Early Tackle: Likes and dislikes from round 8 so far
There are whispers around AFL clubland about a major change that is about to hit the game - and it’s clear the game’s leadership, and its clubs, aren’t on the same page.
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Carlton is searching for answers, and some fans will be wondering: did we pick the right coach?
It was a former Bulldog who led the Lions to victory over Carlton, while a generational draft talent shone in the navy blue in the VFL.
Check out Sam Landsberger’s likes and dislikes from round 8 so far.
DISLIKES
1. ROSS REGRET
Carlton fans are angry. They sense they are seeing substandard results from a super list and so a source of frustration now slinks back to the failed pursuit of Ross Lyon. On the surface that’s unfair for Michael Voss – but the Lyon saga was sloppy. Make no mistake, Lyon wanted to coach Carlton and president Luke Sayers wanted Lyon to be the coach. The wooing started before David Teague’s messy sacking and Lyon suspected he was Winx odds for the job. But Lyon was blindsided when board members Patty Kinnersly and Tim Lincoln were selected on a coaching panel and he had to submit to a process. Lyon felt stitched up and walked in the belief payments to female staff over allegations of his harassment at Fremantle wouldn’t pass the process. When Craig Hutchison criticised Lyon for rejecting a peach coaching gig last year he responded: “It’s a little bit mischievous because Craig understands that there wasn’t really a process, and I’ll just leave it at that”. Other questions have surfaced, such as whether club powerbrokers were relaying their concerns to those board members? Had a clique formed among some staff and were the Blues sweating what the fallout would be if they appointed Lyon? St Kilda headhunted Lyon last year and would be celebrating the circumstances at Carlton. As for Voss, Sayers set a September pass mark for 2022 and so you suspect missing out again would be unacceptable. There is still a long way to go … but the Dogs, Collingwood, Sydney (SCG) and Melbourne lie ahead.
2. FIXTURE QUIRK
Carlton recently hosted St Kilda at Marvel Stadium and next week will host Western Bulldogs under the roof. It’s a minor one, but you suspect the Blues would prefer to play Marvel Stadium tenant clubs at the MCG – and the Saints and Dogs would be happy with that outcome as well. They are finals-bound but the Dogs final game for the season at the ‘G was in round 4 while St Kilda have one more in round 14 against the Tigers. The Blues have a 6-5 split between home games at Marvel Stadium and the MCG and want to flip that next year.
3. CLUBS REJECT GOYDER’S MATE
One club chief executive labelled AFL Commissioner Robin Bishop as “a Scarlet Pimpernel” because Bishop has never been seen at their games. That’s alarming because clubs fear AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder is desperate for Bishop to succeed him, possibly at the end of the season. It’s hard to find a single club that would back Bishop for that position. As tensions simmer between clubs and the game’s leadership the industry is crying out for a former club chief executive or president who understands clubland to succeed Goyder. Bishop, a successful merchant banker, has been a business advisor to Goyder and was appointed to the Commission only weeks after Goyder became chairman in 2017. He has no experience running a club and clubs say that’s a red flag. In fact, there’s a lack of confidence in any of the current Commissioners to replace Goyder. Despite the disconnect, clubs do support retaining a Commission to oversee the game’s finances and act on behalf of the clubs. Only chief executive elect Andrew Dillon could answer this, but there is also a feeling that he won’t be saddened when Goyder departs, given Goyder looked so long and hard for someone else to run the game.
4. FOUR-UMPIRE REGRET?
Umpires are under attack and you wonder whether the addition of a fourth whistle-blower is partly to blame. Secret AFL data from four-umpire trials during bye rounds in previous years showed a decline in decision-making. That sample was small but most would suspect this year’s results are even more unflattering. There is an extra set of eyes on the field – but their positioning is unfamiliar. Everyone makes mistakes and some free kicks have simply been stinkers regardless of the vantage point. But if the new positioning is proving a hindrance then the AFL has to decide whether it is a solvable teething problem or rethink the change. Umpires averaged 12.2km in round 1 – a drop of 18 per cent from last year – and the league has repeatedly trumpeted the success of having four umpires. Staunch critic Grant Thomas unsurprisingly said they decided the result at Gold Coast, but veteran TV presenter Stephen Quartermain labelled this year’s standard the worst in his 50 years watching. “4 umpires is definitely not the solution. Too many!” Quarters said.
I’ve been watching footy religiously since 1974.
— Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) May 6, 2023
And the standard of umpiring has never been worse.
It’s a bloody tough game to officiate.
I’m not sure what the answer is.
But 4 umpires is definitely not the solution. Too many!
LIKES
1. CAPTAIN DUNKS
Western Bulldogs ranked Josh Dunkley around No.11 in the 2015 draft in no small part because of his character. Dunkley the teenager looked like a future AFL captain and that still might be his destiny at Brisbane Lions. The Dogs were confident no other club would take him in that range and so they split No.12 (Charlie Curnow) into No.25 (Dunkley) and No.26 (Kieran Collins). On Friday night Dunkley doused Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps and damaged Carlton. He had 33 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 13 tackles and 556m gained (his season average was previously 236m). Coach Chris Fagan described it as “one of the great games I’ve ever seen”. Why? “I would have settled for Cripps having a quiet game (but) Josh’s influence on the contest was exceptional. His leadership since he got to the club has been outstanding. He studied Cripps all week and Josh did one of the really great offensive and defensive performances.” It’s believed Dunkley walked away thinking he could improve and had areas to clean up. That illustrates his high standards and why he is such a beauty who was born to lead. The Lions didn’t just get Dunkley from the Dogs – popular property steward Jayden Shea also moved north and they have settled in seamlessly together.
