The Tackle: Collingwood has more worries than Carlton this Friday night
FULL VERSION: IT will be a blockbuster between a team fighting and losing and a team losing and not fighting. Recap the chat with Robbo.
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IT will be a blockbuster between a team fighting and losing and a team losing and not fighting.
Carlton is two games outside the eight, having lost seven games, the greatest margin being by 22 points against Sydney on Friday night.
Two weeks ago the Blues lost by 15 points to the Hawks and before that by five to the Bombers.
They are thereabouts without being good enough.
They have stars and foot soldiers and a couple in between, which makes them competitive without being a threat to the top teams.
The Magpies beat Brisbane Lions, Melbourne and the Bulldogs leading up to Port Adelaide and were embarrassed by Ken Hinkley's boys.
They sit in eighth spot and have more issues than Carlton.
Arguably, they are flat-track bullies.
The days of the maniacal Magpies are long gone.
They play nice footy. Not so much cheats' footy, but footy in the nicest possible way. Against Port, they waited and stood off, hoping the ball came their way, whereas Port had waves of players attacking the contest and the man.
When Collingwood won the ball and got it forward, it was too predictable.
It's Travis Cloke or bust, and Port simply double-teamed the big man and, when the ball came to ground, scampered it out of defence.
The Cloke situation, in fact Collingwood's forward-50m formation and productivity, is a shambles.
The smalls are young and inconsistent, Quinten Lynch has disappeared, and for the first time it can be said the Pies might be missing Chris Dawes as a secondary target, regardless of whether he marks the ball or not.
Clearly, their eyes are focused on Cloke.
As a forward target this season, Cloke is the No.1 go-to man.
The Magpies kick it to him a remarkable 42 per cent of the time.
The next most in the competition is the Giants' Jeremy Cameron at 35 per cent, followed by Lance Franklin 32 per cent, Drew Petrie and Tom Hawkins on 30 per cent and Nick Riewoldt at 29 per cent.
Last year Cloke was the target only 29 per cent of the time.
Power surge floors Pies
Indeed, the Pies are as predictable as death, taxes and KB defending the umpires.
The Magpies do have excuses. They were without Ben Reid, Darren Jolly, Dayne Beams, Dale Thomas, Clinton Young, Andrew Krakouer, Tyson Goldsack, Ben Johnson, Alan Toovey, Alex Fasolo, Alan Didak and Lachie Keeffe, and while most of them will play again this season, time is against them for match hardness and team chemistry.
Still, "excuses" is not a word in Nathan Buckley's vocabulary.
The Pies were overrun, as they were against Fremantle, Essendon and Hawthorn.
As an experiment, this column went to Collingwood fans on Twitter for their thoughts. In no particular order, they argued:
TOO many inexperienced players.
LACK of intensity and spirit.
NOT quick enough and lack of defensive run.
GAME plan exposes defence when the ball is turned over.
TOO Cloke conscious.
Let's agree that there are too many passengers, highlighted by Buckley's post-match comments that selection would likely be an issue this week.
All-over defence also is an issue. The Pies have conceded the most points of any team in the eight and, although just four points worse than second-placed Geelong, the Cats have kicked an extra 45 goals.
The Blues have scored 51 points more than the Pies and have let through 47 fewer points.
That doesn't mean the Blues are automatic selections this week, but right now their game seems have to more substance about it.
Of course, both clubs could learn from Port Adelaide. It was a terrific performance from the most-improved team in the competition.
Its pressure was extreme and cohesive, and if David Attenborough had been commentating at AAMI Stadium on Saturday, he would have likened the Port players to a pack of African wild dogs hunting a shell-shocked Thomson's gazelle.
As Attenborough would say, even the youngest members of the African hunting pack have a role to play.
RECAP THE CHAT WITH CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER MARK ROBINSON IN THE WINDOW BELOW:
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TALE OF TWO COACHES
Melbourne.
Its players make you laugh and cry.
Jack Watts has provided more of the latter than the former, but couldn't help smile for the former No.1 draft pick on Saturday night.
You had to like his intensity as a key forward, and then he swung himself back to take the game saver in the final moments.
His smile after the game, and his belting out of the team song in the rooms afterwards, was the magical moment of his disappointing season.
Can't help but wonder, despite former coach Mark Neeld's insistence the pair had strong professional relationship, if Neeld’s departure has released Watts, certainly mentally.
The same could be said of the whole group.
It's usually the first week after a coach is sacked the players respond.
No, it came the second week, which points to a change in football philosophy and player buy-in.
Watts finished with a career-high four goals and nine marks, but numbers weren't his standout feature against the Dogs.
It was his willingness to compete in the air and on the ground.
And he wasn't alone.
