The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from round 22
Many think the Dogs have a much better list that they’re showing after yet another close loss. Check out Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from round 22.
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The Blues added another chapter to their incredible story with their win over the Demons on Saturday night, capping off a phenomenal Saturday of sport.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs remain arguably the most puzzling side in footy as the youthful Hawks inflicted more damage on this season’s final eight.
Check out Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from an intriguing round of footy.
LIKES
1. THE NO. 1 SEED
There’s a sense of familiarity about Carlton. The president Luke Sayers is caught up in corporate shenanigans a la former president Jack Elliott, Charlie Curnow is the new Stephen Kernahan, Patrick Cripps is Greg Williams albeit a foot taller, and the modern-day mosquito fleet, which was the label of the 1979-82 side, is powering the Blues to firm flag contenders. The current smalls and mid-sized runners – Hewett, Saad, Fisher, Dow, Fogarty, Cuningham, Hollands, Martin, Motlop and Cottrell – don’t have the runs on the board a la the group of yesterday’s heroes, but they are shaking up the premiership race. And there’s Walsh and Cerra to return. Saturday night’s win over Melbourne was proof the Blues can match it with the best. It was a bruising encounter which demanded total commitment to the contest from first siren to last and the Blues never wavered. They’re confident, unyielding and delivering and absorbing the pressure which comes in these finals-like contests. It’s in stark contrast to the rabbits in the headlights we watched in dismay though the middle part of this season. It’s good for footy to have the Blues rocking the MCG.
2. TOM, TOMS ARE BEATING
Tom De Koning should never play VFL again. The ruckman/forward was enormous against Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy and was clearly his best game for Carlton. He only had one hitout to advantage, but he competed fiercely, especially in the third quarter. In that quarter, he had 10 disposals, nine of them contested and three clearances. When it was Pittonet v Gawn, Carlton lost the clearances 16-20. When it was De Koning v Gawn it was 13-12 to the Blues. He is the future. De Koning’s form doesn’t bode well for Jack Silvagni, who had been used in the forward/ruck role. Selecting a team is not always about “best’’, it’s about balance, and with Harry McKay returning to the starting 22 at some stage, the Blues will be reluctant to go too tall, especially now that they have added speed to their line-up and with great success. A backline role for Silvagni has also been nipped in the bud with the return of Caleb Marchbank to halfback. Silvagni remains uncontracted and has a decision to make. Stay at the Blues, play VFL and wait for injuries to come, or seek a new club, because opportunities may be limited.
3. WHAT A NIGHT
Carlton v Melbourne was one of the best games of the season, but it didn’t come close to the best sporting moment on Saturday. That goes to the Matildas. The penalty shootout was both gripping and gut-wrenching as strikes were saved, missed and hit the timber. Everyone has their feels. I can’t remember ever being enveloped by such tension watching a sporting event, while former AFL coach Terry Wallace comment summed it up perfectly. “I truly believe that was one of the best moments I’ve ever seen in Australian Sport. Amazing Matildas,” he posted. We could print thousands of reactions. Loved that Crows coach Matthew Nicks and Lions coach Chris Fagan watched it together on a mobile phone at the Gabba, while the footage posted from pubs and bars around the country was of a nation in love with their soccer team. You had to feel for the people at the Hobart live site. Just as Cortnee Vine was about to take her penalty shot, the feed cut out.
4. THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY
Every team needs a superstar and the Hawks are unearthing several; led by mid-season draft phenom Jai Newcombe. He busts tackles for fun, but he’s more than just a stumpy footballer who likes the contact. He’s smart and elusive and he dominated one of the best midfields which is the Bulldogs. In fact, the Hawks had the six highest possession winners in a total possession domination. Will Day, who has just turned 22, is another emerging star. He is the complete player. He can win the ball, win the clearance, is strong in the air, pushes into defence and plays for keeps. He is reminiscent of a young Nathan Fyfe, although Fyfe was probably stronger and had high-end beast mode. Day is working towards that sort of level. Against the Dogs, he had 24 disposals, 15 uncontested, five clearances and five insides on an array of opponents. They are building the Hawks, led by Lewis forward, Sicily, Hardwick and Weddle back, Newcombe, Day, Nash and Worpel in the middle.
5. ROWAN MARSHALL
He’s the old fashioned follower, able to ruck but does his best work around the ground. He had 25 disposals against Richmond’s Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo, which are Max Gawn-type numbers. He also took nine marks and won four clearances. In an era of Gawn, Grundy (at Collingwood) and Nic Naitanui and now Tim English, Marshall’s contribution has not been heavily recognised by the greater football public. He’s versatile, athletic, tremendous overhead and a nice kick, and rarely plays a bad game. On Sunday, it was a comfortable win by the Saints who rebounded strongly from half-back. They kicked seven goals from the back half and the Tigers struggled to consistently lay a finger on them. It helps somewhat when Max King is taking marks and kicking 6.1.
