The Tackle: Mark Robinson looks at Round 17’s highlights and lowlights

THE TACKLE: THREE young defenders are a key reason behind Essendon’s surge towards the top eight, writes MARK ROBINSON. REPLAY LIVE CHAT.

Lance Franklin celebrates a goal against GWS. Picture: Phil Hillyard

THAT’S Round 17 in the books.

Mark Robinson looks at the week’s highlights and lowlights with the performances of Lance Franklin, Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin catching his eye.

MRP ISSUE: SPANNER IN DUSTY’S BROWNLOW WORKS?

FORWARD MOVE: TOP CAT CONFIDENT ON ABLETT-LIKE DANGER

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While Nick Riewoldt and the Saints, North Melbourne and Nick Robertson get a clip.

Scroll down to replay Robbo’s live Q&A.

WHAT I LIKE

1. LANCE FRANKLIN

Scott Lucas said on SEN radio that Patrick Dangerfield was the best player in the game and the next player “wasn’t even close’’. Scotty clearly didn’t watch Lance Franklin on Saturday night. Franklin and Phil Davis matched up for 114 minutes and Franklin had 16 disposals and kicked four goals, while Davis had five disposals. His 60m drop punt from the boundary line early in the last quarter should be Goal of the Week but it won’t be because people like trick shots. Franklin beating three opponents and dishing a handball to Tom Papley, who kicked the goal, was massive late in the game. Franklin can do the impossible while Dangerfield can do everything.

Lance Franklin was a matchwinner against GWS.

Injury couldn’t stop Patrick Dangerfield against Hawthorn.

2. LET’S TALK ABOUT PATTY

Do you need any more evidence that Dangerfield would be a ripping full-forward? Has speed, jump, great hands, kicks both left and right. He can kick them from 50m and is a ground-level beast. Joel Selwood compared him to Gary Ablett Snr and while Dangerfield only kicked five goals, the way Geelong went to him almost at every opportunity was reminiscent of Gazza in his hey day. While we celebrate Dangerfield, let’s not forget Gazza kicked 14 goals at the MCG one day. Still, it was Gazza-like. After quarter-time on Saturday, Dangerfield was targeted inside-50 14 times, took eight marks and won three of five contests. Geelong scored 64 per cent of the time he was targeted inside-50, which is off the charts.

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3. WE BETTER TALK ABOUT DUSTY

Had 40 disposals and was sloppier than usual, on a day that Richmond were sloppy if not arrogant with the way they went about it. Martin will probably get another three votes, although Trent Cotchin was enormous and Dion Prestia tagged Zorko out of the game. Martin’s third quarter was a masterclass and you wonder how a single player can have 15 disposals, six contested disposals, five clearances, three inside-50s and a goal in one quarter. Then again, Tom Mitchell had 18 against the Cats in the first quarter on Saturday. It is an era which will be remembered as being dominated by “18-man defence’’.

4. LEWIS YOUNG

Six intercept marks on debut and amply filled in for Easton Wood across half-back. In long-sleeves, he looked like he weighed no more than 80kg yet played like a man of 50 games’ experience. Finished with 22 disposals and 11 marks and on a day when Jake Stringer went down with a hamstring, the Bulldogs appear to have found another youngster with a tremendous feel for the game.

5. McGRATH, McKENNA AND GLEESON

Two of them, Conor McKenna and Martin Gleeson, are probably Essendon’s most improved players. Gleeson was given the job on Nick Riewoldt after the Saints sent Jake Carlisle forward, which says plenty about Essendon’s confidence in Gleeson and their fear of Riewoldt. Andrew McGrath is clean and composed, McKenna had 20 disposals and 525m gained while Gleeson had 19 disposals and 10 intercept possessions. With Michael Hurley, James Kelly and Michael Hartley completing the group, the Bombers have a well-balanced defence.

6. CHAD WINGARD

Making Chad Wingard an old-fashioned half-forward flanker and ruck-rover has been the coaching move of the season. Kids won’t remember that terminology, but safe to say most of those types were incredibly talented. Wingard had only one 30-plus disposal game before 2017, and has four this season. Against North Melbourne he was devastating with 30 and three goals. Funnily enough Brad Ebert might get the most coaches votes with his 30, 14 clearances and 13 score involvements.

7. HARRY IN DEFENCE

The experiment of Harry in the forward line appears over. Taylor has spent 84 per cent of game-time in defence in the last month, averaging 19 disposals, 10 intercept possessions and three intercept marks. He was superb against the Hawks on Saturday with a game-high 11 intercept possessions. His calmness in defence and reading of the ball is one thing, but his ability not to get beaten in one-on-one contests has been forgotten as he toyed being a key forward. In the past month, he has had seven direct contests and hasn’t lost one. In this time, the Cats have conceded just 76 points per game.

