The Tackle: Richmond and Essendon fail quality examination

THE TACKLE: IF the season was a four-quarter match, then Essendon and Richmond have faltered early in the final quarter.

Lachie Henderson

IF the season was a four-quarter match, then Essendon and Richmond have faltered early in the final quarter.

The red sash was bamboozled by the Hawks, and the yellow sash wasn't tough enough or strong enough for long enough against the best midfield and the best defensive team in the competition in Sydney, which happens to have a multitude of pillars in its forward line.

While the Bombers were made to look dysfunctional by Hawthorn's quick ball movement around Etihad, Richmond's quick ball movement was eventually thwarted by the Swans at the SCG.

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The Tigers were staunch, much like the Englishmen holding fort against the Zulus.

But however much the Tigers threatened, the Swans were able to send wave after wave of pressure and the Tigers were overwhelmed.

Unlike the Englishmen, Richmond didn't escape with a miracle victory.

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By midway through the final quarter, Sydney's fierce pressure and hard-running football had put the Tigers in their place: bottom half of the eight.

The Swans midfield was again incredible.

Every one of them - Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy, Ryan O'Keefe, Daniel Hannebery - has "star" beside his name, Tom Mitchell will be a star, and Luke Parker has well and truly established himself.

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And they had a ruckman, Shane Mumford, who had a team-high seven clearances, and Jarrad McVeigh, who plays half-back/midfield, which has become one of the most important positions in the team.

The tackle count was 58-50 Sydney's way, but it looked as though it was 78-50, such was the defensive pressure.

If Round 18 told us anything it was that with only five rounds to play, it's Hawthorn, Geelong, Sydney then daylight, then Fremantle, then a host of teams presenting a combination of stuttering, progressing, stalling and surging football.

The feel-good team of the weekend was the Western Bulldogs, winning their fifth game of the season against a West Coast team that, if they hadn't already, can put the cue in the rack and think about 2014.

Yesterday was a win for the Dogs' self-belief.

This was against an understrength West Coast but, still, it was West Coast.

In Round 6, the Dogs lost by 70 points at Subiaco. Yesterday, they won by 22 points, which equates to a 15-goal turnaround.

There is a beacon of light above the kennel. It's the same for the Tigers despite the defeat. Being 15 points behind at halftime was not a bad result on the scoreboard.

Two of their best three midfielders - Brett Deledio and Trent Cotchin - barely sighted the ball in the first two quarters.

Deledio had nine possessions and Cotchin 13, although the trend of Cotchin receiving most of his possessions under fierce pressure continued. He ran at just 46 per cent efficiency.

They would finish 21 (Deledio) and 30 (Cotchin).

Resolute against the Dockers last week, Alex Rance and Troy Chaplin weren't up to the challenge of Jesse White, Kurt Tippett and Mike Pyke, but let's be honest, they won't be the only defensive group who struggle with that trio.

The standout for the Tigers was Dustin Martin, who finished with 30 possessions at 80 per cent.

He kicked two goals in the first quarter, one of which exemplified his level of commitment to being an elite AFL player. He started a score chain in the back pocket, kicked it short, got it back, kicked it lateral, kept running, demanded the handball receive and goalled from the boundary line.

A new contract for him is a matter of urgency.

If the Bulldogs were the feel-good team of the weekend, the feel-good moment truly was the gathering of players from Geelong and St Kilda after the final siren in honour of Casey Tutungi, the footballer who is now a quadriplegic.

Football has damaged its soul this year and last, but the game won back a little bit of it on Saturday night.

BLUES ON THE BRINK

THAT'S three in a row for Carlton, and as so often seems to be the case, the next test is the biggest.

On the back of four consecutive losses through Rounds 11-15, the Blues have the scalps of St Kilda, North Melbourne and Gold Coast.

The Saints win now seems less impressive, but the Kangas and the Suns deserve respect.

The Suns at home is already challenge, so to fly home with a convincing 43-point victory suggests there is no more excuses for the Blues.

They would like Jarrad Waite, of course, but Mick Malthouse has his team playing aggressive, hard-running football.

They will need it against the Dockers at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night.

Seven of nine games in Round 19 carry plenty of interest, and none moreso than the Blues v Dockers.

Port Adelaide is four points ahead of Carlton in eighth spot, and if Port beats Adelaide at home, and the Blues succumb to Fremantle, the two-game deficit with with four games to play would probably require the Blues to follow God on twitter for divine intervention.

That said, the Blues are primed.

Lachie Henderson has given the forward line greater potency.

He kicked four goals against the Suns and has 11 in the past three matches.

In the short transition from defence to attack, he has emerged as Carlton's match-winner. He takes marks, he kicks goals, he has deep tank.
Against the Suns he had a team-high seven inside 50s, so he is more than just a key forward target.

He presents high to the wings, and pushes hard forward to be a marking option.

Lachie Henderson

It's obvious, but Carlton's midfield will decide the contest. It will go up against Fyfe, Mundy, Barlow, Hill, Pearce, Mzungu and Pearce and if McLean, Scotland and Gibbs put up a so-so performance on the night, which have seen from them at times this season, then Carlton will lose.

