Stats: Collingwood are missing too many tackles, Jacob Weitering a brick wall in Carlton’s defence
COLLINGWOOD’s inability to tackle is one of the reasons behind its 4-7 record, as Port Adelaidee’s Jarman Impey exposes the weakness on Sunday. QUIRKY ROUND 11 STATS
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COLLINGWOOD and Nathan Buckley have been under immense pressure with its leaky defence copping the most criticism but missed tackles are forcing defenders on the back foot.
On Sunday against Port Adelaide the defence leaked 125 points, 48 of which came from possession chains starting inside the Pies’ attacking 50, but it was missed tackles — not broken tackles — that enabled Power players to waltz into goal.
This has been an issue throughout the season.
Collingwood has missed a total of 72 tackles this year — 17 more than second-ranked St Kilda — including 10 against the Power on the weekend. Midfielder Jack Crisp and defender Alan Toovey missed two each.
When the Pies thumped Brisbane and shocked premiership favourites Geelong in Rounds 8 and 9, Buckley’s team missed just 10 tackles across the two weeks (four against the Lions and six against the Cats).
On Anzac Day in Round 5, Collingwood players missed just two tackles for the game against Essendon.
Crisp and midfield teammate Levi Greenwood are the worst offenders, leading the league for missed tackles with eight each, followed by West Coast Eagle Andrew Gaff on seven.
But against the Power the Pies also had several tackles broken, highlighting the team’s defensive woes.
No one did it better than defender-turned-forward Jarman Impey who had one of his best ever games.
Impey found space all over the MCG and whenever a Collingwood opponent came close he brushed them aside, breaking seven tackles — the most ever recorded by a player.
GWS Giant Toby Green also had his issues with his defensive game on the weekend, conceding eight free kicks against the Cats at Simonds Stadium, the third-most recorded by an individual in a game since 1999.
But prized Carlton No.1 pick Jacob Weitering had no such issues.
Already one of the Blues’ best defenders, Weitering was a brick wall in defence, taking seven intercept marks in the win over the Lions.
That is the equal second-most by any player in a game this year, topped only by Sydney’s Ted Richards who took eight in Round 5.
10 QUIRKY STATS FROM ROUND 11
- JARMAN Impey broke seven tackles on the weekend — the most ever recorded.
- TOBY Greene gave away eight free kicks against Geelong — the third-most recorded since 1999.
- TOM Rockliff’s 48 disposals were the sixth most recorded by a player since 1999.
- LACHIE Neale finished with 38 effective disposals — the 11th most ever recorded in a game.
- NICK Haynes recorded 14 rebound 50s against the Cats — the 14th most ever recorded in a game.
- DANIEL Talia took 17 marks against the Saints — the most by any player this season.
- JOSH Jenkins’ 11 shots at goal against St Kilda was the equal-most by any player this season.
- JACK Darling finished with six score assists against the Bulldogs — a career-high and the 4th most by any player this season.
- JACOB Weitering took seven intercept marks against the Lions — the equal second most by any player this year.
- LACHIE Hunter finished with a career-high 32 uncontested possessions against the Eagles — the equal fourth most by any player this season.
WHO MISSES THE MOST TACKLES?
Collingwood - 72
St Kilda - 55
Essendon - 52
Fremantle - 52
North Melbourne - 48
West Coast Eagles - 48
Brisbane Lions - 46
GWS Giants - 45
Western Bulldogs - 45
Carlton - 42
Adelaide Crows - 40
Melbourne - 39
Richmond - 38
Geelong Cats - 36
Hawthorn - 33
Gold Coast Suns - 30
Sydney Swans - 29
Port Adelaide - 26
TOP 5 PLAYERS FOR MISSED TACKLES THIS SEASON
Levi Greenwood (Coll) - 8
Jack Crisp (Coll) - 8
Andrew Gaff (WCE) - 7
Koby Stevens (WB) - 6
Andrew Swallow (NM) - 6
Stats: Champion Data
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