Lindsay Thomas, Bulldogs, Taylor Walker, Carlton among Mark Robinson’s Round 5 likes and dislikes

THERE will be a fierce debate at the end of the season over whether Marc Murphy should be replaced, but Patrick Cripps isn’t waiting to act like the new leader on the field. MARK ROBINSON looks at Round 5’s highlights and lowlights.

Lindsay Thomas after decking Scott Selwood.

WHAT seemed a pedestrian round has made big headlines.

Lindsay Thomas’s hit on Scott Selwood is front and centre while the Bulldogs, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide are also in the gun after poor Round 5 performances.

SEE ROBBO’S LIKES & DISLIKES AND HAVE YOUR SAY

On the brighter side, Carlton’s revival, North Melbourne’s rebuild and the leadership of Taylor Walker and Joel Selwood are big positives.

What were your likes and dislikes from the weekend?

BIG BUMP: THOMAS TO ESCAPE LENGTHY BAN?

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HIGH HIT: TOM’S BROWNLOW HOPES HANG BY THREAD

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

1. LINDSAY THOMAS

Back from the wilderness and he does exactly what he did before he went into the wilderness — play reckless footy. Geelong premiership skipper Cameron Ling called it a dog act and you can’t disagree. It was staggering to see such a ferocious attack on a player in a crouching position and Thomas must face the consequences. He cannoned into the upper body and head of Scott Selwood after running past the ball. It’s no longer a matter of what the public thinks, it’s clear what his peers think and the Cats certainly went after Thomas to remonstrate. As in all of these type of incidents, it was lucky Selwood wasn’t seriously hurt. Over to you, Michael Christian.

Lindsay Thomas bumps Scott Selwood.

2. MAYBE THE AFL SHOULD ACT

The match review is no longer independent which means AFL footy boss Steve Hocking will tick off the penalty. It’s possible Thomas will receive a one-week suspension if the contact is graded medium and not high. The AFL says every bump is careless because bumping is within the rules. It is a belief which must change. If Hocking and chief executive Gillon McLachlan are serious with their concerns about concussion and its impact in later life, they must introduce a “dangerous’’ component. What Thomas did was illegal and could have made Selwood a quadriplegic. A one-week suspension would be joke.

3. WESTERN BULLDOGS

Matthew Lloyd asked on Saturday: Who are the Western Bulldogs? As of Saturday night the answer is highly emotional. Their “up’’ is enormous, the ‘‘down’’ is atrocious. Poor ball use killed the Dogs against Fremantle. They kicked at 61 per cent efficiency, gave away 72 points from turnovers, and got smashed in territory, losing the inside-50 count by 17. Amazingly, 218 marks were taken in the game, the fourth most this season, which meant it was a low-pressure game. And 67 per cent of possessions were uncontested, the third highest percentage in a game this season. The Dogs tried to play nice style on Saturday night when their trademark is fierce pressure.

Marcus Bontempelli is tackled by Nat Fyfe.

4. DARE WE JOIN THE CHORUS?

We zeroed in the on the output of Dan Hannebery last week and the focus now is on Sydney skipper Josh Kennedy. Chill out, we are not suggesting his football has hit the wall. But he has been so consistently elite for so long, it’s odd to see him have two awful games in succession. It’s been asked who was his opponent on Friday night. Champion Data’s best estimates were Hugh Greenwood (25 mins), Cam Ellis-Yolmen (23mins and mainly at stoppages) and then shared between Bryce Gibbs and Richard Douglas. And yes, Kennedy was poor. It was his fewest ranking points, fewest disposals, lowest contested ball numbers, lowest clearance count and fewest tackles in a game since he joined the Swans for the 2010 season. A third poor game coming? You’d think not.

5. PORT ADELAIDE

A finals-like contest in terms of aggression and pressure and in the end, the much-vaunted Port Adelaide offensive game was found wanting. Jack Watts made Jack Watts mistakes, Steven Motlop was in the headlights against his old team and Chad Wingard, Sam Gray and Charlie Dixon were all down. Port didn’t deal with Geelong’s team defence and despite trying to control the ball — Power took 111 marks to 66 — it couldn’t crack the offensive code.