Harry Taylor and Jarryd Roughead battle for the ball. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

8. TAYLOR ADAMS

Spoke recently about the impact on the players while Nathan Buckley feels the media heat. But what the players can do to ease that heat is perform. Adams did that with a team-high 17 contested possessions, nine clearances, seven inside-50s in conditions suited to the hard-nosed vice-captain. It was a slog and the Pies weren’t overly impressive against a 20-man Suns team, but Adams kept winning the hard ball.

9. TOMMY LYNCH

The Adelaide version played his best game of the season in the rout against the Demons. He’s kind of the final piece to fire for the Crows in the forward line and with Taylor Walker in super form, Mitch McGovern being a headache and Eddie Betts chipping away, the Crows loom large. Lynch plays what, high half-forward, and midfield numbers. He finished with 27 disposals, three goals, 11 marks and 11 score assists.

10. KANE CORNES

Not everyone’s cup of tea, but you have to admire him for offering his thoughts. Has picked fights with Damien Hardwick (and made up), is in a on-going twitter blue with Taylor Walker (and not made up) and accused Patrick Dangerfield of exaggerating injuries. In an often vanilla world, Cornes is certainly supplying colour. He reminds me of Matthew Lloyd who took his nickname, the Velvet Sledgehammer, from the field to the commentary box when he retired.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE

1. BIG DECISION ON NICK

Was wanting Nick Riewoldt to put two good games together. He was terrific against the Tigers the week before and more games like that one would mean a contact extension. But it wasn’t to be against the Bombers and with six games to play, Riewoldt hasn’t done enough - as yet - to command another year. You have to wonder if Luke Hodge’s declaration that he didn’t want to keep out a younger player out of the team resonated with the Saints great. The colossus forward was moved to a wing under Alan Richardson to accommodate the team’s young forwards and for the past two weeks has been used as a sort-of dummy forward. It worked against Rance, but not against Hurley and the anger from Riewoldt was for all to see. A role like that needs sacrifice, not frustration.

2. ST KILDA

Coach Alan Richardson lamented his players not having their heads in the contest and the numbers support this. The champion data pressure index recorded the Saints having factor of 162 – their lowest in a game this season. Against the Tigers it was 182. Fingers can be pointed everywhere, but the midfield was obliterated. Not one midfielder for St Kilda had double-figure contested possession numbers and the ruckman, Tom Hickey, arguably had the worst game of is career.

3. WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BERNIE?

Melbourne says it is addressing its behaviours on the field and then Bernie Vince has a cheapshot elbow on Eddie Betts and then crashes into Richie Douglas when he has his head over the ball. Simon Goodwin will say it’s not what the club stands for, but it continues to be an issue. Vince will be suspended but with injuries to Jack Viney, Dom Tyson and Nathan Jones, he has let his team down. The Demons play Port Adelaide and GWS in the next three weeks and Vince will be lucky to be playing in those games.

4. WHAT ARE YOUNG DOING, NORTH MELBOURNE?

It was awesome reading about the week’s preparation from Eliza Sewell in Saturday’s Herald Sun, so was disappointed with the performance against Port. Fans need patience and the players need a win as the season meanders from heart-breaking close losses to beltings. The positives are Ben Brown and Ben Cunnington. The negative is inexperience produces poor games. There are others such as what to do with Majak Daw and Todd Goldstein. The skipper’s 16 touches weren’t good enough.

5. NICK ROBERTSON

Strange one because he’s hard at it, is honoured to wear the Brisbane Lions jumper and his teammates would love him. But he can’t get up to the mischief he did against Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin. It was absorbing third quarter between those two players - Martin had a glut of disposals and Robertson was sent to tag him - but Robertson might find himself in trouble for using his knee to try to cork Martin at a stoppage. There’s tough and dirty. Robertson was dirty and he was also booked for headbutting Cotchin.

Nick Robertson head butts Trent Cotchin.

6. NOT ALL HIS FAULT, THOUGH

Brisbane’s leaders in the midfield had poor games. Dayne Beams and Tom Rockliff don’t look fit because of recent shoulder troubles and Dayne Zorko (11 disposals) was clamped by Dion Prestia. That the Lions lost by just five goals will give coach Chris Fagan some positives led by 18-year-old Alex Witherden who has had 20, 29, 21 and 28 disposals in his four games of his career.

7. MY KINGDOM FOR A GOALKICKER

Carlton is still yet to crack the 100 points and it’s Round 17. Once again fought the fight, but it’s mainly defensive-minded footy and only 40 inside 50s makes it tough for the forwards. Perhaps it’s my kingdom for a game style which might help to produce scores. Surely that’s the next step for the Blues as they continue their rebuild. More north-south footy and more handballing and run through the middle.

Isaac Smith reacts after missing a shot late in the loss to Geelong.

