Mark Robinson’s highlights and lowlights from Round 7

COLLINGWOOD’S graph wasn’t supposed to be drilling in this direction, and there are queries about the coach’s ability to get the best out of this group. REPLAY ROBBO’S LIVE CHAT

Nathan Buckley speaks to his players during the loss to Carlton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

MARK Robinson looks at the highlights and lowlights from another big weekend of footy.

As the dust settles from Round 7, it’s the dislikes that attract the big headlines.

Scroll down to replay Robbo’s live chat.

DISLIKES

1. COLLINGWOOD

At 2-5 and spiralling south, you have to wonder if the Pies’ hierarchy are asking themselves questions about the coach. If not, no worries, move on. But they’d be derelict in their duty if they weren’t at least very worried. Buckley is a proud man, but even he could be asking questions of himself.

Collingwood was beaten on Saturday by a team many thought would win the wooden spoon this year. The startling fact is Brendon Bolton has had one summer and seven games to put in place a defensive system and is giving up 87 points a game. The Pies, in their fifth year under Buckley, are giving up 105 points a game, which is diabolical after four consecutive seasons of averaging mid-80s.

Buckley said his defensive system is the same employed by the elite teams, but his players can’t get it done. Bolton’s team is simply getting it done. On Saturday against a team which is struggling to score, the Pies were -18 contested possessions, -11 clearances, -5 tackles, -11 inside 50s. Carlton, on average, launch 11 points per game from defensive 50m — they scored 30 points against the Pies.

Buckley’s contract was extended this season until the end of 2017, but for the first time there are queries about Buckley’s ability to get the best out of this group. His team has won just four of its past 18 matches which would suggest whatever Buckley is asking, his players aren’t answering.

Buckley keeps saying the right things — why they were beaten, where they were beaten, the youth factor — but into his fifth year, the graph wasn’t supposed to be drilling in this direction. At present, and arguably for the majority of the past 18 games, the Pies don’t have the consistent collective effort that is expected. Combine that with the defensive failings this year and you have an ordinary team.

Buckley could well turn it around this season, but until he does, the spotlight will continue to be on him and his players. There is one question hanging in the air, however, after president Eddie McGuire said he would sack Buckley if he had to: How bad does it have to get before McGuire is asking himself that exact question?

2. THE PAST 18 GAMES

Collingwood is 16th in the past 18 home and away games.

3. SO WHAT’S WRONG?

The Pies can’t do what Nathan Buckley is asking, so is it about how he’s asking? Buckley speaks football as well as anyone. He speaks matter of factly, clinically and numbers aren’t far away in any of his dissections. Sunday on 3AW, Bulldog Jordan Roughead said of his coach Luke Beveridge: “He always finds the way to get the emotional hook to have the team playing for each other.’’

At the moment, Buckley isn’t finding the way. From afar you wonder if Buckley is asking himself if he is too clinical, too process-oriented? It’s only a theory, but somewhere between the coach and the players, the emotional levels are failing. Whatever it is, Buckley is a young coach and still developing and learning, so arguably this lean period might make him a better coach in the long run.

4. WEST COAST

Once again on the road and outside of the run in the third quarter, once again they failed miserably. Too many players can’t do it away from Subi. Guys like Elliott Yeo, Mark LeCras, Jamie Cripps. And it’s probably best to not mention Lewis Jetta. Has been a failure since crossing from Sydney and coach Adam Simpson put it nicely when he said Jetta was a work in progress. Surely, the immediate progress will be in the WAFL.

AFL: Round 7 Geelong v West Coast Eagles at Simonds Stadium, Shannon Hurn after a Geelong goal. 7th May 2016. Picture: Colleen Petch.

5. FREMANTLE

Damien Hardwick is taking a kicking and Nathan Buckley is being abandoned by the Collingwood faithful, yet Ross Lyon is escaping the headlines, on the east coast anyway. Is it because he has a five-year deal? There’s merit in that. If Lyon was out of contract at the end of the year, there would be heightened scrutiny. Clearly, the expectation at the start of the year has been replaced by a clear development direction and it would seem everyone at the club is on the same page.

