The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s Round 9’s highlights and lowlights

JOHN Worsfold has been prickly, but what do you expect? On Saturday he got his team to play like him. See all Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from Round 9 plus which AFL club has the best 1-2 key forward punch?

The AFL's best forward twin towers.

ROUND 9 is done and dusted.

What a weekend of footy it was, from the biblical rain in Adelaide to the top-of-the-table blockbuster in Perth that turned into a rout.

VOTE: IS BUDDY IN STRIFE FOR STRAY ELBOW?

REPORT: BLUES AN ETERNITY FROM FINALS SUCCESS

REPORT: DE GOEY GIVES PIES MONEY MEN NIGHTMARES

WOOD: I DON’T WANT TO BE SLAPPED ON THE ARSE

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson looks at the highlights and lowlights of the weekend and asks which club has the best one-two punch.

Meanwhile, Essendon is back in the likes, while Geelong, Hawthorn and bum tappers are in the bad books.

WHAT I LIKE

1. BROWN & WAITE

The North Melbourne bandwagon grows by the weekend, as does the acknowledgment of its key forward combination, Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite. At the end of Round 9 they are the best inside 50m duo in the AFL. Against the Giants, Waite kicked four goals and Brown five, with Brown’s offering all coming in the third quarter when he had seven disposals, three marks inside 50m and 85 ranking points. They have combined for 50 goals this year and lead West Coast’s Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy (46), Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston and Luke Breust (44 goals), Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt and Josh Caddy (41) and Sydney’s Lance Franklin and Will Hayward (36). All this talk about Gold Coast’s Tommy Lynch worth up to $1.5 million a season is nonsense, when you consider Brown would be earning two-thirds of that figure.

2 WHAT ABOUT DARLING & KENNEDY?

West Coast announced itself as genuine with a demolition of Richmond and Darling further announced himself as a genuine superstar. It had to be seen to be believed. Players have kicked more goals this season, but no forward has played a better game than Darling this season, or in fact for several seasons. He kicked six goals, took 15 marks, took eight marks inside 50m and was involved in a game-high 11 scores. He was Carey-like in his domination of the Tigers and that’s probably the highest compliment you can give. Nine goals between Darling and Kennedy was too much for the Tigers.

3. OR HOGAN & McDONALD
A withering and foreboding display from Melbourne, but its greatest challenges are still to come. Have won four in a row — Essendon, St Kilda, Gold Coast and now Carlton — and it might be coincidence, but those wins have come since Tom McDonald returned from injury. He gives the Demons a powerful one-two combo up front. He kicked four goals and Hogan one goal to give them 34 combined for the season. If the Demons want to get where they want to this year, plenty will rest on the availability of their key forwards.

4. HIPWOOD & McCLUGGAGE

It was game 39 for Eric Hipwood and game 27 for Hugh McCluggage and together, finally, they stood up strongly in victory for the Brisbane Lions. It is a cliche, but those two, and defenders Harris Andrews and Tommy Cutler, and the suave Charlie Cameron, are the future. They were also all important in Brisbane’s first win of the season. Hipwood kicked 4.3 and McCluggage had 27 disposals in a rollicking win which tells us the Gabba once again is a difficult venue for visitors.

Eric Hipwood celebrates a goal in the Lions’ win over Hawthorn.

5. MARK BAGULEY

Traumatic week after the Jed Lamb confrontation and it’s best for both of them that what was said wasn’t made public. On Saturday Baguley — and his Bombers teammates — let their football do the talking. This didn’t look like it was about game plan or strategy, it looked like pressure, intensity and tackling, of which Baguley laid seven of them, mainly as a forward pressure player. The Bombers laid 91 tackles this week and 91 tackles last week, but this week was a ‘‘mosh pit’’ of tackling. The tackled the ball carrier/winner and then the receiver if the ball got out, which meant the Cats weren’t able to breathe with the ball.

