The Tackle: Mark Robinson gives his likes and dislikes after a huge Round 19
THE TACKLE: BOMBER Cale Hooker will be remembered for a second straight week, but not for the right reasons. See Robbo’s likes and dislikes from Round 19.
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NATHAN Buckley may seem on borrowed time, but his side’s recent efforts are giving Eddie McGuire plenty to think about.
Below, Robbo shares his likes and dislikes from Round 19.
LISTEN TO ROBBO ON THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST IN THE PLAYER BELOW
WHAT I LIKE
1. JUNK TIME OR REAL TIME?
The intrigue continues at Collingwood after an extraordinary match. They were bold and brilliant enough to get to a 50-point lead, let it go to lead by just three points, found the resolve to surge again and then allowed Mitch McGovern to mark and goal and draw the game. That’s two wins and a draw from their past three matches and if Eddie McGuire is looking for reasons to appoint Nathan Buckley for 2018, he can look at the fact this team will fight to the death. Will it be enough? Who knows, but the Pies aren’t lying down and it’s looking better than what it was six weeks ago.
2. JASON JOHANNISEN
Might not be a $800,000 defender, but could be a $600,000 forward after his four goals and 18 disposals against the Bombers, who didn’t put any physicality into the Bulldogs linkman. Johannisen’s running is one indication the Bulldogs are regaining their best footy, the others are winning the ground balls and creating slick ball movement, manic pressure and winning the contested ball. Makes a difference when Marcus Bontempelli decides — or is allowed — to impose himself on the game, which he did at the death yesterday.
3. TOMMY HAWKINS
Starting to like Hawkins playing further up the ground, although he did play high and deep against the Blues on Saturday night. Hawkins is more agile than most critics believe and an old-fashioned centre half-forward role is not beyond him. By far the dominant player against the Blues, Hawkins had a career-high 27 disposals, 19 uncontested possessions and 192 ranking points and a season-high 13 score involvements, 12 marks and six goals.
4. BYE TANKING
The argument a team is tanking — and where did it start anyway? — is lost somewhat when the so-called tanking team beats a finals team the next week. North Melbourne coach Brad Scot held his tongue, saying actions would speak louder than words. They did. That’s twice they’ve beaten Melbourne this year and even though they beat Adelaide this year in Hobart, you’d argue this was their best win this season. Clearly, there’s no cue in the rack at North Melbourne. The next bit of encouraging news will be a contact extension for the coach.
5. WHAT ABOUT THE CAPTAIN?
Jack Ziebell was clipped two weeks ago when he had just 16 disposals against Port Adelaide and then we find out he was carrying injuries and was rested for the next round. He returned on Saturday and was inspiring for North Melbourne. What separates good players from great players is standing up when required. Ziebell’s final quarter was the foundation for the victory. He had game-highs in ranking points (57), disposals (11) clearances (11) and metres gained (261m).
6. PADDY RYDER
If the third-man-up was allowed we wouldn’t have had the glorious finish to the Port v Saints game because the Saints would’ve gang-crashed the throw-in. So, there’s a tick for the new rule. What it gave us was ruck work of the highest quality, which is exactly what the game can’t lose. Ryder was too quick to win the front position in front of Billy Longer and tapped it with a perfect lob, placement and speed. Ryder is the No.1 rated ruckman by Champion Data this year and on Saturday claimed favouritism for the All-Australian ruck position.
7. TALKING OF RUCKMEN
The Hawks resurgence has centred on the emerging youngsters, although we can’t ignore the old boys. Ben McEvoy had an equal career-high five contested marks and a season-high eight marks against Sydney and clearly his trimmed frame makes it easier for him to get around the ground. He is rated the second-best ruckman this season behind Ryder, which was not in consideration at the start of the season.
8. YEP, STEPHEN CONIGLIO
It was tight and the Dockers were superb, but the big guns from the Giants made this happen. It was said Coniglio, in his first game since Round 8, would give the Giants substance in the middle and he didn’t let anyone down. He had 27 disposals, six tackles, nine clearances and eight score involvements. Will get better defensively as he gets more match fit.
