Tom Hawkins, Western Bulldogs, bad fans, soft Suns in Mark Robinson’s Likes and Dislikes

A BRAVE Tom Hawkins, Bob’s Bulldogs, bad attitudes and the soft Suns feature in Mark Robinson’s Round 4 likes and dislikes.

Geelong v North Melbourne

A BRAVE Tom Hawkins, Bob’s Bulldogs, bad attitudes and the soft Suns.

Mark Robinson looks at some of the highlights and lowlights from Round 4 in his Likes and Dislikes.

LIKES

1. GARRICK IBBOTSON: The intercept king sealed the victory over Sydney, not by kicking a goal, but getting a fist in for a spoil, which handed the goal to Chris Mayne, which iced the game. It was the second big fist of the weekend. Paul Seedsman won the Anzac Day Medal and instead of talking about a 65m goal he kicked, he said a spoil by teammate Jack Frost was equally as important.

2. PATRICK CRIPPS: Carlton fans wanted the future and they saw him in New Zealand on Saturday. Thirty-three disposals, 23 of which were contested, and laid a game-high 11 tackles. It shows he’s tough. What he also has is poise with the ball. At 192cm he is the size of Scott Pendlebury, but I don’t know if Pendles found it 33 times in just his fifth game of senior footy.

3. TOM HAWKINS: Kicked his first goal in the third quarter, gestured to the heavens and was besieged by teammates. It was a big goal, as the Cats stayed in touch, but it was far bigger than that. That was for mum. It was the beautiful moment of the weekend.

4. GUTSY COACHING: Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge left out Will Minson, he had Morris and Wallis injured, and the young Dogs belted Adelaide. The Dogs had more possessions (401-365) and more tackles (71-52) and ran the Crows senseless. Might be biased but Bob Murphy is in career-best form and it’s time he visits AFL360. Should’ve made him captain 12 months earlier.

5. TALKING OF RUCKMEN: Todd Goldstein is the No.1 ruckman in the competition over the first four rounds. Took on Blicavs and Stanley and beat them both as the team’s sole ruckman. The Roos had three important players in three areas of the ground. Robbie Tarrant at the back (nine marks, 22 disposals), Goldstein in the middle and Robbie Nahas as a high forward. Nahas is one of the most unpredictable players in the AFL. In form, he gives the Kangas a great contest and speed. Out of form, the Kangas fans demand that he’s dropped. Let’s hope his form stays with him.

6. RHYS PALMER: Could easily ponder how pure a footballer Dylan Shiel is - and he’s a genuine star - but the moment of GWS’s win came when Palmer ran back with the flight of the ball in the second quarter. He didn’t mark it, but neither did the Suns and the spillage was picked up by Devon Smith who curled it for the goal. It gave GWS a 20-point lead and, if they didn’t have it already, a do-anything attitude to win. GWS v West Coast (Subiaco) is an even money game.

7. MELBOURNE: Aaron vandenBerg’s 12 tackles, Nathan Jones’ dog-eat-dog attitude, McDonald and Garland at the back, Michie off the subs bench, or Jesse Hogan in the forward 50m. I’ll go with vandenBerg and Hogan. One is a tackling machine and the other threw Alex Rance around like he was timid back flanker. Hogan’s the one. He’s a beast.

8. HAMISH HARTLETT: The goal from the boundary was something extraordinary but he was more than just part of the highlight package. Have argued this before, but when Hartlett plays well generally so does Port Adelaide. He had 22 disposals and a game-high nine tackles. Actually, when it comes to being a barometer, reckon Port has two players: Hartlett and Westhoff.

9. PIES BACK GROUP: Led by Frost and Brown who took Daniher and Carlisle, with the experience of Goldsack and Toovey beside them and the run of Williams, Seedsman and Langdon not far away. It was a team performance from the Pies, led by Seedsman who had 14 inside 50s. Come on, Bombers, who’s going to put their hand up as his main opponent?

10. NAT FYFE: That’s four weeks in a row in the likes and the only debate from Saturday night was whether he got three votes or the two votes. Hannebery, McPharlin on Franklin, and maybe even Stephen Hill could pip him, but it’s possible Fyfe could have 12 votes after four games. He was $3.50 for the Brownlow Medal before the weekend and it could be about $3 today. Best player in the comp as we speak.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Isaac Smith is a bloody star, Boak is even better, Scott Thompson (Adel), Dahlhaus is flying, so is Michael Talia, so is Jake Stringer, Rosa and Butler, Marc Murphy is back on town, Longer’s 51 hit outs, Cam Wood’s 10 clearances, did I mention Dylan Shiel?, Callan Ward, Rischitelli is leading the Suns B&F, Nathan Krakouer, Jasper on the back flank, Chad on the forward flank, the beast named Mundy, the kid named Dumont and the blockbusters on Saturday night.

THE BOYS DISCUSS ALL THE BIG ISSUES IN THIS WEEK’S SUPERFOOTY PODCAST:

DISLIKES

1. BAD LUCK: In his first game, Nathan Drummond wrecked his knee after landing awkwardly in a courageous marking attempt. In that one moment, Drummond showed more heart than all of his teammates showed in the whole match. Insipid was right.

2. BAD ATTITUDE: Mitch Clark gives away free kicks, gives away 50m penalties and gave up goals to North Melbourne. Argues too much with the umpire after decisions are made and seems to be always on the verge of lashing out. Played well, but gives the ball up with his lame free kicks.

3. BAD TOUCH: Lewis Jetta loves it on the outside, but he’s not as crisp with the pill when in traffic. High stakes at Subiaco on Saturday night and clean hands were needed. It wasn’t Jetta’s night as he fumbled the ball in important situations.