6. ESSENDON PLAYED LIKE RICHMOND

It can be complicated to determine what pressure actually is and the importance of where it is applied. There’s pressure at the contest and away from the contest. On Saturday, Essendon’s pressure away from stoppages was 191 (the AFL average is 166) and that pressure away from stoppages is what kills. The Tigers, considered the best pressure team, rank 18th for pressure applied at stoppages, but second for pressure applied away from stoppages. In other words, they sweat on the receiver. Essendon’s pressure away from stoppages was the second most applied by any team this season in a dry game. The question is: Can it be repeated against the Giants this week.

7. WHAT ABOUT THE COACH?

John Worsfold has been accused of being prickly at his past two press conferences, but what the hell, he’s been smacked from Windy Hill to Tullamarine in the past six weeks, so what do you expect? He’s talking like he played his football: Take no prisoners. They did against Geelong, which even had the skipper Dyson Heppell asking: “Where has that been?” It was an extraordinary response after a tumultuous week and a stark reminder that, of course tactics are important, but not as important as attitude and commitment.

8. JORDAN DE GOEY

He’s the hottest ticket in town. The Pies are confident he will sign a new contract, probably with a five in front of it, maybe a six. What happens though if a club, say North Melbourne, offers a contract starting with seven, maybe eight, and it’s for five or six years? That’s a guaranteed $5 million. To be fair, don’t know the length of contract Collingwood has offered, but de Goey would be foolish if he doesn’t direct his manager to at least talk to other clubs. He’s 22, played 55 games and kicked 51 goals, so the money is obscene. But he’s a forward-50m talent of which we haven’t seen for sometime.

9. HUGH GREENWOOD

Stunning courage to talk about the loss of his mother in a recent interview on Fox Footy and if you haven’t seen it, jump on YouTube. He plays with a different courage on the field and his fearless attack on the contest was a highlight as the Crows battle injury woes. The 26-year-old played his 24th game in the wet on Friday night and he was Adelaide’s No.1 ranked player. Five teammates had more disposals, but no one was harder at the ball. He had 20 possessions, 19 of them contested, an equal team-high 10 clearances and 85 pressure points. The former basketballer-turned-footballer has been a success since he joined the club in 2015.

10. REX HUNT

He’s had his trials and tribulations, Rex, but there’s no denying his place in Australian rules history. The premiership player and premier caller and entertainer called his final match on 3AW on Saturday night. He loved the station and the station and the fans loved him for a zillion reasons. He could be cutting with his criticisms, but he mainly adored and celebrated the players. Famous for one-liners, nicknames and his infamous race call, he might’ve saved one of his best line for his final match. As the game dwindled, Rexy said: “You’d rather play scrabble at Pentridge.’’

Rex Hunt in action for 3AW.

WHAT I DISLIKE

1. GEELONG

“Their mental approach was really poor,’’ said former captain Cameron Ling on 3AW. His reasoning was the Cats knew Essendon would be earnest with their physical approach, but didn’t match it, which allowed Essendon’s confidence to grow. The Cats are guilty of dropping games they are expected to win against lowly placed teams in recent years. Forty per cent of Geelong’s losses since 2016 have come against bottom-10 sides, which is the worst percentage of any side that has played finals during this time. The table is Essendon 54 per cent, but you can eliminate them because of 2016. Then comes Geelong 40 per cent, Sydney and North Melbourne 37 per cent, Richmond 36 per cent, West Coast 35 per cent, Adelaide 33 per cent, Hawthorn 31 per cent, GWS 31 per cent, Bulldogs 30 per cent and Port Adelaide 26 per cent, the latter earning the title of flat-track bullies. The Cats certainly ain’t that, but they can be mentally flat in games they are expected to win.

2. WHAT ABOUT GAZZA?

It looked like it was too hot in the kitchen for Ablett on Saturday and it looked like he was feeling every bit of his 34 years of age. He’s going to have average games, because that’s what happens. But when it’s hot like it was, you have to fight fire with fire. He’s not a deep defensive thinker, but just one tackle and a lack of ball, meant it was one of his worst games in his past 40 games. Ablett admitted it was a poor performance and if they continue, how long will it be before people start debating the positives and negatives of Gazza going back to Geelong.

Gary Ablett after copping a heavy knock.

