The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes for Round 1
JAKE Stringer and the Western Bulldogs top Robbo’s list of likes and the Dockers were just as bad as the Magpies.
Mark Robinson
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THERE was a lot to like about Jake Stringer and the Western Bulldogs but Fremantle had no excuses for dishing up such a woeful effort.
Read Robbo’s full list of likes and dislikes for Round 1 and CHAT LIVE from 11.30am Tuesday:
WHAT I LIKE
1. Bullish Bulldogs
THEY play 14 games at Etihad this season and that is a frightening proposition for the opposition.
They have an enthralling mix of fierce pressure, electric ball movement, speed of legs and unselfishness.
When Gil McLachlan talked of playing exciting footy, he didn’t even make a call to the Dogs.
It was 9.7 to 1.5 at halftime against the Dockers on Sunday and it was more impressive than what the Swans did to Collingwood.
We know the stars, but what of the likes of Biggs, Hunter, Dunkley, Johannisen who seems to been released off half-back, new boy Marcus Adams was terrific at full-back and Toby McLean, who joins the gang of six-footers who are relentless with their pressure.
This was an annihilation.
2. Now, let’s talk about the stars ...
JAKE Stringer has even Jason Dunstall mesmerised by his freakish ability and Stringer is only one of the pack.
He kicked five on Sunday, and then there was the return of Libba who had the first kick, Bontempelli the first goal, while Jack Macrae had 30, Murphy 31 and all the while, the Dogs managed to win the contested ball 157-114 against the best contested ball team of the past four years. Did I say it was an annihilation?
3. Aaron Hall
HIS football changed at Round 14 last year when he had 20 and kicked three goals against North Melbourne. A player previously anxious about his footy, Hall announced himself as a serious player and has not looked back.
There was Gazza watch on Saturday evening, but Hall should get the three Brownlow Medal votes. Thirty-six possessions, nine inside 50s, two goals, and there’s a real want to be known as an inside player as well as an outside ball-gatherer.
Plus, he’s a Supercoach special.
4. Viney, Watts and Hogan
HAS a nice a ring to it, doesn’t it. Viney clearly has taken a steps in his footy and looms as the next captain, while Watts’ final quarter was magical.
Hogan’s three goals in the final quarter were game changing, but I liked his big fist in the final seconds of the game as much as his goals. Pushed behind the ball to stave off what would have been an amazing GWS victory, Hogan planted himself in the hole.
Watch closely and Hogan was so, so brave. He backed back into what he knew would be a pack of players coming at the ball and thumped it over the boundary line. Clearly loves doing it at both ends.
5. Paul Roos’ coaching
DOWN by 19 points at the final break, Roos was proactive. Jones to half-back for the first time in his career, Vandenberg forward, Jack deep, Hogan had already been moved to ruck in the third term to find the ball and then moved back to the square, Bernie Vince into the midfield and clearly an instruction to move the ball as quick as they could.
In the past, Roos might’ve wanted to grind their way back into the contest. On Saturday, he lit up the contest and if you saw the faces on the players when they made their charge and on the faces of the fans at the final siren, it is what everyone at Melbourne has been waiting for.
Almost four goals down and a win? It’s been so long, can’t imagine who was coaching Melbourne when it last happened.
6. Marc Murphy
THERE was plenty to admire about Carlton on Thursday night, from Jacob Weitering to Matthew Wright to Patrick Cripps and the all-round ability to play team football, but even the coach Brendon Bolton reckoned Murphy was a special.
There hasn’t been a captain under scrutiny as Murphy has been for several years, but he was enormous. He had 27, six tackles, three clearances, yet it was his gut running and big moments plays which reminded everyone of the footballer he is.
It was wonderful to have Buddy back and Gaz, but Murphy has some serious football ahead of him.
7. Jake Lloyd
THIS is the young man who used to get woken at 3am by a special ops trainer to hit the hills near his home in Stawell in preparation of an AFL career. He is a fitness freako who appeared to be a good player, without flare.
But he was rampant against Collingwood. He had 35 touches at a pretty solid 71 per cent efficiency and now supplies another layer to the Swans midfield.
Has played 44 games, none better than Saturday night, and can tag and now evidently can be an out-and-out ball-getter.
6. The Sydney package
HANDS up who picked Collingwood (yep) and believed the Swans might not be the force of yesteryear (yep). As was said on twitter on Saturday night, you can’t play football like the Swans did and not be a contender.
Kids such as Mills, Heeney, Papley, Hewitt and Robinson add a new layer to Hannebery, Kennedy, Parker and Mitchell because depth suddenly isn’t the issue many thought it would be.