8. ISAAC ABUSE

The Hawks ball-carrier missed the goal, but he hardly lost the game. Ease up everyone, at least he got himself in the position to kick the winner.

9. GIL BASHING

He’s heading to the Tour de France with his family and says it’s important his family unit remains strong and connected through a difficult AFL season. Criticism that he will be away for a week is unwarranted. Criticism that he’s in charge of an organisation which stands accused of being cavalier with their attitudes and behaviours is something he must wear. Anyway, who’s sleeping with who is generally no one’s business, but the world keeps changing, and now that the AFL has acted on its two executives, McLachlan has lived his commitment of being a champion of change.

10. HYSTERIA

Eddie McGuire didn’t name names when he harpooned the media for “hysterical reporting’’ on Nathan Buckley but he should have to make media accountable. It’s an important word accountability. During the Essendon drugs saga, McGuire’s radio station interviewed “Sarah’’, a woman said to the mother of an Essendon player. It was brutal listening, but the issue was Eddie didn’t know who she was and put her on air anyway. And still no one knows who she is. The hysteria it created was absolute.

BEST TWEETS

@AntWingard: Like: Alex Witherden. Four games in; yet to drop below 20 touches. Condifent, composed, risk-taker.

@eddieeewallis: Like Danger on one leg. Dislike Zorko with a tag.

@AshleyClinch1: Dislike umpires who over umpire and are centre of attention. RAzor. Ruined a great game yesterday.

@kerry_lambert: LIKE - the return of the Full Forward and the return of the torpedo. DISLIKE - Game of Thrones

@chambo7410: Liked - @LHodge15 exchange with ump Chamberlain after giving a free kick away to Dangerfield “Have you seen how high he can jump!!”

@MatthewA_19: Like: Sydney doing damage; Dislike: Crows are top but all media surrounds Sloane being tagged and Lever/McGovern potentially leaving.

@GilltyAFL: Like- Mo Daniher. Dislike- Jack Reivolt staging for a free kick

@andrekewl: Like. Bombers - dislike. $1k for a beer at the footy.

@Finstaaaaaaa: Marty Gleesons strong marks and rebound from defensive 50 was impressive. For a guy that cant seem to put on weight his marks are impressive

@RichomanTigers: Dislike flog Robertson from the lions... get a kick you peanut

@Hirstwah23: Buddys goal from 60 out on the boundary, one of the greatest set shots in history. Dangerfield too of course

@TheSameOlds: Joe Daniher - by seasons end you’ll have him in the top 10 of your top 50

@croweyrocks: Like- Tom Jonas. Never, ever, ever gets recognized in the media but he rarely loses a 1v1 contest and an incredible defender.

@ShaneB19: I like the Swans for the flag. I also like the “ No fear “ football they’re playing too

@ marniecohen: Like Ben Brown. His numbers in a side 17th on the ladder says it all

@joshua_attard: Like- TOM MITCHELL ball magnet and now adding goals to his bow

@DeLuca_JD: Like: Sam Powell-Pepper Dislike: Ignorance of most media who are not even mentioning him.

@BruceMundell: like Papley revenge on Shaw post sledge in round 5

@HBNadolny: like: Sam Gray. Cops a lot of stick from the fans but he’s as hard a worker as any at Port Adelaide. 25 touches & 4 goals in his 50th game

@razorsharp1983: Dislike, Hird bashing from Culbert. He benefits from a former drug cheat competing at his Nitro Aths event. Hypocrite and attention seeking.

@sloppers: Like - lachie henderson intercept marks.... Dislike - swans might make top 4 let alone finals... liked them 0-6 better

@seanbro68: Likes. The turf at Edihad Stadium for a change. Dislike. The vaulted ‘holding the ball’ at rule.

@lukepasceri: Like: that number 33 kid at the doggies. Gave our forwards a bath, owned the backline

@matthewjhuffer: Dislike - lack of rising stars given NMFC is rebuilding, seems like a few years of serious pain is coming

@RobLeong1: Like: Dusty’s double don’t argue. Dislike: Players who kick into the mark... dumb footy

@jazmech: Dislike how Dangerfield played against a very inexperienced backline for rave reviews.... Geelong pretenders wont go far!

@trentbindon: @Robbo_heraldsun LIKE - this run the swans are on (mind blowing turn around) DISLIKE - the bloke from Brisbane Robertson (headbuts and corky

@daniel_hood11: Like. Tex walker. He’s due too be a Monday hero. Dislike. Smith bashing on social media. He will be beating him self up enough

@RexhatesFB: Like the fact Hawks are still considering competitive after winning three flags. Bring on Josh Kelly, bring on another three flags

@chevalierjimmy: Like: Dangerfield on one leg. Dislike: Carlton played like a win wasn’t everything

@Floydy77: Like Dangerfield. For bringing back the classic full forward role