The impressive quality in recent weeks is the defence.

Without Henderson, which initially was a worry, the  Blues' back six of Simpson, Walker, Watson, Jamison, Tuohy and a bit of Scotland has been terrific.

The Suns were down on talent, still the Blues kept them to 77 points at home and 40 inside 50s.

That's a sign of strong defence all over the ground.

Their rebound is a weapon.  Kade Simpson and Andrew Walker took 26 marks between them against the Suns, and had 13 rebound 50s, but Ross Lyon won't let that happen this week.

Up the other end, Chris Yarran is working harder, Eddie Betts seems to be out of his slump and Jeff Garlett laid five tackles and kicked 1.4, so he's on the bounce.

You know, you could write another 30 paragraphs about how well the Blues are playing.

But the fact is, they face the Dockers to keep their season alive, and no matter how much praise they receive from the outside, it will matter squat when the game starts next weekend.

By its end, we'll know where the Blues fit in season 2013.
Maybe also-rans, hey Rossy?

Cameron

10 THINGS I LIKE

1. Jeremy Cameron
What a ripper, well-rounded young man. He spoke brilliantly in an interview on The Footy Show and then for three quarters had his team whipping at the heels of Collingwood on the MCG. He has everything. Can mark, is agile, is quick, has nous and likeness to attack the opposition players. And you know what he does best? He smiles, he makes you smile and he makes you get excited when the ball goes into his area. He kicked seven against the Pies and he was beaming after every one of them. Question though, has he big mouth or a big mouth guard?

2. Bob and his Bulldogs
Have been reluctant to lavish Bob Murphy for the vindictive would call me biased. But it's time. Bob is in the as good form now as he has for his entire career. Reckon he finds the back half easier to play than half-forward, because he's better at making the play rather than finishing it. Had 29 against the Eagles, the second most possessions in his 244-game career, and hasn't returned less than 19 since Round 8 this season. His best qualities are his agility, his coolness and he loves Johnny Cash.

3. Kieren Jack
Now the second favorite Jack - behind Nicholson - and is clearly worth a fiddy for the Brownlow Medal. Now has 11 games of 25-plus possessions this season, is averaging seven tackles per game and has kicked 16 goals. Not sure if he is flashy enough to be captured by the umpires _ Dan Hannebery's run and carry makes him a standout - but Jack is a footballer of rare quality. Yesterday's stats were: 26 disp, 88% eff. 827m gained (250 more than anyone else on ground). Nine inside 50s. 10 tackles. Two goals. (Courtesy of @FoxFootyAnalyst).

4. Matty Kreuzer
Where is his leadership? When is he going to perform like a No.1 draftee? The critics need to take a breath. His past five weeks against Sydney, Collingwood, St Kilda, North Melbourne and Gold Coast have maybe been the best five-game run of his career. If makes it six against the Dockers next week, then the Blues will be in great shape.

5. Spoiling
Thousands were made over the weekend, and maybe none better than Matthew Broadbent's effort in the final quarter against Brisbane yesterday. Caught under the ball and charging back towards goal, Broadbent got a hand to pill, gathered it and ran off towards half-back. In a torrid game, it was a moment which arguably won the game for Port Adelaide. Will say it again, he is regular looking dude who, if he walked up and said hello, I wouldn't click he was an AFL footballer. Would have him in the trenches, though. In a heartbeat.

6. Nathan Fyfe
He's a Tackle Hall of Famer after just 65 games. Amid the James Hird-like qualities, Fyfe has two areas to work on: His kicking, and his goal kicking. He nailed a career-high four goals against the Crows in a best afield effort. However, he did it with an efficiency of just 59 per cent. Hird also wasn't a brilliant kick, but he was better than Fyfe. Still, Fyfe has a feel for the game and if ever becomes a reliable user of the pill, he will be a top 20 player in the competition.

7. Leigh Matthews' best team
Lethal has written his autobiography and has named his best team since 1969. Some people might say who cares. Others will read it twice. Here it is:
B: Gavin Wanganeen, Stephen Silvagni, Matthew Scarlett
HB: Nathan Buckley, Peter Knights, Andrew McLeod
C: Peter Matera, Michael Voss, Malcolm Blight
HF: Chris Judd, Wayne Carey, Kevin Bartlett
F: Gary Ablett Sr Jason Dunstall, Peter Daicos
Foll: Simon Madden, Tim Watson, Gary Ablett Jr
Inter: Bruce Doull, Lance Franklin, James Hird, Greg Williams
Coach: David Parkin
Go on, read it again.

The day Lethal was livid

8. Chase downs
Again, there plenty to admire, and Josh Kennedy's was the pick of the bunch. The West Coast forward motored after Luke Dahlhaus and nailed him on the forward 50m. If Paul Roos said it once yesterday he said it a 100 times: The Swans chase down opponents like no other team. He may be right. But absolutely none of them at the Swans-Tigers game was as desperate and inspiring than Kennedy's.