6. GAZZA

“I need to get back to hunting the football,’’ Gary Ablett said after the game. Which sounded a little weird because Gaz hasn’t been accused of loping since he was a forward pocket at Geelong. He’s in a slump, but unquestionably, he’s also carrying an injury. Is the back after the Ben Cunnington incident lingering? Because he is playing easy football.

7. DELIBERATE CONFUSION

Applaud the rule, but it’s still being adjudicated in the weirdest ways. On Saturday night, Jed Adcock and Eddie Betts were reaching for the ball, Adcock marginally got there first — we only know that because of the replay — and the ball squirted over the boundary line. The umpire paid deliberate against Adcock, the Crows got the ball and Charlie Cameron in the ensuing play kicked a goal. It was the wrong decision. It wasn’t deliberate, it was a contest for the ball. That’s not what the rule was brought in for.

8. WHAT HOPE UMPIRES, THOUGH?

AFTER the North Melbourne-Bulldogs game last week, North inquired about the deliberate paid against Scott Thompson, who tried to tap the ball to teammate Nick Dal Santo, only for the ball to miss the target and go over the line. North was told it was the correct decision. It’s fast becoming last touch rather than deliberate.

LIKES

1. CARLTON

The growth in the Blues has been extraordinary. That’s three in a row — against Fremantle, Essendon and Collingwood — and Blues fans would be rapt. It’s called workrate. It’s called team football. It’s called working to the system. And there’s buy in from everyone. The Blues aren’t world beaters, but it’s apparent they are very difficult to play against. There’s no need for numbers to explain what’s going on, they are simply a committed group of young men.

2. CURNOW AND CASBOULT

Liked BT’s assessment that Levi Casboult would be the best forward in the game if he could kick goals. Took 11 marks, seven of them contested, and kicked the match-winner from 55m. It was imposing football. The other bloke is an unknown quality. Released from tagging shackles, he’s become a ball-winning, head-over-the-ball midfielder. He returned 24 disposals, 13 tackles and seven clearances. Last year he had seven games with more than 24 possessions. He has five games of more than 24 possessions this year.

Levi Casboult celebrates after kicking the winning goal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

3 ATTACKING FOOTBALL

Twitter stats guru Josh Kay (@js_kay) had this offering on Saturday night. Under Paul Roos, the Demons’ average points have been: 2014 - 56.4, 2015 - 65.6 and 2016 - 109.3. That’s more than a seven-goal improvement in goalscoring from last year. It’s always difficult to beat Gold Coast at home and although the Suns lost two players with injury, and Gazza was worryingly out of touch, the Demons managed a clinical 24.16 score. So much to like, but what should be noted is Melbourne had the youngest and least experienced side for the round, led by James Harmes, Jayden Hunt and Josh Wagner. Quite fairly, outside of their family, friends and Melbourne fans, most people would be asking, who the hell are those three.

4. TACKLING

The oft-spoken theory that if you’re tackling too much it means you haven’t got the ball is rubbish. Guess what, North Melbourne is the No.1 tackling side in the competition. Stunning output by the Cats on Saturday, not so much by the team — they laid a solid 77 tackles — but it was who laid them. Mark Blicavs, who had more than an eye on Luke Shuey, had 10 tackles. Harry Taylor laid eight, Tom Hawkins laid six, Corey Enright seven and Andrew Mackie five. Extraordinary numbers from the talls and the defenders which will be pointed out — with big fun — to the midfielders no doubt.

6. TACKLING (2)

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson wanted more from his midfielders and got it without Sam Mitchell. Jordan Lewis led as the skipper, Isaac Smith returned to his running best, Billy Hartung too, but reckon Clarkson would’ve been rapt with the game of Liam Shiels. He laid 16 tackles, won four clearances and kicked a goal and should get coaches votes from Clarkson. Shiels is often unsung in a team of high-profile and highly-skilled stars.