9. Boomer or Goldstein?
WHO was more important? Boomer kicked three in the third term to instigate the North revival and Goldstein maintained the revival with four contested marks in the final quarter in a game where everyone, other than Goldstein, was buggered.
Goldstein was huge and it was acknowledged by Port skipper Travis Boak on twitter: “@toddgoldstein22 you are an absolute (star) standing tall in big moments.” Still, I will go with Boomer, the game-breaker.
10. Tom Hickey
Mighty effort for three quarters by the Saints led by Tom Hickey in the ruck. Never been written about before, but Hickey was sensational in clearly his best game for his second club. Had 20 touches, six clearances and 56 hitouts against Matthew Lobbe.
He was strong, bullocking on the ground with shades of Shane Mumford about him. Not so Lobbe and Port’s ruck position looms as a problem spot with Ryder out for 12 months.
11. Jasper Pittard
Gray and Wingard were the polish and kicked six goals between them, but it was Pittard at the back who was probably best afield. His rebound ability is now complemented to body-on-body work and his take out of Nick Riewoldt near the boundary line in the final quarter was evidence of that.
He has been told by the club he can be an All Australian this year. With 27 touches and a game-high seven rebounds, he started like one.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
1. Collingwood (I)
COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley can say the players felt betrayed by the breakdown of confidentiality — and he’s right — but it’s fair to say Buckley and his football club were also betrayed by their players who actually took the illicit drugs.
The Herald Sun tried to establish which clubs returned a higher number of a positive summer tests, but has not yet down so.
What’s the main issue here? Confidentiality breach or players taking drugs?
Just remember, this is not a Collingwood issue, it is a competition issue. By the way, where was the concern when Essendon’s interviews with ASADA and the AFL were leaked to the media?
2. Collingwood (II).
BLAME everything and anyone you like, the Pies didn’t give a yelp against the Swans on Saturday night. They were outhunted, they weren’t able to stick tackles, stoppages broke down, there was a lack of cohesion on accountability which allowed the Swans to spread with impunity. Down 31 in contested ball told the story. Cloke, Moore and Gault were non-factors, but when the midfield is beaten up, what hope did they have.
3. Collingwood (III).
A HORRIBLE night made worse because Dane Swan is out for many weeks with broken bones in his foot. If one of them is his navicular, which ended Matthew Egan’s career at Geelong and sidelined James Hird’s career for 12 months at the turn of the century, then Swanny has a decision to make: Rehab and come back in 2017 or pull the pin.
With Steele Sidebottom certain to miss because of a high hit on Dan Hannebery, the Pies are in deep pain.
4. Fremantle.
WHAT’S their excuse? They weren’t named as a club in the drugs scandal, but their minds weren’t ready for the Bulldogs’ onslaught, just as the Pies weren’t capable of matching Sydney’s tenacity.
No, they weren’t mentally the same as they have been through NAB Challenge, but these things happen. Perhaps the Pies aren’t as ready as some us thought. Perhaps the Dockers have dropped a cog. It was 7.1 to 0.2 in the first quarter and they crumbled under the Bulldogs pressure.
5. Essendon.
WE knew it was going to be a long season and early indications are it’s going to be even more depressing. Fact is they lack skill and cohesion and together that is demoralising combo.
Fought on well enough after halftime, kicking 4.5 to 6.10, but the Suns aren’t considered a top-range outfit. What will the Dogs do to them at Etihad? There are holes everywhere, but the key back defensive posts loom as problem children all season.
6. Umpire bashing
THE deliberate out of bounds is a winner, save for a couple of dodgy decisions such as the free paid against Matthew Kreuzer on Thursday night. The philosophy is sound, however.
There are fewer dead contests because players have to play the ball close to the boundary line, which keeps tension high. After one round, the rules changes, most notably the 10m rule from the player with the ball, have helped produce breathtaking football.
7. Rising star judging
GOOD luck to the people at AFL House who will determine which of the young guns will be the Round 1 nominee.
The contenders are Jacob Weitering who had 17 touches and seven marks, although Ty Vickery kicked a couple of goals.
There is Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver who played a powerhouse first half in his first game and equalled Jack Viney for a game-high 15 contested possessions and had a game-high seven clearances.
There was Darcy Parish from Essendon who had 25, six tackles, six clearances in a thrashing. And there was Tom Papley with three goals for Sydney, and his teammates Callum Mills and George Hewett. And Daniel Rioli first up in yellow and black.
My money is on Oliver and hope his wonderfully exuberant post-match interview gets him across the line.
8. GWS Giants
TALKED a big game, was talked up as being a big improver, and couldn’t beat Melbourne at the MCG when four goals up at three-quarter time.
Killed themselves with shoddy kicking in the third term and then didn’t have the clout, calmness or want to withstand Melbourne’s last quarter.
