The Tackle: Mark Robinson reveals his likes and dislikes from a huge Round 16
THE TACKLE: DAMIEN Hardwick’s war of words with Kane Cornes hinted there’s more to the story than meets the eye. REPLAY LIVE BLOG
Mark Robinson
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DION Prestia arrived at Richmond as a big name recruit on a big contract. So far he has under delivered.
Meanwhile, Seb Ross might be the most underrated player in the competition.
REPLAY ROBBO’S LIVE CHAT BELOW
And how about those Hawks and Bulldogs?
See all Robbo’s likes and dislikes from a huge Round 16.
BAD MISS: WHAT GOLDY SAID AFTER HORROR MISS
SILVER LINING: HAS CARLTON FOUND ANOTHER KOUTA?
COACH PRESSURE: WHY BUCKS SHOULD LEAVE NOW
WHAT I LIKE
1 SEB ROSS
Ask Alan Richardson about Seb Ross and he says, in his understated way, Seb’s a good player. Seb’s far better than that. There’s a gazillion stats to show how dominant St Kilda was in the first half, and there was one player who underlined all of it. Ross’s first half would be one of the best played this year, and that includes efforts from Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin and Michael Walters. He had 110 ranking points, 19 disposals, seven contested possessions, four inside-50s, six score involvements and one goal. Since Round 4, Ross has had 36 possessions, 33, 32, 31, 31, 37, 30, 39, 32, 22 (what happened in that game?), 34, and on Saturday night 33.
2 ST KILDA
The Saints’ first half was extraordinary, with +106 disposals, +29 contested possessions, +75 uncontested possessions and +29 inside-50s. They also scored 57 points from turnovers. Feel sorry for the coaches judging their 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 votes. The game was over at the main break.
Just behind Ross, who must be considered for All-Australian selection, was skipper Jarryn Geary, who had as much impact across halfback as any other player.
3 WELCOME BACK, NATHAN AND HELLO RYAN NYHUIS
Talk about a first half. Nat Fyfe on Sunday displayed all the qualities that made him the No. 1 player in 2015. He had 23 disposals and seven clearances in the first half. The fumbling and sloppiness was gone, his ability to find the ball at stoppages was back, and he was cracking in as if his body and mind was free of demons. North’s Sam Gibson curtailed him in the third quarter, but still there were important touches. Rookie draftee Nyhuis had eight kicks and kicked four goals on debut, giving fans as much excitement as Fyfe.
4 ALASTAIR CLARKSON
You can judge Nathan Buckley against other coaches such as Luke Beveridge, Alan Richardson, Simon Goodwin and even Don Pyke, who have their teams moving in a northerly direction, and Buckley stacks up unfavourably. But judge him against Clarkson, whose team was on its knees when it was 1-5 after six rounds, and it’s stark to see what Clarkson has done with the Hawks and what Buckley has done with the Pies. Clarkson has turned his team around in nine weeks and could play finals. In the past six weeks Hawthorn has beaten Sydney, Adelaide and Collingwood, and drew with Greater Western Sydney on Saturday. The bloke is a giant of coaching.
5 CHARACTER
Carlton and Melbourne put on a stunner at the MCG on Sunday. And while the Blues lost, their performance was one of substance with only two players on the bench after halftime following injuries to Patrick Cripps and Simon White. But spoils to the winners. Melbourne has several injuries to key players and was challenged several times by the Blues. But Jake Melksham still kicked the go-ahead goal. The key play, however, was Neville Jetta v Kade Simpson in the final minute on the wing, which was won by Jetta. Cue calls to radio on Monday from Demons fans wanting to know why Jetta isn’t in All-Australian discussion.
6 JAMES KELLY
He would love to play against Collingwood for a living. In both matches against the Pies this year Kelly has been among the best five players on the ground. Saturday’s effort — season highs for ranking points (107), disposals (32), intercept possessions (eight), tackles (seven) and contested possessions (11) — might not only be his best game this year, but his best game for the Bombers. That said, calls for Kelly, who will be 34 in December, to play again next season are premature. Kelly is averaging his fewest disposals since 2008 and fewest ranking points since 2006. Still, a declining Kelly might be a better bet than an inexperienced player.
7 BIG JOHNNY
Outside of Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin, Jonathon Patton is the in-form key forward in the game. In his past three weeks, he has kicked 13 goals and taken 13 marks inside 50. While he is flying up one end, the Giants are ordinary up the other. The Hawks ripped them apart from the back half and the Giants are ranked 16th for allowing opposition sides to take the ball from defence into attack. This will be a major problem in finals if it continues.
8 DAYNE ZORKO
The Lion was just the 22nd player since 1999 to record 35-plus disposals and four-plus goals. He was so significant in Saturday night’s game that he might be a rare player awarded three Brownlow Medal votes in a team that lost by 85 points. Patrick Dangerfield was outstanding, which we’ve come to expect, but Zorko was the best player at the Gabba. Can’t wait for Brownlow night to see how much umpires rank players in losing sides.