James Frawley, Colin Garland, Dean Terlich and Tom McDonald were terrific at the back, David Rodan and Matt Jones led in the middle, Daniel Nicholson laid 11 tackles, Chris Dawes was prominent and, outside of Watts, Jack Trengove was a solid contributor.
Could Neil Craig realistically be a candidate for the coaching job next year?
There has to be pass mark. With nine games to play, say he wins seven. Surely he gets the job if Paul Roos says no - and surely Roos says no.
What's the number of games which makes Melbourne seriously think about Craig? Five, six?
Melbourne's season might not be completely irrelevant just yet.
IT'S BACK
Of course we're talking about The Kennett Curse.
"What they don't have, I think, is the quality of some of our players. They don't have the psychological drive we have,'' said Jeff, and no-one has forgotten.
What is it, 10 in a row since 2008?
That is the blockbuster this weekend, Hawthorn v Geelong, first v second, Saturday night. MCG. Bring a jacket.
As we've come to expect, the Hawks and Cats are in ripping form.
The Hawks sit top and put Brisbane to sword yesterday for their 12th win in succession.
The Cats rediscovered their best form with a complete dismantling of Fremantle at home.
As yet, the Hawks record (against the Cats) and Kennett's comments, have not been mentioned, but they will be.
Chris Scott was asked first about the match-up, and then Al Clarkson followed yesterday.
Scott kept it to straight footy. "They attack differently to Fremantle. Extremely dangerous, guns on every line,'' he said. "It's going to be important that we stop their scoring. But if we just concentrate on stopping the Hawks it could be a tough night, because we've got to score ourselves."
"They're always crackers of games against Geelong," he said.
Clarko said his Hawks were ''about due''.
"We've got a nice, healthy rivalry there and rivalries are all built around Grand Finals, and big finals in a sense, and that's why these two clubs have been good clubs for a fair period of time now and have produced some really good contests,'' he said.
"We're about due to win one though. They've knocked us off a fair bit the last little while so it would be nice to get one this time."
Let the build-up begin.
LIKES
1. Port Adelaide.
Consecutive weeks as No.1 like in The Tackle and no club or nobody is more deserved. Port was bombastic against the Swans the previous week and, then professional with its dismantling of Collingwood. Youth and inexperience is the driving force, whether it's Jack Hombsch and Tom Jonas at the back, Ollie Wines, Andrew Moore and Chad Wingard in the middle, Matthew Lobbe in the ruck and Jake Neade applying pressure in the forward line. Then there's Brad Ebert - just wow - and Matthew Broadbent who is the most unknown hard-nut in the competition. Port wanted respect and they've got it, but can they bring it on the road against the Bombers?
2. Melbourne.
Try to imagine sometimes what it's like to be a Melbourne supporter. You listen to them, you feel for them, but you just don't understand what it's like to be them. Rapt to see them compete for three quarters and two minutes and win the game, and rapt for the fans. One mate, we call him House, summed it up best for me: ''Went to see Melbourne last night,'' he said, ''They actually played like they were enjoying their footy.'' Can it be that simple? That Neeld is gone and suddenly the players have more freedom of the mind? They certainly got reward for effort, which wasn't the case under Neeld.
3. Tyrone.
That's what we want of Tyrone Vickery, a dominant performance as a forward and ruckman. Eighteen disposals, 11 marks, five contested marks, and 16 hit outs. To be honest, the Tigers don't need that, all they need is a closing of the gap between your best and worst games. Vickery was clearly the most influential player afield against an extremely disappointing St Kilda. As for the Tigers, it's time for bigger scalp.
4. Tom Liberatore.
A winner in the losing team, Libba cannot be ignored. He's a coalface footballer with a wonky kick, but he plays beyond his years. Seriously, have a gander at these numbers: 36 touches at 78 per cent efficiency, six marks, nine tackles, 12 clearances, and 11 inside 50s. Others lifted as the Bulldogs made their surge in the final quarter, but it was Libba and Ryan Griffen who kept the Bulldogs in the game. For the record, it was Griffen's fifth consecutive game of 30-plus possessions and sixth in seven games. All Australian maybe or do the mid spots go to the best mids from the best teams?
5. Craig Bird.
If one nuggetty Swans’ six-footer doesn't get you, another will. This time it wasn't Josh Kennedy, or Kieren Jack, or Dan Hannebery, but Craig Bird - on a back flank. There was nothing flashy about Bird, except that in pouring rain, he put his body behind the ball, he had clean hands, and kept his feet. It was a career-high 33 touches and a career-high SuperCoach score of 138. Fair to say, the 526 players who had him would be delighted.