4. BAD MOUTHS: Had drunks in Adelaide, a media performer accused of calling Bachar Houli a terrorist and yet another complaint from the MCG. This one’s from @WhippingBoySEN: “Witnessed an unfortunate incident at Friday’s Tigers v Dees match. Fan sitting behind me vilified Bachar Houli. Won’t repeat what was said. After telling the patron it wasn’t on, my partner contacted the @MCG anti-social number. Security were dispensed and the fan questioned.’’ A bad week for footy.

5. GOLD COAST: If Damien Hardwick thought the Tigers were insipid, what is Rodney Eade thinking of his team? It’s worse than insipid, it’s shameful. Started a year in front of GWS and arguably is two years behind them. Touk Miller is showing up his more experienced teammates, including Mick Malceski. Makes you think good teams make good players.

6. ESSENDON: Either the players didn’t listen to the coach or the coach wasn’t emphasising to his players that dry weather football in wet conditions won’t get the result. The fault has to be with the coach and the players. Too much lair, too much handball, and not tough enough in crucial contests. Eighty more possessions and lose by 20 points is an indictment, especially when they dominated the second term. What do they do with Jake Carlisle?

7. ADELAIDE: Another club drinking its own bath water. Disrespected the Bulldogs and thought it was going to happen and didn’t do the necessary things to compete. It’s how we respond, said coach Phil Walsh, which is perfect timing. It’s Showdown week over there.

8. BRISBANE: Easy to pick on the losers, but when they’re lame like the Lions were, then it’s warranted. Only Tom Cutler in his eighth game and Stefan Martin in the ruck were true winners in what is shaping as a season from hell. Have a percentage of just 52.3 which is as bad as Melbourne has been before this season. Averaging 61 points for and 118 points against.

9. WHAT TO DO WITH JORDAN LEWIS: Not Lewis himself but the intriguing situation of Lewis wanting to go third-man up in the ruck situation. On Saturday night, Brad Ebert virtually took out Lewis as he was about to leap over the ruckmen. There’s no law stopping Lewis going up for the ball, but neither is there a free kick to Lewis for being blocked for going for the ball? It’s a curly one, which prompted Lewis to back chat the umpires several times.

10. DECLARATIONS THE CATS ERA IS DEAD: People, it died two years ago, but like a good bad guy in a B-grade movie, the death scene has been a little drawn out.

BEST TWEETS

@Mr_Bianconero: Like: 99.9% of Port fans Dislike: 0.01% of Port fans

@samhill510: Like: Jack Frost - courageous, discipline and daring. Dislike: Richmond - they don’t have the depth to cover key players.

@MBright74: like: Shane Edwards emerging as a super footballer. Dislike: Marley Williams fighting the opposition more than for the ball

@Mark_UNC: Dislike- Richmond. Hope they have their “this isnt good enough” chat a few weeks earlier than they did last year

@Normy_GK: like: how quickly Taylor Adams is becoming a vital link to Collingwoods progression. #hardasnails

@tim_michell: Like: How hard Angus Brayshaw hits Dislike: How hard tipping is this year

‏@booga_13: dogs - talent coming through in spades. Even unsung ones like Jong. And dislike - why wasn’t Murphy captain 3 years ago?

@blackiemoustafa: Like: Patrick Cripps. Man Crush. Future Capt. Get excited!! Dislike: Too many players still play acting for frees.

@dylz16: LIKE: Jeremy McGovern. intercept king. 17 games old is his career and he’s playing like this WOW #Gun #LoveTheGov

@davidsffs: like: Brayshaw, Hogan, Mitchie for the Dees. ports first quarter, the Bulldogs. Dislike: Dangerfields efforts at times.

@GeorgiaLove71: L: Nathan Jones, loved hearing from him pre-match but more so his actions out on the ground. Tough as they come.

‏@dr_snick: Like - Peter Chitty and the Changi brownlow Dislike - Gold Coasts endeavour

@BigFella26: Like: Jack Frost... All Australian? Dislike: Josh Caddy. Geelong need better from a prized recruit.

@dcookis: Like - the Doggies and Jake Stringer - excitement machines! Dislike - Essendon, they played like Richmond

@therealhhealey: like: Trent dumont’s goal and crucial touches helping north get over the line on debut as the sub

@wtdunlop: like: Gws forward line, Cameron and McCarthy with 17 scoring shots between them. Patton injured too

@edithigniteroos: like: Goldstein looking good for AA ruck dislike: selection committee will find a reason not to select him again

‏@herberthodgson: Dislike: the score review. It’s absolutely useless, until they can get it right get rid of it!

@SidebySide: L: Young players at Pies showing their potential, quiet at MCG pre-game. D: Qld footy at rock bottom

@NMOpinion: like: Today’s victory makes North the first side to defeat the Cats in Geelong since their last victory there in 2007 #norf

@KateVictoria93: dislike: umpiring in the kangas v cats game, so one-sided it wasn’t even funny... and I don’t support either team!

@rhettrospective: Likes: North had a physical banner today. Not a curtain. A physical banner, made by hand, of crepe paper. It looked right

‏@MattTurfie: like- robbie nahas #thedifference. Dislike- how bad the lions are

@tj_nelson7: like the doggies run and carry. Dislike Scott Thompson.. Every time I saw him pushing/shoving/holding players on the ground

@srahul_35: L: Luke Beveridge & the Dogs. Fast, exciting, daring, intense, ferocious, young, rising. Great signs for the West.

@jrulach: dislike the crows - coach spruiks about toughness. What has changed? Soft, downhill skiers gifted a soft draw. Pathetic.

Originally published as Tom Hawkins, Western Bulldogs, bad fans, soft Suns in Mark Robinson’s Likes and Dislikes