9 AND WHAT OF THE CATS?
This was a blitz, with quarter hauls of five, 10, five and five goals. It was a punishing display from a team soaring to a top-four finish. The Cats are the No. 1 contested footy side in the competition and they brutalised the Brisbane Lions in that area (+42 contested possessions). They punished Brisbane on turnovers (scoring 102 points) and too easily took the ball from the back half to their forward half, scoring 38 points from chains starting in the defensive 50. The second quarter was like the Cats were playing witches’ hats. The other three quarters looked like circle work, which was disappointing for the Lions after last week’s result. Without Zorko, it would’ve been 115 points.
10 SCG WITCHES HATS
This was scary from the Swans and while Gary Rohan has this sort of performance in him, the Swans will continue to play him beside Buddy Franklin. Rohan is a burst player who rarely gets more than 14 touches a game. He had 16 against the Suns but in them came a career-high five goals and 12 of his 16 disposals lead to a Swans score.
WHAT I DISLIKE
1 DAMIEN HARDWICK
All Kane Cornes said was the Tigers got ahead of themselves, and Damien Hardwick bit back. It was an off-night for the Tigers and they deserved scrutiny, notwithstanding their terrific season to date. What else could be said of the Tigers on Saturday? Second to the ball, turnovers and outnumbered at contests. The Saints won the loose ball, their midfield smashed Richmond, the Saints were withering in defence, and there was a complete breakdown of the Tigers’ structure. Richmond’s leaders were undisciplined early, led by Trent Cotchin’s punch to the guts of Jack Lonie. Cornes didn’t say much, and the response suggests this is personal for Hardwick. “I would love to see Kane. I would love to see Kane, I’d really love to see Kane,”’ Hardwick said. Hopefully, it would have been only for a chat.
2 DION PRESTIA
Poor night from the prized recruit and a poor season from the prized recruit on major dollars at Punt Road. Yes, there’s acclimatisation for any player at a new club, but let’s dispense with the excuses. No such problem for Tom Mitchell at Hawthorn. Or a host of first-year players such as Sam Powell-Pepper. Or Michael Hibberd after 12 months suspended. Winning games covers cracks and Prestia has been a crack this season. The upside is if he can find consistency and urgency, the Tigers will only get better.
3 LAST WEEK TOM, THIS WEEK TODD
A strange game from Todd Goldstein. Didn’t have a disposal in the first quarter; recovered to be, with Ben Cunnington, North Melbourne’s most influential player in the next three quarters, before he blew the game when he missed a set shot from 20m in the final minute. It was crushing for him, just as it was for Geelong’s Tom Hawkins the week before. It’s a horrible thing for the Kangas, who play pretty good footy but just can’t win the close games.
4 SO, WHOSE FAULT IS IT?
Channel 7’s stats guru Joshua Kay posted on Twitter on Sunday: “Brad Scott now 2-16 in games decided by 4 points or less.’’ They are staggering numbers and maybe we need professional help via a psychologist to tell us why North Melbourne can’t get it done in close games. Can it be Scott’s fault or is he and his team desperately unlucky? Clearly, Goldstein let the coach and team down on Sunday at the death, but Luke McDonald also missed a gettable goal in the final quarter, as did Ben Brown. Is that Scott’s fault? Maybe the players don’t like responsibility. Maybe they choke. Maybe it is mental. Who knows, but whatever it is, it is wrecking what could have been an impressive season. The worst stat, mind you, is North has won just seven games from its past 29.
5 TIM MEMBREY
The Saint has been sensational in his past five quarters. He was the game winner against Fremantle the week before and kicked five goals against Richmond on Saturday night. It’s a shame he will miss at least two weeks for a clumsy, yet dangerous elbow to the cheekbone of Dylan Grimes. He was in the air when contact was made, and maybe he was protecting himself from contact, but it was ugly.
6 FRIDAY NIGHT HYSTERICS
Do most people think Adelaide’s Taylor Walker will be suspended for applying a shepherd on Jason Johannisen, who then unluckily crashed into the goalpost? A couple of commentators think he has a case to answer. I disagree. You can’t be suspended for accidents. As for Walker, he was aggressive against the Bulldogs, which is exactly how he should play. He’s had a serviceable season. But after watching him on Friday night, when he played his best game since Round 6 (Richmond), Walker at his best is the most influential player at the Crows.
7 WESTERN BULLDOGS
Where do you start? They improved around clearances, but ball use in their back half cost them, giving up eight goals from defensive-half turnovers. Up the other end, it continues to be a dysfunctional family. They got away with it last year because their midfield was so dominant. But five goals from 54 inside-50 entries against the Crows was pathetic, and you wondered why they kept bombing the ball to Jake Lever and Jake Kelly. It’s time to name names at the Bulldogs, and while Jake Stringer has worn his share of criticism, Luke Dahlhaus in the past two weeks, Easton Wood for much of the season, Caleb Daniel and Liam Picken have to find some form. The other stuff — variables, coach Luke Beveridge called them — is proving even more elusive.