6. SLEEPING HAWKS

They knew Ben Jacobs was going to Tom Mitchell. They knew about North’s stingy defence and they were aware of the Kangaroos attack based around Ben Brown, Jarrad Waite and Jack Ziebell and the Hawks failed it all in the first half. Just 3.0 to North’s 11.9 at half-time and the game was done. Kudos for the fightback, but this was lost in the first 60 minutes under a pressure onslaught from the opposition. Via @sirswampthing on Twitter: “Tom Mitchell finishes with 19 touches for the day. Ends a streak of 32 consecutive games with 20+ disposals.’’ Bad day all around for the Hawks.

Jake Carlisle is spoiled by Phil Davis.

7. IT WAS A FREE KICK

Mostly everything we saw in the contest between Jake Carlisle and Phil Davis in the final seconds on Saturday were mistakes. 1) Davis let Carlisle go at the ball while he was hedging whether to go to the goal square or not. 2) Carlisle dropped an easy mark. 3) Davis charged at Carlisle and had his arm around Carlisle’s neck a second after he made the spoil and 4) — which is more critical — the umpire clearly didn’t see the incident and nor did the two non-officiating umpires. That’s the only conclusion you could make because it was a free kick. It cost St Kilda the match after St Kilda cost itself the match with another horrid display inside-50m. St Kilda has won the inside-50 count in three of its five matches, but has converted only 17 per cent of inside-50s into goals, which is ranked 18th. This is a disease at Moorabbin.

8. AND THE ONE AT THE MCG WASN’T

Not selling superannuation policies here, but compare the pair. Carlisle gets held in a headlock by one hand and at the G, Carlton’s Harry McKay receives a free kick when Eagles opponent Shannon Hurn didn’t touch him in a marking contest. Repeat: He didn’t touch McKay and McKay was awarded the free kick and kicked a goal.

9. BUDDY FAVOURS

The umpires have noticeably cracked down on players going off their line after taking a mark and are pulling the trigger with “play on’’ like no other time before. It seems mostly every player was included in the crackdown except for Lance Franklin. He is given license to walk to his left without being called to “play on’’, while others were pinged for even thinking about playing on. At the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, Port’s Jake Neade was called to play on after he shaped to move the ball to his left. It was madness compared to the freedom for Franklin, who seems to move off his line as soon as he gets the ball.

10. WHILE WE’RE AT IT

The exclusion zone crackdown at Round 1 has fallen apart, which was exactly what the coaches feared would happen. In every game you see players running past or near the player with the ball and no free kick is paid. Minutes before half-time at the MCG on Saturday, Carlton’s Sam Petrevski-Seton blundered a kick in the back pocket. When he took the kick, Eagles forward Josh Kennedy was four metres away behind him. Kennedy eventually received the ball and kicked the goal. Surely he was in the exclusion zone even if he was behind the Blues youngster.

North Melbourne belt out the club song. Picture: Michael Klein

WHAT I LIKE

1. NORTH MELBOURNE

The Kangas are silent assassins. Got no respect for beating St Kilda and Carlton, but proved on Sunday they are a tough team to play against. Kept Hawthorn to three goals in the first half on the back of a stunning pressure factor of 204 which is rare on the fast deck of Etihad. The Roos then beat up the Hawks on spread and ball movement. Rocked by concussion to Ed Vickers-Willis and Shaun Higgins — the latter could spell trouble for Hawk Ryan Burton who chose to bump and not tackle — they withstood a Hawks surge in the third quarter. Time to give Brad Scott’s boys some credit.

2. JOEL SELWOOD

Fitting on Anzac weekend the Geelong skipper was awarded the Peter Badcoe VC Medal for bravery, commitment and skill after his performance against Port Adelaide. He was superb in a finals-intensity contest and you would expect nothing less. You would expect, however, more respect from the Port Adelaide crowd who booed Selwood when he was announced the winner of the medal. Classless from the home crowd.

Joel Selwood accepts the Peter Badcoe Medal. Picture: Sarah Reed

Taylor Walker returned to form in Adelaide’s win over Sydney.

3. TAYLOR WALKER

The key forward mafia — coined by Bob Murphy — went Walker after last week’s softish effort at the ball and the man, so the focus was on the skipper in the lead-up. Down key players, the Crows took it to the Swans and there was no more a moment of intent than when four Crows players went at Lance Franklin, won the ball and Rory Atkins kicked the rebound goal. But it was Big Tex who symbolised Adelaide’s desire. “I was just super proud of him tonight,’’ said Don Pyke. “It was one of those occasions where he came to play and he came to lead and he did it really well.’’ Summed up perfectly by the coach.