Sydney's Isaac Heeney celebrates a goal with Lance Franklin. Picture: Phil Hillyard

7. HEENEY AND FRANKLIN

Sounds like a Sydney law firm, when in fact they are a football firm with considerable impact. Kicked 11 of 20 goals and took 13 marks, nine to the blonde bomber who is probably exceeding the hype. They reckon he could be an A-grade midfielder, but that won’t be happening any time soon. Franklin and Heeney remind me of the double dose of power and skill that Lockett and Micky O or Hall and Micky O delivered for many years.

8. MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

Missed some crucial shots at goal in the elimination final last year and on Saturday night, there was some redemption. He kicked the winner with under a minute to play, a 50m bomb, and it was lost on no one in the post-match. He was ice-cool over the ball and ice cool about his goal when interviewed by Cameron Ling. That’s the thing about these Dogs, they don’t get ahead of themselves. Even Jakey Stringer, God love him, is cooling his jets.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Josh Jenkins kicks eight, Lachie Neale had 25 contested possessions, Anthony Miles stood up, Scott Pendlebury’s a champ, Bryce Gibbs is back, Steven Motlop was magical, Joel Selwood is dominating, Josh Kennedy had 40 and 11 clearances, big Maxy Gawn should’ve been my Supercoach captain, Luke Dahlhaus works as hard as any player and there’s even more love for Callan Ward.

Josh Jenkins was in fine form, kicking eight goals in the Crows loss.

BEST TWEETS

@dabigfella1: Dislike Collingwood. Would love to say we’ve hit rock bottom, but further to go yet. Dark times ahead, no finals this year!

@michaelkeddie32: d: 30 sec count down clock for shot on goal. Players constantly wasting time waiting for clock to run down

@geordie_cook: like Geelong being a fortress again, dislike how embarrassing Suns are given the Giants success.

@tj_nelson7: dislike: Grundy’s lack of effort. like: Dogs/Crows for restoring faith in our game. #piesupporter

@geoffhunt72: like: Sydney’s potent forward line dislikes: constant whining about umpiring

@16thegeneral: L- Zaha,perfect replacement for Jobe D- umps have swallowed the whistle on throwing

@bradh35: L-Bulldogs speed, run & passion. D-asking umps for please explain on free kicks when 2nd to the ball every time

@TimCowelly89: a couple of years ago dogs v free 17-4 free kick count dogs way. Freo won the match with 4 free kicks...

@aidanpauna: Like: Isaac Heeney. Best 20 year old in the game! 20 touches and 5 goals is impressive...more so for a youngster

@ShaunWarburton: like - Big @drewpetrie20 on his 300. Humble champion.

@dricho28: dislike: the social media commentary around umpiring (specifically WB/Crows) & lack of response from AFL

@bobbydog04: likes= the package, jenkins and doggies winning dislikes= crows fans spooking about the umpires

@PaddyF3: like- people still not convinced on the cats / dislike- abusive fans

@kerry_lambert: Like: The Demon tide has turned. Love Oliver & Petracca. Dislike: abusive fans- playing is harder than insults

@vizzini111: like @CarltonFC 3 in a row when most thought we couldn't win any dislike GCS playing likes it's the NEAFL

@joshtaylor_26: Like (Love!) the belief in the Carlton side at the moment. Whatever Bolton earns, it’s not enough

@seanbro68: likes; Dee’s and GWS new kids on the block dislike; the open hand flick handball. #usethefist

@bigshowshane: Dislike: Saturday night ch 7 commentary Likes: Nick Riewoldt. Gives 100% every contest

@LHumphrey6: Likes Gawn to Viney.

@norlanian: Like - Jesse white actually having a good game. Dislike - Buckley still has a job

@butch_wild: want to say how well Marc Murphy is doing as captain