8 THE COST OF CLANGERS
In further assessment on Sunday, Collingwood’s turnovers weren’t the major issue — which might surprise many at the MCG on Saturday. Instead, it was what the Bombers did with those turnovers. Collingwood recorded its third-fewest kick clangers with 16 (its season average is 21.7). The Pies committed just 18 defensive-half turnovers, but were punished with Essendon kicking 44 points. The high-risk, high-reward Bombers committed 28 defensive-half turnovers, but Collingwood could only score 27 points from them. A combination of good defensive recovery and poor shooting at goal.
9 WORRIES AT THE SUNS
Another game, another insipid performance, and just when you started having faith in Rodney Eade’s mob. Ten goals to just four points across the middle two quarters and two goals after quarter-time was pitiful football even against the in-form team of the competition. As the season plays out, can’t forget what chief executive Mark Evans said midyear. It’s about the fight, it’s about competing, he said in what a policy statement. Unfortunately for Eade, this wasn’t even close to competing and that spells trouble.
10 KEEP IT ON THE FIELD
Not wise, Clayton Oliver, to invest yourself with fans over the fence. No winners there.
ROBBO’S TOP TWEETS
@marcus_allan: Like how the @GWSGIANTS are still 2nd on the ladder after battling so many injuries in the last few months. Look out if they get healthy.
@timrosen35: Like: Seb Ross. I have him on around 15 Brownlow votes already, and probably close to 3rd behind the big 2. Absolute star of the comp now
@MattAdamson75: Nev the most underrated player in the game. Should be all Australian.
@Mr_Yellow85: Like - Darling and LeCras first halves. Dislike - Darling and LeCras second halves. Hope JK is back next week
@JMWilson33: Likes: Ryan Nyhuis. When was the last 4 goal AFL Debut?
@cramsay1976: Dislike game of Maynard - horror turnover leads to goal, opponent kicks 5 on him then finishes off by staging
@fragga81: Like - Charlie Curnow!!! The kid is a machine and will be the best young player in 18months
@i_Busby: dislike the statement I made to a Saints supporter on Friday.. “this is the first time I’ve trusted my Tigers in 20 years”
@Sidious05: Like: Tom Mitchell racking up the Brownlow votes Dislike: gutless muppets abusing players over the fence
@nicestrongcuppa: L: Jordan Lewis. Gets boo-ed all game but is oh so clever at the end and laughs the hardest
@Shaun__24: like James Kelly playing like he’s 25 again. Dislike Levi Greenwood
@nat_morris5: Like - Burton, Howe, Dimma performing. T.Mitchell is a champ. Dislike - umps refusing a request for a score reveiw. Should listen to player.
@razorsharp1983: Like - Neil Balme’s comments towards Barrett, need footy media held accountable. Dislike - GC Suns after quarter time
@Oshanassystreet: Ben Brown. Within putting distance of leading the Coleman in a team at the beginning of a midfield rebuild.
@mfagan18: Likes: Richardson & Bolton showing real Kraft with their styles of coaching. Building & teaching young lists from scratch
@ljrocca: Like: Dyson Heppell = Strong words backed up by even stronger actions (especially in clutch moments)!
@thecheese01: Likes Dayne Zorko. Dislike Hawthorn’s jumper #ayecaramba
@Town66: Like: Nick Riewoldt, a great game last night from the champ, wish he could play forever
@Cpushup: Like: Geelong have finally realised Duncan only has to play inbetween 50’s, not an inside player never has been/Harry is a backman again.
@nicolec5972: Like Jake Lever. - how good is that kid? Dislike umpiring ‘misses’ - not the decisions they get wrong, the ones missed completely!
@csb9090: Like: no jones,viney,watts,salem, Underdone Hogan ..5 games in 25 days. Still fall over line
@NationPun: Dislike - everything about the Suns
@stickers_bown: Like lindsay thomas in the back half very crafty and smart despite the constant shot he cops also a very good user and composed
@tommmy1: Like: the way Simon Goodwin spoke in his press conference. As a @melbournefc member, couldn’t be happier with the man in charge of my club
@scotty_m74: Dislike lack of public pressure on Brad Scott. Others copping it but not coach of the team 17th and 4 & 11
@FreeWillySquad: dislike Adam Simpson, getting worse each year. Players not playing for him, predictable tactics, questionable selections...
@Dicko_77: Like Nyhius families celebrations. Dislike Surely they could have been given better seats. Not like it was packed out.
@PeterPeterra: Liked Gary Rohan performing amazingly the last four weeks since Tim Watson said he was crap.
@12thManInOz: Like Charlie Curnow Dislike other kids being nominated in front of Charlie Curnow for rising star
@Hynaman: Like - @Andy_McGrath1 smooth mover who makes time stop like JHird and has played on big names!Not getting any recognition!
@bohemothbibby: dislike, player telling ump they’re having a shot, using 30sec and passing. Should pay a free against instantly
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