4. CARLTON

West Coast won the game, the Blues earned respect and coach Brendon Bolton won over Blues fans who may have been wilting after recent efforts. Bolton showed he can make adjustments and his players showed they will follow. One game doesn’t make a captain, but Patrick Cripps has captaincy written all over him. He probably was best afield on Saturday — and can’t wait for the coaches’ votes on Monday — and at the end of the season there will be discussion at Carlton about who will be captain next year, Marc Murphy or Cripps? It’s normally up to the players to decide, but maybe the coach might have bigger say that usual.

5. NATHAN FYFE

Almost getting tired of writing about this bloke ... almost. The Dockers skipper was so far best afield on Saturday night it was strange to see him get so much free space. He had a career-high 43 disposals, 13 clearances (third most of his career) and 151 ranking points (ninth most of his career). Stats guru Josh Kay asked on Twitter afterwards who would you pick at their best; Ablett, Martin, Fyfe or Dangerfield? Ablett won, of course, but Fyfe was selected second and if you saw him on Saturday night, you wouldn’t argue.

Nat Fyfe in action against the Bulldogs.

Ben Long celebrates a goal against GWS.

6. BEN LONG

The young Saint took the coaches and leadership group to the Tiwi Islands before the season which displayed his investment in the club and the club’s investment in him. Both parties are being rewarded. Through the woes this season, coach Alan Richardson has lauded Long for being the club’s most effective forward. It didn’t let up against the Giants. It was the 20-year-old’s ninth game and it was career highs in contested disposals (nine), metres gained (223) and pressure points (54). His goal from the pocket and his calmness and instruction with the ball in the game’s final play was exemplary.

7. MICHAEL WALTERS

His goal in the first quarter meant so much to him it was difficult not to feel a moment of emotion. Walters thrust his hand into the air and tapped the black armband in honour of his former teammate Shane Yarran. Yarran died at his home on Friday after a life of challenges on and off the field. It was one of five goals kicked by Walters in Fremantle’s commanding victory and although it might mean little to others, it would’ve meant plenty to Walters in a bid to honour his mate.

8. COURAGE I

Sydney’s Tom Papley running flat chat with the flight of the ball to get a hand in to spoil was reminiscent of Nick Riewoldt’s famous mark at the SCG. To be honest, didn’t know Papley had it in him. As a small forward, he’s a scrounger and opportunist but in this moment, and if you look closely, Papley does not take his eyes off the ball and nor decrease his speed as he made ground to make contact with ball. It was breath-taking moment of immense courage.

9. COURAGE II

Port Adelaide’s Jack Hombsch ran with the flight of the ball through centre half-back and had to know he was charging into oncoming traffic. He was crunched by Daniel Menzel and teammate Tom Jonas and still was able to mark the ball. He never once took his eyes off the ball. The collision hurt Jonas more than Hombsch which proves the saying, the harder you go the less chance you are of getting hurt.

10. COURAGE III

West Coast’s Jackson Nelson played 32 games in first three years at the club and all five this year and there mightn’t have been bigger moment to earn the trust of his teammates than a marking contest at the MCG on Saturday. Nelson had his opponent under the ball and was backing back to mark it, when Carlton’s charging key forward Levi Casboult arrived on the scene. Nelson must have felt like he ran into a locked back door. Boy, it was courageous.

BEST TWEETS

@SeanNdutBali: Robbo, try being an eagles supporter and having to listen to Eddie McGuire’s pathetic one sided commentary yesterday. and nobody in the media say’s a word.

@thataboy86: Dislike- fox footy going to the bounce 10 seconds after final siren

@marniecohen: LOVE NORTH MELBOURNE. SHINBONER SPIRIT AT ITS FINEST

@harrowsarrow: Dislike: Tex needs to have a bad game to have a good game, then gets looked after by the media til his next bad game

@codywinnell: Dislike/can’t stand: the tactic being employed by players to utilise the 30-sec lining up for a faux shot on goal, then going short. Once you elect to use the 30secs, if you don’t have realistic goal shot, should be f/kick the other way. Like: Roos up & about.

@marrageelong: Tom Stewart for cats now A grader. Also like Cats young players and depth. Ohh and always like Stephen Wells

@RYANCRA54791917: Dislike: Charlie Dixon. 3 goals in 5 games and getting a free pass from the media. God, that’s less than McCartin!