Still a penchant to want to do it individually in the forward line and that’s not helped by the arrival of the I-can-kick-goals-from-anywhere attitude of Steve Johnson. The cheap shot from Jeremy Cameron the match previously didn’t help either.
9. North Melbourne polos
THE Kangas have gone razzmatazz under the guidance of top-end sponsor and international clothing company, Canterbury. It will trend northwards but at first glance it is in your face. The fact is the polo is in the top 10 biggest apparel sellers in the competition.
“The feedback is it’s flying off the shelves,” a North spokesman said.
“We’ve gone fluoro. They’ve been amazing for us, freshened our whole range with the use of orange. It’s modern, the traditionalists might not like it, but the young people love it.”
10. Nic Nat bashers
They will come like they always do, saying he doesn’t impact around the ground, etc etc. Just point them to Sunday’s game against a decent ruckman in Stef Martin. Twenty-odd touches, contested marking, 40-plus hitouts. He put Martin to the sword, just as the Eagles did to the Lions. Funny thing is, the Lions were OK, but the Eagles still kicked 20-plus goals.
11. Forgetting Hodgey
The discussion on SEN on Saturday revolved around Jacob Weitering’s first game. We said he was the best No.1 since Nick Riewoldt. That was a mistake, and the thinking was Riewoldt was drafted after Hodge.
Clearly, the best since Riewoldt is Luke Hodge. The best No.1 of all time is Hodge. Still, it doesn’t deter the impact Weitering had in his first game. If he knocks off Hodge, then the Blues have drafted an all-time great.
BEST TWEETS
@Daniel5Faulkner: like Clayton Oliver and Jack Vineys game- dislike eddies carelessness of the drug situation
@luke_h10: Like - Clayton Oliver’s first game. Dislike - Dane Swan injury. Heartbreaking. Will be a sad way to go for the champion.
@hurkymark: like the kangas showing great guts and determination to get over the line in round 1 for once
@KateVictoria93: like: Kane Lambert. Always playing like someone who wants to pay back Richmond for giving him a chance.
@mreichst: dislike the 50m penalty. Far too harsh for petty umpiring decision. Make it 25m
@TexasPinkSock: Like The saints effort just a really likeable team, also like another rioli playing AFL! Dislike pies fans blaming others
@RayRockyDog: like is simple Footy is back with a cracking Thurs night game. Dislike - Pies being only name leaked bout drugs.
@squeakee21: dislike- the seat colours at etihad
@A5Joey: not the biggest fan of the new pricing for footy tickets. Should get back to the basics. Thought the game was for the fans!
@BJBayliss: like stringer genuine star ranking of 10 was a bit light!!! Dislike drugs again.......
@Crouchy35: Like: Reduced rotations opening things up. Dislike: Can’t see the footy headlines for the drug headlines
@Mark_UNC: like. $3 pies at Etihad. dislike, Theres too much sauce in the tomato sauce packets they give you #wastage #realproblems
@ItsCassiePike: likes Dees last qtr comeback, dees of old would have given up. Dislike the carrying on about Collingwood
@ItsCassiePike: likes Dees last qtr comeback, dees of old would have given up. Dislike the carrying on about Collingwood
@WhisperingT: Cunnington set to break contested possessions record. Bookmark it.
@Bolts80: massive like. Gaz is back!!!!
@JDW_09: Like: Jack Viney’s leadership and off tagging duties. Dislike: The confusion around the 10 metre rule. Just keep it simple
@jordanrhysallan: L: debutants! Parish, Oliver, Weitering, Papley, Ah Chee great D: Giants soft footy. Reading their own hype?
@SaintFrankly: Has Tom Hickey been channeling Gary Dempsey today?
@boxie004: the interchange rule could be the best rule invented. Opened the game up. Best players staying out there
@kiel_henry: #Dislike Spurr’s disposal, Zac Clarke’s Hunger, freo in general #likes Wells return, Libba return, Melbourne’s Hunger
@Trevor_DT: After many seasons of hard work, off field Stynes debt days/Roos coach + culture translating to on field performances.
@VedantTij17: Like: Luke Parker. 3 votes. Bronlow Smokey. Dislike: how quickly C’wood blamed the media for dismal effort
@realmrcricket: like Robbie Gray, Pittard & the absence of the sub - dislike Micky Mouse umpiring
@lightntangy23: Likes: St. Kilda wonderful. A round for debutants? Well the ones in my Supercoach team at least. Best round 1 in a while?
@lukecooper14: Like- Tom Hickey, 20 disp 56 hitouts, hopefully not a one off Dislike- Collingwood’s effort, drug saga no excuse
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