9. ALEX SEXTON
What a brave boy he is — so much so, former Suns teammate Campbell Brown rated his effort top of the charts.
What Alex Sexton did 2nite is most courageous thing any1 has done in a Suns jumper.Needs more teammates to show that level of commitment
— Campbell brown (@Browndogg_30x) July 29, 2017
Sexton ran back with the flight of the ball and was crunched in the contest, much like Geelong’s Tom Lonergan’s several years ago — without the serious injury.
WHAT I DISLIKE
1. FUMBLY BOMBERS
Didn’t handle the pressure from the Dogs and as a result fumbled too much, while skill errors in the final 10 minutes killed any chance of victory. The Bombers were slick with the footy, but outside Joe Daniher (six goals), didn’t have the class to take their opportunities. Kicked 1.4 and two out of bounds in the final quarter and Cale Hooker will be remembered for a second consecutive week. No rubbing of the hair this week from Hooker, just two bad misses, one from 20m in the final quarter and one from point-blank range in the third quarter when he played on when on the goal-line. Finals-like pressure exposed the Bombers, badly.
2. BROWNLOW BLUES
Patrick Dangerfield should not be suspended. His tackle on Matty Kreuzer was not malicious, was not dangerous, but unfortunately resulted in concussion for the Blues big man. It’s got to be about the action and not the consequence. We must remember that accidents happen in the game. This is not about protecting Dangerfield or the medal night, this is about what constitutes a dangerous tackle and what is fair and reasonable. People say it was an illegal tackle, but no free kick was paid. Dangerfield believed Kreuzer had the ball and, he said, he tried to roll him. If people believe Dangerfield applied a dirty, dangerous tackle and deserves to lose the medal then we have lost perspective about what the rule is policing and not policing.
3. STOPPAGE BLUES
The Ryder tap, Gray shark and Gray goal will have been reviewed 10,000 times before the Saints officially get to it today. They already know what happened and there were plenty of players who would like to have their time again. In no particular order:
JARED Polec was able to go one-two from halfback and through the wing which helped deliver Young’s goal in the final minute.
THE Young goal came from a four v two contest which St Kilda should have won or at least killed.
ROBERTON fumble on a handball receive.
SAINTS had three spares inside 50m — should one of them have come up to the boundary throw-in stoppage and protect out the back?
BILLY Longer had to be more competitive against Ryder in the ruck.
SEB Ross wasn’t close enough to Gray.
AND why didn’t one of the spares come to meet Gray.
There will be plenty more examples which coach Alan Richardson will know, but one player wasn’t solely to blame.
4. JESSE HOGAN
It’s been the worst year of his life and his faith and resilience have been tested like never before. The loss of his father is incomparable, the testicular cancer was frightening, but always football welcomed him back with open arms. His busted shoulder will keep him on the sidelines for up to six weeks. It’s a pity because Hogan was starting to roll into some serious form. Kicked three and had a career-high 23 disposals against Port Adelaide the week before and was a factor against North before the injury.
5. WHAT ABOUT MELBOURNE?
Desperately disappointing because it blew a chance to finish in the top four and now could be under threat to keep a finals spot. Won plenty of the ball in the middle, but didn’t have enough winners forward, having won the inside-50 count 59-48. With Hogan out, the forward set up will revolve around Tom McDonald and Jack Watts and not for the first time, the world will be looking at Jack to stand up in these important games coming.
6. LUCKY CROWS
Mitch McGovern is a star, we know that, and his mark would be better remembered if the goal was the matchwinner and not the goal to draw the match. But what the hell is the Crows giving up a 50-point lead before bringing energy to the game. The good news is they had the resolve in the second half, and almost snatched the game. The bad news is they choked for a half on the MCG.
7. DELIBERATE
Umpires lost players and fans at Adelaide Oval on Saturday because of different interpretations of what would have to be the most controversial rule brought in this century _ lack of intent to keep the ball in play. ‘’We were a bit confused through the whole night,’’ Michel Voss told 3AW yesterday when quizzed about the rulings in the St Kilda game. As it turned out, the Jake Carlisle kick out of bounds late, which wasn’t paid, helped set up the pulsating finish because the it was a boundary throw-in and not a free kick to Port. Still, there was too much controversy with several decisions.
8. PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE
Can’t score. Play safe football. And players appear tired despite the coach saying to the contrary. There were 14 players with 11 or fewer disposals in Saturday night’s game and 13 of them were Carlton players. Of all the questions, the most urgent one hangs over No. 1 pick Jacob Weitering. Had just three disposals and is averaging 12 disposals per game and is in a rotten form slump. This wasn’t supposed to happen after a sparkling first season.
9. HEATH SHAW
Giants coach Leon Cameron doesn’t have an issue with how Heath Shaw went about it at the end of the game, but the same can’t be said of the teammate on the end of the spray, Aidan Corr. Corr had complete disdain for the more experienced Shaw and while it is considered by many to be constructive and robust discussion, Shaw isn’t perfect enough to lash out fellow teammates. These kinds of incidents escape scrutiny when a team wins. When they lose, however, arguably they expose behavioural problems.
BEST TWEETS
@Chris_AFL: Sicily’s last quarter
@KuczmaPaul: The obvious. Mitch ‘MCG’ McGovern’s pack mark and kick after the siren.
@chookie 94: Dislike: Being 1 minute away from a win in Adelaide. If only the players understood the point is to kick goals.
@BigFootyDogs: Like Team effort by the Dogs, Dislike Goddard losing it again, guys not a leader
@jonesmatt_1: Like: Jed Bews. Slowly becoming one of the better small defenders in the comp.
@mickeyemmerson: Likes: Clarko, jeez he can coach! Dogs got their mojo back and round 23 is looming as being “EXTRAORDINARY” for the finals race
@JB_1050: Like the young Dockers taking up to the Giants dislike all the chatter re MRP simply OTT
@ByronHoward1: I like Clarko the magician dislike Ablett throwing in towel
@tromper99: Essendon letting JJ Run wild dislike.
@Rorsroars: Like: Jake ‘the wall’ Carlisle, James ‘ago’ Sicily, Crows comeback. Dislike: inaccurate kicking for goal, teams choking at the death
@andream75: Josh Kennedy is so underrated. 5 games behind anyone else and still up there with a strong chance of snatching the Coleman.
@ToothlessTony: dislike Brisbane resting players and giving WC a free percentage kick in the race for the 8
@chevalierjimmy: Like: the dash from Robbie Gray. Dislike: Blues’ recent form
@ramonknott1977: If hope Priddis career is a like given 3-4 pages of your paper was taken up with another legend retiring in hodge. Same respect owed
@csb9090: Dislike: Melbourne. Gutless effort with so much to play for.
@Coldogs: Dislike, the raffle that is dropping the ball.
@easymmmkay: Like — Tacos on Sunday nights. Dislike — Essendon. I hate them.
@e_palermo3: Nankervis and Rioli kicking 3 each in the absence of Jack
@gav_mck: Sicily greets footy players the way Europeans greet each other, kiss on the cheek! (can play the backline)
@GeorgiaLove71: Like: Daniel Wells, he’s played some fantastic games over the years but today was quite special. Happy for him that he’s doing well.
@Robert_Tinney: Like- JJ Dislike- JJ. He cut us up but damm he is a good player to watch in full flight.
@AndrewMacWrites: The Bont, again.
@JoshElliott1985: Hawks & Bulldogs on collision course for 8th place playoff (If Hawks beat Tigs) & WC/STK go 2/4
@DavefromWallan: Like Al Clarkson “Einstein with a clip board”
@PeterPeterra: Dislike: Jake Lloyd, either unconscious or pulled out late, resulting in two Hawthorn losses.
@jaggunncomp: Dislike Gatorade showers. It’s 2017, cmon, seriously. Somebody has to clean that up!
@lizzie_8888: Like Power back 6 stood up under pressure, Ryder to Gray, Power not giving up Dislike shameful inconsistent umpiring
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