6. Substitutes.
Where has all the whinging from coaches gone? You know, it will ruin the game, bring players to their knees. How quickly does the game move on. Take two match-winners at the weekend: Ollie Wines and David Myers. Wines was a machine within Port Adelaide's machine. He came on early after Dom Cassisi hurt himself and finished with 26 disposals, five tackles and five clearances, including 16 in the final quarter. The other was Myers. Tactical move to add run, Myers replaced Bellchambers early in the third quarter, and while he had only nine touches, his run was pivotal. As for his pass to Jake Carlisle wide on the flank, well, that might just be the best kick of his career.
7. Dion Prestia.
Prestia might be running second to Gazza in the best and fairest after starting the season in defence and moving to the midfield. He had an amazing game against the Crows, collecting 42 touches, six clearances and nine inside 50s. Played some of the game running with Scott Thompson and had Rory Sloane as an opponent in the final quarter. We keep saying it because it's true, but a midfield with Gazza, Prestia, Harley Bennell, Jaeger O'Meara, Jack Martin, Zac Smith and Tom Nicholls will be something else in two years' time.
8. Jobe Watson.
The mark of a champ is performing under pressure - mental or physical. Jobe finished with 29 touches, five tackles, seven clearances, eight inside 50s, two broken ear drums, and one leaky tear duct.
9. Ross Lyon.
This time it’s not for his footy, but for his jokes. After a supporter snapped him at close range in the box, Lyon said post-match: "Act your age, not your shoe size.'' It just happened to be the former mayor of Geelong, Bruce Harwood. Betcha he said: ''I didn't know the flash was on.''
10. Women's footy.
What a wonderful occasion for the women involved, but a pity it wasn't televised anywhere.
Honourable mentions: Carlisle’s goal, Jackson Trengove’s tackle on Jamie Elliott, Josh Gibson's courage, Jeremy Howe's marking, Matthew Arnot's seven tackles on debut, Aaron Edwards, yes Daniel Jackson again, Kurt Tippett's goal, Nick Malceski's full-body trap of the ball, Paul Seedsman, Harry Taylor's marking, Brad Sewell and Boomer's bounce back.
DISLIKES
1. Lindsay Thomas.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Game won, he decides to headbutt Jacob Townsend. There might be provocation, and Townsend even might find himself in trouble, but Thomas' actions can't be ignored. Why would you do it? He has had an outstanding season, and is a lock for small forward in the All Australian team, and buggers it up with a brain fade. People might argue there was minimal contact, but Townsend leaving the field will hurt Thomas' defence.
2. St Kilda.
My patience has run out. Just three wins from 13 and ''being competitive'' is not cutting it. A disgraceful second quarter, and non-threatening after that. Smashed in the contested ball (142-119) and get opened up too much defensively. Champion Data said last night: ''St Kilda has had the second least inside 50s in the last month, but conceded the most scores from defensive 50 transitions.'' So, they can't get in there, and when they do, it ricochets back down the field. Can't fathom how, in today's footy, players can't register more than two effective tackles. Yesterday, Leigh Montagna, Rhys Stanley, Sean Dempster, Nick Riewoldt, Farren Ray, James Gwilt, Jack Newnes, Nathan Wright, Ben McEvoy, Dylan Roberton, Seb Ross and Justin Koschitzke were in that group. Will make allowances for the big men, but still. In the second quarter, it was like the Saints were play “kiss chasey” and couldn't catch the girl.
3. Bulldogs.
As a team, they are the first to enter The Tackle Hall of Fame for dislikes. Didn't stand up to Melbourne's pressure - now there's a comment you don't ready every day - and monster comebacks are worth nothing unless you win. In fact, comebacks prompt you to ask: Where was that for the first three quarters? Coach Brendan McCartney said it would be a long haul and that it would require patience. But this was a knife in the guts. They best Port Adelaide a month ago, and fall to Melbourne who has been a shambles. Dogs fans are disillusioned and they have every right to be.
4. Joel Corey.
Instinct maybe, but unacceptable. As soon as Corey stuck out his leg on Danyle Pearce and made contact, he was in trouble. If the Match Review Panel wanted to be stubborn, they could go him for kicking. But that would be unfair. It was attempted retardation which will be classified as attempted tripping. In the same game, Zac Dawson's hit on Mat Stokes will come under review. It's a new tactic by players, and one which almost nabbed Lance Franklin earlier in the season. Instead of clocking players with a fist, they make contact to the face with their inner forearm.
5. Fremantle.
Eventually, injuries got them because without David Mundy and Michael Barlow, the midfield didn't give a yelp. Just one forward 50m entry in the third quarter was deplorable and, indeed, it was the Cats who squeezed the Dockers and not vice-versa as was feared. I expected better to be honest, despite the injuries.
6. Going blind.
I must be after watching the goal review in the Suns v Crows game. Richard Douglas skidded into the post, a review was called, one angle I'm positive showed it hitting the post, another was inconclusive, and the video umpire went with the goal. I wasn't alone it seems. Jeremy Cameron tweeted: ''Wow, how hard does the ball have to hit the post.''