6. MOJO BACK AT PORT ADELAIDE
If the rumours are true, then coach Ken Hinkley and the club should announce a new deal this week. It is well earned after Port secured itself a top-four spot finish in the ladder. Injuries are an issue, although it goes to show they can’t always be used as an excuse. They controlled this game from the outset and most pleasing for Hinkley were the contributions from Bergman, Horne-Francis and Wines. Bergman, who was rated one of the worst kicks in the league by Champion Data, kicked three goals in the first quarter and was quiet after that, while Wines, who has played catch-up all season because of a pre-season knee injury, is finding form. For Port to win it, they need Wines and Horne-Francis to chop out Butters and Rozee. Wines could be massive. Yet again, Butters was probably best afield and you just never know what that could do to Brownlow Medal night. They won 13 games to start the season and that’s a lot of votes to Port’s players.
7. DOCKERS DILEMMA
He’s by far a better ruckman than he is a forward and currently is ranked the second highest ruckman in the competition behind Melbourne’s Max Gawn. The Dockers also have a dilemma. What to do with Jackson and Sean Darcy, who is also a prominent ruckman? It’s been suggested Darcy should be traded for a first-round pick – who would take him – Geelong, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Sydney? – but the Dockers maintain Darcy is a required player. Footy pundits say the Dockers have to get creative with the pair, but that’s fluffy commentary. The fact is that when Darcy rucks, Jackson has to play forward and it’s a position where his influence is not matched by his influence in the middle. Jackson was close to BOG against the Eagles on Saturday night, losing the Ross Glendinnng medal to Lachie Schultz’s five goals.
8. ACCURATE SWANS
They have kicked 64.26 in the past four weeks. Their expected accuracy, which Champion Data assesses from every shot at goal from every player made over the past 10 years, taking in where and how much pressure the player is under, has the Swans as the fifth-lowest team for accuracy. It’s complex, but the simple fact is the Swans are shooting the lights out. In their run of five wins, Isaac Heeney has kicked 9.2 compared to his 18.14 from Rounds 1-17, Tom Papley has kicked 10.4 compared to his previous 26.18, Will Hayward has kicked 8.4 compared to his previous 15.13, Hayden McLean has kicked 6.1 compared to previous 11.11 and Chad Warner has come back and kicked 5.1 compared to previous 9.12. It’s been an extraordinary turnaround in front of goal. The question is how and why. The Swans are 15th for contest possessions and clearance differential through the five-game period, and 16th for inside 50 differential. But they are the No. 1 attack in the competition. Who knows if their game profile will stack up if they make finals, but what we do know is the get great value for their forward entries.
DISLIKES
1. THE END OF THE ROAD
It’s been a desolate coaching box for some time, led by Adam Simpson, and surely he can’t survive this. Not a 100 point loss in the derby. It was embarrassing, said Matthew Pavlich and disgraceful, said former Eagle Will Schofield. Especially so when the Eagles had improved remarkably in recent weeks. Much has been written about paying out Simpson’s contract, which has been estimated to be the vicinity $1 million a season for the next two seasons, and although that would be costly, especially if a luxury tax is imposed, the Eagles have to consider the cost of continually losing. And not losing, but being obliterated. Yes, they have been ravaged by injury, and morale has to be low, but they have to find a way. Simpson is a premiership coach, so there’s no doubting his credentials, yet decisions have to be made. No coach in the history of the game has survived this run of losses and, if anything, the Eagles need a circuit breaker. They need something to happen. Saturday night’s loss was horrible and some players smiling after the game as they chatted with their Dockers opponents was unsettling to watch. Please don’t say it’s the modern world where smiles and merriment are accepted after a loss. Were those players really hurting?
2. NO LIBBA, SOFTISH DOGS
Cutting the head off the Bulldogs would be losing Marcus Bontempelli. Cutting the heart out of the Bulldogs is losing Tom Liberatore. He went off early with concussion and for quarters two and three and half of the final quarter, the Bulldogs lost their way. With Libba off, the Hawks went +16 contested ball and squared the clearance which is the Doggies one wood. Once again, the Hawks denied the opposition the ball with their use of short kicks forward. The possession count was 417-296 and marks were 130-89. It’s death by a thousand touches (handballs were 175-100) which is a big number. Jai Newcombe was best afield by that far and he is a worthy AA squad member. He had 40 and wasn’t tagged, while the Hawks continue to buck the trend by sending Finn Maginness to firstly Libba, and then spells on Bailey Dale, Bontempelli and Ed Richards. It might sound ridiculous but the Hawks could be the best team out of the eight, and they sit 16th. The Bulldogs are the most frustrating team in the competition. Once again, they had another five-plus goal run kicked against them and while they came close at the end, they were largely dismantled. Bailey Smith had 18 touches and went at 25 per cent by foot, while Aaron Naughton had 10 possessions and was credited with just one effective kick.
