’t that have been a sight, Pendles saluting 60,000 Pies fans at the home of football.
Originally published as The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from round 20, 2022
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