3. HAWKS

Two losses in a row and this one was a shot of reality. Boy, it was a disappointing performance. Not only were they beaten, the Lions careered away, kicking 11 goals to four after half-time. Can’t work out if the Hawks are a finals team or not. Against the Lions the kids failed to have impact, the ball handling was poor and defensively they allowed 20 goals to be scored. At the end of Round 9 they are out of the eight and their confidence took a huge hit about them getting back in.

4. RICHMOND

Maybe they were ripe for the picking, and West Coast may have built it up internally as a final in May, but it was the dismantling of Richmond which was of major concern. The Tigers conceded 130 points, were murdered on the turnover and were unable stop West Coast’s ball movement from the back half to the front. They actually had more inside 50s, 56-44. Richmond was the benchmark, that’s how powerful the Eagles were.

Richmond walk off Perth Stadium after the loss to West Coast.

5. CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE

Carlton beats Essendon, Geelong beats Collingwood, Essendon beats Geelong, Carlton demolished by Melbourne. The goodwill garnished from the win over the Bombers in Round 8 was lost by Carlton in the slush at the MCG, proving it’s one step forward and two steps back for the Blues at the moment. Kicked just 2.5 after half-time compared to Melbourne’s 15.5. It was a diabolical 60 minutes of football for Carlton. How can Essendon turn it around and Carlton turn to that rubbish? The mental side of coaching has never been so important.

6. BAD KICKING IS BAD FOOTBALL

Tim Membrey is having a Freddie Krueger-style nightmare in front of goal — which is inescapable fear — and it continued with another three behinds against Collingwood, making it 6.15 this season. In 2017, he kicked 38.14, so it is clearly down to mental demons. If it continues coach Alan Richardson might take him down the race for talking to, as he did with Rowan Marshall on Saturday night when Marshall bungled a kick to the middle which was cut off and led to a Collingwood goal. It was interesting coaching from Richardson. He said it was to reinforce the confidence he has had in the kid. While Marshall’s missed kick was crucial, Membrey’s behinds in the first quarter were more so. Does Richo talk to Membrey about his goalkicking or avoid the subject for fear of adding more pressure? Can remember Nathan Buckley not wanting to talk about Travis Cloke’s goal kicking to avoid making even more headlines. Tough position.

7. CARELESS BUDDY

Already the commentariate is hoping Lance Franklin escapes punishment for his elbow to the head of Joel Hambling. That’s nice of them. But they’re missing the point. Franklin gathered the ball, was tackled, and when Hambling came into apply a second tackle, Franklin’s upper body shrug saw his elbow concuss the Docker defender. It was careless, if not dangerous, and that Hambling missed the remainder of the game suggests Franklin will and should face suspension. Franklin’s great mate Josh Gibson interviewed him after the match and didn’t ask about the elbow. That also was careless, Josh.

Lance Franklin collects Joel Hamling with an elbow. Picture: Phil Hillyard

8. GOLD COAST

All for the China experiment and Port Adelaide should be applauded for a) thinking outside the box and b) finding another source of financial support. The interest in the game, however, is minimal because the Gold Coast Suns are an unattractive opponent. They also are rewarded because Chinese people love the Gold Coast, but that’s where the interest lies. The Travelling Wilburys have won one game from their past seven matches and I can’t think of another time when interest in the expansion team is so low. What hope have they got keeping Tom Lynch?

9. BUM TAPPERS

What possesses a fan to lean over the fence and slap a player’s bum and then think it’s the funniest and proudest moment of his life. Very weird. Also weird, but a touch quaint, was Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge stopping for a selfie after he walked from the coaches box on Friday night. Former coaches might think it crazy, but it’s a brave new world and Bevo is up with the trends.

10. SLIDING RULE DEBATE

It’s a good rule, a smart rule, and reckon the umpire got the Daniel Talia-Lukas Webb decision right. Talia went to ground to win the ball and Webb kept his feet and contact was made below the knee. It’s always thought the ruling was front-on contact below the knee, but the rule surely is for all contact below the knees. The debate raged, but would it have been raised if Webb snapped an ACL on contact? Agree, there’s 50-50 situations and Talia-Webb might have been one of them, but the rule has been good for the game. Not everyone would agree. Said Mick McGuane on twitter: “That s**t ‘sliding rule’ raises its ugly head again tonight. Please get back to rewarding the player that gets first to the ball and not the ‘sweater.’ It’s fast becoming a major indictment on our great game.’’