7. Gold Coast.
Two steps forward, one stumble back. Amazing they were so close at stages, seeing as the Crows were completely on control. There are stats that matter and others that don't. But this one did: The Crows had 110 uncontested marks to Gold Coast's 54. The Crows controlled the ball throughout, were able to find too much space, especially coming out of the back half led by Rory Laird, Ricky Henderson, and Ben Rutten. The most marks taken by a Suns player were Dion Prestia and Danny Stanley with seven. The Crows had 10 players with seven or more.
8. Double standards.
Never thought you could judge the degrees of booing, as in there's good-guy booing and bad-guy booing. Commentators condemned Eagles fans for booing Watson, but accepted Cats fans booing Crowley and Ballantyne. And somewhere in the middle of it there are crowds booing Nick Riewoldt for a reason I can't comprehend. Booing is booing. It's a crowd showing its displeasure. Watson has to cop it, as does - and did - every player on the receiving end.
9. Drew Petrie.
One of the gentlemen of the game, but that doesn't escape the dislikes. Kicks five against the worst team in the competition, and that's OK, but too many times has gone missing in big games. Has kicked 30 goals for the year, but only 11 in eight losing games. The Kangas need more like yesterday, less like last week against the Dockers.
10. Stubborn coaches.
James Hird, do it already. Play Carlisle forward and Michael Hurley back and we can all move on. Hurley can be Mark Harvey reinvented. Harvey started as a kamikaze forward and ended as a premiership centre half-back (1993). And Hurley could be the same. They both have the same attitude when it comes to playing the game.
BEST TWEETS
@cabba05 like essendon's resilience in the face of adversity again. Dislike: the length of the ASADA inv. and lack of facts
@FeathertopDT: dislike: Ducking habits coming into the game Love the modern game but what would Plugger and Dermott think of these players
@MikeySchofield: like: Jack watts game. Dislike: yes commentators, josh Kennedy has a stutter when he kicks, stop telling us every 5 mins!
@Paigeos_Hotpies: like women's footy being played on the 'G. Dislike my #supercoach team scoring better during the byes than with a full team
@atrafic: L - Tigers re-birth post Essendon loss. D - Wet scarf after hanging out the window post win
@PuffyLewis: dislike.. Ryan Crowley wearing sweatbands!!
@ElisabethTuckey: dislike: Cooney played in the back line. Rubbish. Like: Ryan Griffen notching up 7th straight game with 30+ and kicks 3
@jLmcKern: dislike commentators standing up for Jobe over crowd booing but digging into Crowley over same treatment. #wrong
@jm_atkins: dislike: umpires constantly being sucked in by the ducking and diving tigers.
@mcmda: like - Ollie Wines. Seasoned campaigner. Dislike - Booooooooooooooooooooooooo
@mitchell_grimes: not really a like or dislike but how important @mbarlow21 is to fremantle's top four hopes
@powersamuel: dislike: commentators hate the booing of Jobe then the same ones justify and love the booing of Ballantyne #doublestandards
@c_kennedy23: like Essendon's fight to the end again in Perth and Carlisle's finish from the boundary
@DavidNew72: Likes - the colossal failure and underachievement of Mick Malthouse and Buckley so far . Brett Ratten would be laughing!
@wittsjw: Like: the Tigers are starting to look genuinely scary & might have locked finals up. Dislike: Thomas stupid headbutt.
@pacman1072: Josh Gibson walking off the ground as courageous as anyone going around
@leesacatto: Like: The 1st official afl women's game. Dislike: No tv or radio broadcast of the 1st official women's game
@Parch_37: likes: Wingard, Melb future fwds with Hogan, Clark, Dawes, Watts, Howe. Dislikes: Dogs slow midfield, late withdrawals
@ayle_williams: Henderson's work in the carlton back line needs to start getting more recognition.Having a great season!
@Specialgrant: Really like Travis Boak lot of fanfare about coach and President. captain was offered big money to leave but stuck fat.
@mattg1975: Like: Gerry Ryan's marketing campaign - Stuck bus on Tour De France Dislike: Sheedy's 2 man forward line, 10 man defence
@PaulSCousins: Like Jobe, that's all. Dislike Joel Selwood. Love his game but every time u see him he's either whinging or sledging. Shhhh
@johncandy821: bad has to be freo! 1 inside 50 for 3rd qtr
@mickeytgh: Like: Tigers beating who they should to play finals. Dislike: Ross Lyon being soft over a photo being taken
@toolz2112: like: Port Adelaide. Earning respect. Dislike: Collingwood. Very quickly losing respect
@chrispyy84: like- jack watts' mark. Dislike- whining bombers fans, it's ok for them to boo there own but WCE fans can't?