3. TIGERS IN NAME ONLY
They continue to be a shadow of themselves at Marvel Stadium, but that’s the least of their problems. The new coach – and it won’t be Josh Carr who is out of the race – and the list management have to rebuild and find young talent, as highlighted as a matter of urgency by Hawks great Jordan Lewis in this masthead on Saturday. Question marks hover above premiership players, such as Dylan Grimes, Marlion Pickett and Kamdyn McIntosh. It hurts writing that about Grimes because he’s captain and has been a hell of a player. He’s 32 and his contribution has diminished. Pickett’s become a stop-gap player, being used anywhere from wing, ruck, and forward. McIntosh has been solid but the Tigers have to start using more players between the arcs. Still, he has speed which is what the Tigers desperately need. The Tigers have used the second fewest players this year (34) behind St Kilda (31). Richmond’s problem – and they are a victim of their success – is they don’t have depth and when the topliners don’t fire, the team looks mediocre, especially away from the MCG.
4. GOAL LINE TECHNOLOGY
In 2011, Mick Malthouse famously said Melbourne’s Addam Maric had “cheated’’ after Maric claimed he touched a shot at goal. The coaching great backed away from the claims the day after, but Malthouse was correct in putting the tactic on notice, because too often players tap their hands claiming touched when they haven’t. Carlton’s Caleb Marchbank said he touched Christian Petracca’s 55m bomb on Saturday night and without adequate goal line technology, how can we dispute Marchbank’s claim? He said he touched it, so we believe him, and the goal umpire called a behind and we believe him. It shouldn’t even get to that, however. Why is the review footage always blurry? It’s like those big-cat enthusiasts who post photos of the elusive black panther. They are always either blurry, out of focus and inconclusive. Goal reviews add drama to the game, and have been a positive for the game, but in a billion dollar sport, the comment from the arc that there is “insufficient evidence’’ is frustrating. We need the evidence, so let’s find better technology.
5. DEMONS DILEMMA LIVES ON
Brodie Grundy returned to the senior team and he/it didn’t work. Max Gawn, who has dominated with Grundy out of the team, didn’t have the same impact on Saturday night as he and Grundy shared the ruck and tall forward roles. It’s not so much about Grundy, but about Gawn. In the last five weeks, Gawn has averaged 144 SuperCoach points. On Saturday night, he had 84, as he collected just 11 disposals, one clearance and one score involvement. He had a bad game. Grundy had nine disposals, one mark and didn’t have shot at goal in 60 per cent game time. His ruck time was minimal – four minutes in the first quarter, then five minutes, 10 minutes and seven minutes in the next three quarters. He played forward 14 minutes, 18 minutes, seven minutes and seven minutes across the four quarters. Selection this week is a must-watch. Grundy played because Ben Brown, Fritsch and Petty are injured, while Tom McDonald played his first VFL game on Sunday. He had 10 disposals, three marks and a goal. The decision will be centre on again playing Grundy, or maybe play Joel Smith forward and Tomlinson, who also played VFL, in defence. Josh Schache, meanwhile, must be going like a busted because it seems he’s not even in the conversation.
6. THE CROWS
It will be an elimination final against the Swans at Adelaide Oval this week. If the Crows lose, they will lament a season of great promise. If they win, they still need other results to fall their way, so as we speak they remain a chance. It’s been a season of what-ifs. They lost to Collingwood by one point and five points, to Melbourne by four points and on Saturday night, to the Lions by six points. Those three teams top the ladder. Against the Lions, they had their opportunities. They won contest and clearance, had more inside 50s (seven), yet unlike the accurate Swans, they couldn’t convert. They kicked 13.15, including 2.5 I the final quarter. Their road record this year is one win and eight losses, and until they improve that statistic they will remain a team with promise.
7. JACK GUNSTON’S KNEE
He will be out for about six weeks and as well as missing his footy talents, they will also miss his leadership in the forward line. Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood have never worked better as key forwards – the don’t compete against each other in the air – and that in part is because Gunston has helped organise running patterns and spacing. With Gunston out, which follows the loss of Will Ashcroft, the Lions have been badly wounded.
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Originally published as The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from round 22
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