BEST TWEETS

@brendanmills15: like, world record tackles by Elliott Yeo on Dusty

@ports74: Monday hero surely has to be Matt Eagles. Goes from Reality TV show to kicking a goal against the Hawks for his 1st win

@tobie_chapman: Eric Hipwood. Had a few down weeks but he was brilliant today when it counted.

@Auussttinnn: I love Devon Smith.

@razorsharp1983: Like Ridley’s composure for a first gamer. Dislike Jed Lamb, the new Hayden Ballantyne. Where’s Matty Scarlett when you need him.

@topherthomson: Like Gaff becoming a contested beast, Darling is the new king, jack reddens improvement, the eagles

@2chookie94: Love: Nathan Brown’s leadership. When he was in the arms of the trainer and unable to walk because of his knee, he still made the effort to go over to Hunter Clarke who was injured in the same collision. Also love Jimmy Webster who has been a rare shining light for the saints.

@cmanifis: Wonder if Mrs Hardwick liked Jack Darlings game

@fanno36: Likes - Sam Powell Pepper. His last 2 weeks have been fantastic. Especially after what happened off field.

@NicksaCarr: Like- Jake Melksham. Dislike - Meghan Markle’s 15ft vail. Too much.

@jaggunncomp: Loving the Eagles. Big dislike for Jeremy Cameron’s selfish acts costing GWS momentum leading into half time.

@MaxCurtis37: Likes: Elliot Yeo’s huge second half and Essendon’s most important player Orazio Fantasia

@dannyboy272727: Dusty & Rance lay 0 tackles between them. Let’s hope that one is all over the paper like you were with Goddard

@akerr2412: Liked the debut of Jordan Ridley, came in for Michael Hurley and contributed 25 cool and calm possessions had to wait a while for the opportunity but took it with both hands and excelled. Even had the confidence to side step Gary Ablett.

@neimadkp: Dislike: Fremantle’s inability to play convincing football away from home. Do the players trust Ross Lyon anymore?

@heavehojo: Dislike ... Freo’s lack of forward structure. Lots to work on. Like ... Harry & Meghan. A team with character, beauty, poise & class.

@kingtriton007: Like: as a Melbourne supporter, love Daisy Thomas bouncing back up after the Bernie Vince bump, playing the ball, then remonstrating..... reminds me of the good old days....

@Moxie404: Love @pafc win in China on field and off Dislike haters who were wrong about it failing and now resent Port gaining so much from an away game

@mikpara: Dislike.. another two crowd fights this weekend

@hurkymark: like the kangas continuing to defy the preseason critics by bringing effort week in, week out

@nicestrongcuppa: L: Tom McDonald DL: The preacher at the wedding.

@m24jones: Like; fast break high scoring football Dislike; Hibberd doesn’t work hard enough and is being carried by others, on another team he’d be back page news

@sloppers: Dislike geelong - same flaws reappeared that seen us exit in the prelims the last 2 years. It’s a tad frustrating

@CameronHopkins: Dislike: my crap team - no idea how to lead and no idea how to deliver into the forward line. In case you can’t tell, it’s Freo.

@livewire61073: Like Nick smith 200 games 0 brownlow votes dislike China / AFLX more important than Tassie football

@sticka78: Like. Jed Anderson.. After all his injuries, finally repaying the faith.. Gun.

@Porternator: Like - Hugh Mcluggage - won the game for Brisbane won the match needed to be won Dislike - Being at a Brisbane club hedoesnt get the respect he deserves

@shoey_khan: Like - Elliot Yeo’s 3rd quarter performance, particularly those two tackles and holding the ball calls on Dusty! Went off with a knee injury, came back to set-up the win for @WestCoastEagles. Dislike - 4th quarter of St Kilda v Pies

LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >