The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from Round 14, Pies, Josh Kelly, Jeremy Cameron, Eagles
IN A match of many mistakes, one has been highlighted more than others. And MARK ROBINSON says that isn’t fair on Mitch Wallis. Plus the game’s best players right now and that Jeremy Cameron hit.
Mark Robinson
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COLLINGWOOD made the bold move to stand by its coach after it missed the finals last year.
After a fifth win in a row, this time over the old enemy Carlton, Mark Robinson says it’s time to give Buckley credit for the club’s transformation.
PIE FIVE: COLLINGWOOD CLAIMS FIFTH STRAIGHT
LONG BAN: AFL LEGENDS WEIGH IN ON CAMERON HIT
VIDEO: THE MOST INSPIRING GOAL OF THE YEAR
Robbo likes a number of stars putting their hand up for ‘best in the game’, but dislikes Jeremy Cameron’s hit on Harris Andrews and the bashing of Mitch Wallis for the mistake that cost the Dogs the match against the Roos.
ALL ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES FROM ROUND 14
WHAT I LIKE
1. Is Josh Kelly the best player in the game right now?
If not, he’s at least on the podium. Has averaged 32.5 disposals in his past four games and does it in manner which makes a mockery of the congestion debate, for he dazzles in congestion. Giants captain Phil Davis yesterday said on 3AW Kelly should be regarded as elite. Don’t fret skipper, he is. From Round 10-14, Kelly is ranked second in the league for disposals, has 604m gained (third), 9.3 score involvements (third), 123 ranking points (fourth) and 21.3 uncontested possessions (seventh). He’s worth every cent of $1 million, which he will get at the Giants if he stays beyond 2019, and get plus some if he returns to Victoria.
2. Shaun Higgins is also on the podium
Enormous month of footy from Higgins, culminating in a gut-busting sequence in the final minute on Saturday night. Was involved at halfback/wing with a handball, charged forward, gathered a ground-ball first touch with Bulldogs opponents coming at him and fired a left-hand handball to Ben Brown who soccered the ball to skipper Jack Ziebell who kicked the winner. He is grace and guts, Higgins, and surely in the All-Australian team. His past four weeks read: 6.5 inside-50s (ranked 2nd in competition), 564m gained (fifth), 6.8 clearances (sixth), 31.3 disposals (sixth) and 116 ranking points (eighth).
3. What about Robbie Gray?
It’s said no player gets more value for possessions than Hawthorn’s Cyril Rioli. Port coach Ken Hinkley might disagree. He has at his disposal arguably the smartest player going around, be it playing small forward or in the midfield. In a fierce contest, Gray’s effort in the last minute of the second quarter was something special. He made the spoil and when the ball was in the air he won a contested knock-on which went to Sam Gray, who then hit Lindsay Thomas for a shot at goal (he kicked a behind). Gray had only 15 disposals against Melbourne, but was involved in eight scoring chains — the most on the ground.
4. Can’t ignore, Patty Cripps
Had bigger possessions games, but his influence is absolute and he’s putting out games as good as Kelly and Higgins. Yesterday at the MCG, he virtually went head to head with Scott Pendlebury in what was a rare and classic match-up — the two best midfielders opposed to each other. There was a lot to like about the Blues. Embarrassed last week against Fremantle, Cripps, Kade Simpson, Charlie Curnow, Liam Jones and Dale Thomas led a gallant group missing Levi Casboult and Lachie Plowman because of injury. Cripps is a mighty footballer, a million dollar footballer.
5. Collingwood
This time last year the Pies were 5-7 and on the road to yet another missed September. This year they are 9-4 and fourth on the ladder. The transformation under Nathan Buckley deserves all the plaudits it can get. Can win with flair (Melbourne, Fremantle, Essendon and Adelaide) and win ugly (Carlton yesterday and Carlton Round 2). Buckley might not be satisfied with the overall game, but the Pies showed they can play grunt footy when the game is not on their terms. With nine games to play, keeping a top-four spot is not beyond them.
6. Luke Hodge
The perfect storm for Hodgey. Played the majority of the game as a loose man in the back half and was, with Josh Kelly, among the most influential players on the ground. Suggestions earlier in the season he “should be in the grandstand’’ have proven to be wrong. He would be battered today because he was in all the action, defending and rebounding. It was his best game since the 2015 semi-final, where had 24 disposals and kicked four goals against Adelaide. On Saturday, he had 30 disposals, eight score involvements and 823 finger points as he organised Brisbane’s defence.
7. Kyle Langford
The Bombers are hunting for inside midfielders — they should be up to their necks in the chase for Adelaie’s Rory Sloane — and finally might be getting that sort of footy out of Langford. Hasn’t yet nailed down his position in the Essendon midfield, but the signs were there on Thursday night that he’s worth persevering with. Played six games in 2017 and already has played seven this season. Against the Eagles Langford had a career-high 24 disposals and five clearances, which was the third most of any Bomber. Aged 21, he might be ready to blossom.
8. Honesty
The Blues expect Marc Murphy to stay and former Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy says it’s his obligation to stay. “He is the captain of the footy club. He hasn’t got the luxury of exploring his options. These young players need his leadership now more than ever. Captains should stay,’’ he said on SEN. Agree wholeheartedly, but it’s not always the case. Bob succeeded Ryan Griffen as captain at the Bulldogs after Griffen — the captain — hightailed it to GWS. As for Murphy, suspect he wants to be a one-club player.
WHAT I DISLIKE
1. What will happen to Jeremy Cameron?
Initial reaction was five weeks, but after Harris Andrews joined the bench with only a cut chin and not a broken jaw, this hanging judge suspects it will now be four weeks, maybe three. The protective mechanism — lifting the arms to protect yourself, which Cameron will surely argue — comes into play. But the fact it was a flush elbow to the chin is damning. The rules say a raised elbow is deliberate, but I don’t think Cameron’s intention was to nail Andrews, who courageously jumped back into the Giant’s space, giving Cameron a moment’s notice to react. Yes, it was an accident at high velocity but Cameron’s duty of care meant he needed to have his elbow down and not cocked. That said, Andrews’ hospital visit won’t help Cameron.
2. What about the fallout?
Giants officials are on the rampage. They are filthy Cameron was called a thug and that it was labelled a “dog act’’. If the same officials want to keep their sanity, they are best to avoid social media, for it is free-for-all on those platforms. Cameron’s problem is himself. He attacks the ball and the marking contests with such ferocity — which is what coach Leon Cameron wants him to do — but the slightest miscalculation can deliver exactly this outcome. Cameron told Fox Footy’s Cameron Mooney after the match he was going for the ball. That’s fine, but the argument against that is the ball was nowhere near Harris’s chin.
3. Remorse after the game
There was talk from Cameron after the match and then there should have been actions. The Herald Sun’s man on the ground Greg Davis tweeted this: “Sorry. Can’t cop Cameron’s line that he was playing the ball and hit it hard. The ball was NOWHERE near Harris’ jaw. And was he trying to catch it with his elbow? PR spin. Harris had to approach him post-game. too. Spare me.’’ If it’s true that Harris went to Cameron and not vice versa, then that was a poor decision by Cameron.
4. Hawks v Suns
Not the greatest game and Isaac Smith said yesterday that people don’t understand how difficult it is to play with the sun in players eyes. Still, the Hawks leave with the four points, Sicily and Breust enhance their All Australian credentials and Liam Shiels maintains his status as the most underrated midfielder in the AFL. As for the Suns, it was another so-so performance inside 50m. The Suns have had nine goalless quarters, two more than any other side, and in the second and third quarters against the Hawks, they had 15 inside 50s — which is diabolical — for just five behinds.
5. Bashing Mitch Wallis
Poor bugger will be remembered in this game for his decision to go long to Billy Gowers and kicking it out of bounds instead of going short to Mitch Honeychurch who could have taken 20 seconds to have a shot at goal and kill the game. It was a match-defining mistake, but not the only match-defining mistake. In yet another fierce encounter, it has to be noted Wallis was pretty solid in the midfield. He had season highs in disposals (25), contested possessions (14), ground ball gets (13) and five clearances. Hope he stays a Bulldog.
6. Everyone’s pointing at Melbourne’s defence
There’s some concern with Oscar McDonald (50 games) and Joel Smith (five games) against the big bodies. McDonald played on Charlie Dixon for 114 minutes on Friday and gave up eight disposals and a goal and, unfortunately, a couple of crucial free kicks. The Demons are the third easiest side to score against once the opposition goes inside 50m, but that wasn’t the issue against Port Adelaide. Their inefficiency going inside-50 cost them the game. Nine teams over the past 20 years have lost with an inside-50 differential of +29 or better — Melbourne was one of them.
7. Why the Eagles crumbled
The kids went missing. Jackson Nelson (six touches), Jake Waterman (six), Liam Ryan (seven), Willie Rioli (nine) and Fraser McInnes, who is 24 and played just 13 games in four years, didn’t have an impact and Scott Lycett couldn’t make contact on the goal line. It was laughable from afar, but staggering that an AFL footballer could miss the football on the goal line. The problem, though, was the leaders. Luke Shuey, Nic Naitanui, Jeremy McGovern, Mark LeCras, Mark Hutchings and Chris Masten didn’t pave the way for the youngsters. Had to be mental, perhaps believing they had the game won before they played.
8. The rushed behind confusion
Players are still nervous and confused about what they can do with the footy near the goal line. Even the most experienced players in the game panicked at the weekend. Luke Hodge, who was being tackled two metres from the goal line, handballed to Daniel Rich on the goal line who, instead of taking the ball through for a point, handballed back into play and the Giants kicked a goal. You’d expect more knowledge of the situation from those two players.
BEST TWEETS
@_whosaidwhat: Dislikes. Cameron hit, then him saying he was playing the ball and after that … him not actively looking for Harris after the siren to see if he is OK, Harris having to walk 100 meters and find him and initiate the hand shake. Disgrace.
@AFLBabble: Dislike: People defending the intent of Cameron because they know they can’t defend the action. Really dislike: People trying to defend the action.
@aflgrantrant: Like the fact that NM left Brown and Ziebell deep forward when the game had to be won with the ball in the back pocket.
@MeganHustwaite: Sorry, I only have a LOVE and that’s Charlie!
@Jonesracing82: Dislike — 3 bye weeks, what was wrong with split round? 3 weeks is a nightmare for SuperCoach
@stickers_bown: Like Shaun Higgins, Charlie curnow, Ben brown, Majaks last qtr efforts just love footy this week
@razorsharp1983: Like Devon Smith, would have to be in top couple of B & F. Dislike umpires paying shepherding in marking contests. You are allowed to protect drop of the ball area. Not everyone can jump on shoulders some use body. Be consistent!!!
@cantstandyaPE: Dislike — 4 umpires. Over officiating. Too many frees. Just call the obvious that disadvantages a player. Let the game flow and let the players play.
@papajfry666: Likes Justin Westhoff playing better then ever at his age both ends of the ground and in the ruck.
@dingoderek: Likes — Sam Skinner making return after 3rd ACL. Dislikes — Lack of sending off rule
@21Ckel: Not hard. Clash jumpers need to be mandatory. Fans are moving on …
@Lazlow: Dislike: The West Coast fans jumping off after Friday night’s loss. Better stay gone come finals you fickle bandwagoners.
@chevalierjimmy: like: Pies in top 4. dislike: just 1 of 12 teams reached 100pts
@DymnickiPeter: Dislike- people trying to change the game to make more scoring. Wasn’t the Friday night game great!
@MarkHosking1: Like — Tom Bellchambers. Was outstanding on Thursday night. Dislikes- umpiring on Thursday night. West coast had more free kicks at 3/4 time than there score.
@craighiggins89: Like: Cripps & Curnow. Carlton are in good hands. Dislike: 4 umps. All feeling like they need to make their own mark on the game. Let the boys play. Also dislike: Jeremy Cameron. Doesn’t have a great track record and that act was very average
@christayls: Collingwood have beaten 1 top 8 side (melb) why all the hype. Going well but haven’t beaten anyone of note.
@RedFromNZ: Ben Brown & Shaun Higgins — bona fide superstars. Ben Cunnington — still criminally underrated.
@siobhan_roe: Like: @NMFCOfficial. Played a poor first half and still managed to win the game. That last passage & winning goal in particular, epitomised the ‘Shinboner Spirit’.
@gnaight: Dislike — Port Adelaide getting given the win by the umpires. Melksham decision worst call of the year.
@lamplyter: West Coast frees. Truly, what is going on there?
@bombersstorm90: Like- the never die attitude of the Bombers in the West morning n Thursday. Dislike- the Cameron hit on Andrews and the blatant disregard of one sided free kick counts during matches and the head honchos at the afl never fixing the problem (playing 4 WA umps on Thursday)
@endthdegree: Shaun Higgins an absolute star. Most influential player in the league atm. Has been north best for a while now. Must be AA.
@swampd1515: Dislike: The free kick paid against Majak Daw.
@Luke_Martini88: Dislike umpires. Absolute disgrace that they can decide a game. Every coach too scared to say anything
@agsirr_sirr: Likes — the vic metro country game. Footy how it should be played. DISLIKES All the noise around jeremy cameron! Did he murder someone? Fair dinkum. No noise when cotchin put Shiel out of the prelim final and didn't miss a game!!!
@PaulZauch: @twjonas42 beloved by the @PAFC faithful as he epitomises every we love in our players but utterly underrated by other supporters. Outstanding defender. Great leader. #weareportadelaide
@timpatton81: Dislike: I felt the Port vs Melb. game was so over umpired in the 1st half. Don’t follow either team & thought the umps felt to give extra frees to stop the niggle. Like: Patrick Cripps. Would love him at the Hawks. He’d win a brownlow in only a half decent side
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Originally published as The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from Round 14, Pies, Josh Kelly, Jeremy Cameron, Eagles