@BehmMatty: Like — Patrick Cripps performance as acting captain. Making him the next captain at Carlton is a no brainer.

@AaronSCHQ: Like: Ben Long. 9th game yesterday and starting to look comfortable at the level with his pressure and skills. 15 disposals, 1 clever goal and 8 tackles against GWS. His best game thus far.

@msauro11: Like: Scott backing in Waite for another couple years when everyone said he should’ve been moved on. Dislike: Lindsay Thomas being Lindsay Thomas.

@chookie94: Love: Brandon White, Ben Long and Paddy McCartin — we trusted them and they delivered. Dislike: That crap advantage call during the 2nd quarter — robbed of a goal!

@SilverDasher: There are a lot of instances (umpires and players) in a game of AFL that could change the game result. Umpires are not perfect and neither are players. Video adjudication will just bore our brains out. If your Aunty had testicles she would be your Uncle. If If If.

@Matt_Holden79: Like: Paul Seedsman. ANZAC round specialist.

@gloryconsqnce: Like: Tom Doedee, Patrick Cripps. Dislike: How Charlie Dixon and Chad Wingard escape scrutiny.

@World_Cuppa: Massive Dislike: (I’m a Saints fan for 48 years) the treatment of Brisbane Lions by umpires over last 3 years is a disgrace. They victimise the Lions in EVERY 50-50 call as if to demonstrate their supposed knowledge of even the obscure rules

@peachman76: Dislike: Tim Watson when commentating saying that there was no issue in Tom Mitchell hit on Goldstein. But was up in arms over the head clash of Higgins. Any intention to hurt or hit a player to the head is not on and I don’t support either team.

@Gdbell143Gary: Like. staying up for a 1.20am start in New York to watch my beloved kangas win

@lukemartin83: Like: St Kilda (team) showing heart. Dislike: St Kilda (suppprters) showing no heart. 15k on a Saturday afternoon in round 5.

@_BradleyWilliam: Freo fan so excuse the bias. Fyfe is back, Alex Pearce is a gun, Duman’s debut. Dislike Taberner’s injury. Outside of Freo, Boyd’s return, Ben Brown and Eagles beginning to prove doubters wrong — but challenge is still to come. As GWS know, flags aren’t won in April.

@stickers_bown: Like Majak daw his emergence down back frees up Thompson and Tarrant to play more attacking footy!

@gloveski15: Dislike , swans continue to get smashed in clearances but keep going to the same usual suspects in the middle . Our much hyped up midfield looks cooked , one paced and lacking depth #onedimensional

@Izaakly: Dislike @GeelongCats players ignoring post game announcements. Chatting/laughing amongst themselves instead of being respectful. Joel didn’t even hear he’d won the medal. Coll/Ess might not deserve it, but they do respect it.

@steviecal: Like: Kade Simpson week in week out does everything he can. Absolute underrated player. Dislike: everything about Poort Adelaide.

@zalakos: What about the 4 goals the Suns got from terrible umpiring decisions Robbo, I’m giving AFL away because it is a joke

@drewie_5: Like — North Melbourne. Dislike — the rule for below the knees — pitiful — Hodge gets the ball and gets pinged for that — look at the result

@atyndall29: would love to know what Dayne Zorko said to Touk Miller straight after the game. Have a look at it.

@DavidLodge33: Dislike — a poor Melbourne crowd for Hawthorn and North Melbourne. And this is the supposed home of the game!?!

@Roogirl4eva: Like:The mighty Kangas proving the haters wrong. Young team, down for 1 1/2 qtrs and fought out a massive win against a team hunting them down. Very proud Roogirl here! Oh and also a like to Ben Cunnington & Ben Brown. Amazing every week!

@reesyy_: Disklike: bloke who accidentally fell over the railing at the Gabba trying to retrieve the ball got handcuffed and evicted from the venue. Ridiculous!

@MargieSekulic: Like seeing Hombsch back dislike being tarred with the same brush as a passionate Port supporter and the fact that the umps no longer even know what holding the ball is...

@MckieHamish: I’ll be spewing if Tom Stewart isn’t a like

@localluke: Like Jordan Murdoch multiple rare displays of courage. Dislike Port crowd booing a concussed player off the ground

@GinoSaracino: Like — Crippa, Fisher, McKay, Dow, Curnow, Rowes and Phillips return. Dislike — Plowman and Jones thinking they are the Harlem Globetrotters in the 10 minutes that cost us the game in 3rd Quarter.