9. Cyril
He can get tagged out of it (Picken last week) and then he can explode (Essendon this week), and when he does, he makes the Hawks a five-goal better team. Did you see his goal from the middle? His tackling on the wing? Rioli had just 14 touches, but accumulated 107 Supercoach points. No one gets value for possessions as Rioli does. Of his 14 touches, eight of them brought the footy into the forward 50m. #freak

Honourable mentions: Jarrad Grant's courage, Jack Steven, Sam Mitchell again, Buddy's back in town, S Motlop, L Hansen, Andrew Moore, Libba for the eighth time this season, Big Will, Travis Boak's attitude, same with Joel Selwood, Mummy, Ben Cunnington and Lachie Henderson.

Melbourne v North Melbourne

10 THINGS I DON'T LIKE

1. 4.4 (28)
Said I wasn't going to mention THIS TEAM again this season, so will stick to my word. THIS TEAM had eight shots at goal against North Melbourne's 40. THIS TEAM is diabolical. THIS TEAM is so fundamentally flawed that changing coaches has not even helped. There were games of improvement under Neil Craig, but Saturday's game was a putrid as any THIS TEAM played under Mark Neeld.

2. Andrew Swallow
It appears he has done his achilles which is terrible news for him and the Kangaroos. Not much else to be said to be honest except for one thing. People who have torn their achilles describe it as though they have been shot in the leg. When Swallow crumbled to the ground with the ball, he didn't instinctively grab for his leg. No, Swallow's first instinct was to handball the ball forward so his team still had an opportunity to keep the ball. You've got to love his character.

3. Dawson Simpson
There's a not fan of the game who doesn't get disappointed with long-term injuries, and the blow to Geelong's big fella is a real kick in the guts. Simpson has played 11 games in his four seasons at the Cattery.  On Saturday night it was a knee injury, which will be scanned today, although the club is confident it is not an ACL. It was desperately unfortunate for Simpson who in his past two matches before the St Kilda game, had 33 and 55 hit outs, and who had seemingly secured the No.1 ruck position. It's back to the drawing board for Chris Scott and back in rehab for Simpson.

4. Blame game
There's anger from the Essendon folk about David Evans' departure and it's understandable. But as much as there won't be much support for the next statement, all the blame can't laid on the media.  Essendon put themselves in this situation and the media can't ignore the story. Evans and Hird were at loggerheads, so much so, that in the end Evans couldn't deal with the stress of it. It was horrible news to learn what happen after the game. Evans is a good person, with a good heart, and was well liked by all who knew him.

Hird hits AFL over 'leaks'

5. The Bombers saga
It's dirty and it's ugly and everyone has had enough. The ASADA report is due in a week and the casualties haven't stopped. It's Hird v Demetriou, it will be Essendon v the AFL, and if you think this entire saga will be completed before the end of the August, you're kidding yourself. The Bombers will be punished, they need to be punished, but what the AFL wants to hand out and what the Bombers will accept will have lawyers busy for several weeks.  If the players took banned drugs, they will be suspended and everyone involved off-field will kicked out of the game. And rightly so. If the players are cleared, the Bombers won't accept their points being taken for governance issues, no matter how severe the issues were. If the AFL wants to suspend or deregister Hird,  then buckle in, for this will go to the courts.

6. Pods' elbows
That's twice in two weeks James Podsiadly is in the spotlight. He got points last week for an errant elbow, and he will be sweating again after yet another situation with his elbow against the Saints. Pods is not dirty player, but twice in two weeks points to a reckless nature.

7. 5.6 (36)
Oh, St Kilda, what has happened? "Rebuild" is not simply a word that can't be said, it should be announced in neon lights. Can't remember a time when the Saints were so feeble on the field. Just 1.5 to 17.10 after quarter time says it all. Sadly, it says the white flag was raised. Actually, can remember. Those sort of scores bring back memories of the 1980s, when St Kilda had more wooden spoons in the cupboard than the Iron Chef.

8. Hand waving
Brendon Goddard is demonstrative on the field, but you have to wonder if all his teammates appreciate the robust advice Goddard hands out. In victory it is leadership, in defeat it can be disheartening. It's a fine line to tread, because no-one, and despite Goddard's fine season, no-one is immune to making mistakes.

9. Misinformation
Contrary to popular thoughts, Jimmy Bartel didn't run from former teammate Matthew Scarlett's comments about Robert Harvey, who was alleged to have sledged Bartel about his old man way back when. Scarlett's book excerpts have created publicity, but it's not true that Bartel distanced himself from Scarlett. In fact, Bartel contacted Harvey's mobile to tell Harvey that he had moved on from the alleged sledge. The issue is, however, Harvey emphatically denies he ever spoke of Bartel's father. A case of he said/he said, which is a popular past time at present.

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@stkildathunda: Dislike: Very tough weekend for StKilda this weekend. 101 point AFL loss and 117 point VFL loss. Hard to take for us fans.

@MVFCLR22: Like: Jesse White staking his claim for a best 22 spot at the Swans. Dislike: The smashings of both St.Kilda and Melbourne.

@dmandaru: dislike. Toll media treatment has had on David Evans. Poor, innocent man.

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