2. THE TONGALA TRAVELLER
Footy fans go gaga at the thought of drafting a generational talent and the Harley Reid hype might be unprecedented. Amid the salivation it’s sometimes overlooked that these are young boys with so much on their plate. That’s what makes this year’s buzz boy and Bendigo Pioneers captain even more extraordinary. “Three days a week he’ll travel from Tongala – over an hour away from Bendigo – then back home, and then you’ve got your games at the weekend,” AFL talent boss Kevin Sheehan told the Sunday Tackle. “At best he’s in Bendigo, at worst it could it be Gippsland or Melbourne. So he’s traveling all over the place three days a week, as well as pursuing his studies. “He won the AFL Life Member’s award and got up and spoke in front of the legends of the game at Marvel Stadium and that room were just super impressed by the head on his shoulders.” On Saturday this year’s No.1 pick almost mirrored Carlton VFL teammate Paddy Dow’s numbers. Dow, a top-three choice six years ago, had 25 disposals, five marks, five tackles, five clearances and four inside 50s. Reid had 20 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles and five inside 50s. Sheehan said Reid stepped up against Port Adelaide’s SANFL team last month – he won the game’s first clearance, rotated into the defence in the third quarter, spent the last on the bench and still won his team’s most possessions. The wooden-spooner will get him, but reckon he could play AFL tomorrow.
3. HUMAN MEATBALL BACK
Thought Dion Prestia was in trouble after round 5. He was averaging a solid 21.2 disposals but where was his trademark impact on matches? From last year Prestia was down 17 per cent in contested ball, 56 per cent in clearances, 80 per cent in centre clearances and 41 per cent in score involvements. Suddenly it all made sense when Damien Hardwick revealed Prestia started the season playing hurt. On Saturday Prestia broke West Coast by kicking three goals in a five-minute burst late in the third quarter. On the eve of his 200th game he was back and Hardwick said it was no coincidence the Tigers transformed from plodders in 2016 to premiers in 2017 when Prestia walked into Punt Rd. Still think he was Richmond’s most important player for much of the golden era and plonking a healthy Prestia next to Shai Bolton, Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper makes for a mighty midfield. Bolton has a tendency to tease but he kicked 3.2 from 31 disposals and for all the flak reckon Taranto (30 disposals and 2.1) might be leading the best-and-fairest.
4. GRIZZLY SIMPSON
Adam Simpson got grizzly at the end of his press conference. Multiple questions were answered with: “I don’t know” and when asked why he appeared so flat he said: “One of my players might’ve just done his knee”. That player is Jai Culley, the kid plucked from Charcoal Chicken in the mid-season draft who is out of contract and had been drawing rival interest. Thought the question to Simpson was fair enough and also thought his demeanour was understandable. Pre-game a more up-beat Simpson told 3AW the Eagles had 25 fit players this week, which meant after a 108-point loss there wasn’t even any selection pressure. Simpson said motivational speeches work for about 10 seconds but he had to spark his side to start well against Richmond. They jumped to a 13-point lead and edged back in front during the third quarter. Even Damien Hardwick labelled West Coast’s injury toll as “unforeseen circumstances”. The effort was encouraging before they were once again overwhelmed. Simpson must feel like he’s coaching in handcuffs.
5. CATS BACK IN THE FOUR
Imagine being a Geelong fan right now. The reigning premier’s fifth-straight win was led by a kindle of kittens who will be purring for a lot longer than the next five years. In the last quarter it was often Tanner Bruhn, Mitch Knevitt, Tom Atkins and Max Holmes in the centre square and they were all excellent. This year’s slate of impact injuries has impacted selection far more than results. They’re without Tyson Stengle, Gary Rohan, Rhys Stanley, Cam Guthrie, Jack Bowes and Jack Henry and lost a dominant Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) at the start of the second half. So Holmes went in and for the second half had 13 disposals, four clearances, a game-high six tackles plus an earlier goal. Thought Holmes’ work at stoppages was pivotal, particularly his desperation to lay pre-clearance tackles. The Crows threw everything at this and left frustrated by Geelong’s aerial dominance as Jake Kolodashnij, Tom Stewart and the flourishing Esava Ratugolea picked off their entries. No premier has ever gone back-to-back from 0-3, but the Cats are already back in the top four and Ross Lyon rates them as the team to beat. The bookies might follow suit on Monday.
6. THE NEW PREMIERSHIP QUARTER
They say the third quarter is the premiership quarter. They weren’t talking about Melbourne. The Demons are 8-0 in fourth quarters this season and have outscored their opponents by 142 points. They are the only club with an undefeated record in any quarter this season. Scores were level at the last change on Saturday and while the Suns had chances they couldn’t get it done. Lachie Hunter (10 disposals and three clearances) led the late show. Hunter’s 203m gained was 90m more than any Sun. Hunter slogged through his hardest pre-season at his second club while usual suspects Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca also stood tall when it counted. Melbourne’s fourth quarters have dictated its recent premiership hopes. In 2021 Demons outscored opponents by 201 points and won the flag. From round 11 in 2022, and without high performance guru Darren Burgess, the Demons were outscored by 110 points and crashed out of finals in straight sets after starting the season 10-0.
7. THE GIANT
No club wants to lose good players. But there was a sense at Greater Western Sydney that the salary cap space created by trading Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto to Richmond would help the club hold other stars. The obvious pick was Tom Green, who signed until 2027 in February. On Saturday night Green kicked three goals, had 38 disposals, eight marks, eight clearances and ran 14.8km in front of his home Canberra crowd. Green, the grandson of Richmond champion Michael Green, kicked the club’s first goal and added two in the last as a 34-point margin shrunk to single digits. The chances of a T. Green(e) being unstoppable seemed slim when Toby withdrew. But will Green or his champion opponent in Marcus Bontempelli poll the three votes?
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