The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from a jam-packed Round 8
Alastair Clarkson tried his best to deflect from another poor performance but it hasn’t worked. Hawthorn is facing huge decisions on players, including one who “looks like a shell of himself”. ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES
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Footy’s cram is not too far away, but first we have to look at what’s happening in Round 8.
The flailing Hawks continue to be the story after another shocker, this time against Sydney, while a unique Swans’ defender is making an impression.
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The argument between high picks Connor Rozee and Sam Walsh continues, and is it time for the umpires to look after Patrick Cripps?
MARK ROBINSON’S ROUND 8 LIKES AND DISLIKES BELOW
DISLIKES
1 BIRTHDAY BEATING FOR BUCKS
Watched helplessly as his Magpies were dismantled, starting with ruckman Brodie Grundy, who gets beaten once a year on average.
No Scott Pendlebury (late withdrawal), no Steele Sidebottom (COVID ban) and no Jordan De Goey (injured) plus effectively no Grundy equalled no Collingwood.
The much-hyped team defence was sliced apart and it allowed the Eagles to kick 15 of 16 goals in the last three quarters. That’s a walloping.
A shuddering one at that.
It’s not the end of the world for Collingwood, but it was a reality check. It, like all teams, needs its best players playing.
Still, those who did play should be somewhat embarrassed by what was dished up defensively.
2 WILL WE TAG HIM OR NOT TAG HIM?
That was the Adelaide coaching department when discussing Zach Merrett before yesterday’s game. They opted for the “no tag’’. Initially they sent their tagger, Ben Keays, to Andrew McGrath before allowing him to freewheel in the middle. All the while, Merrett, who is Essendon’s prime mover with Dylan Shiel suspended, collected 33 disposals. In 64 minutes of actual football, that’s being a ball hog. The Crows would be annoyed. Even with Merrett wracking them up in the middle, the Crows fluffed the final quarter. They had momentum, they dominated contested ball (+8), clearances (+7) and inside-50s (+4), and they almost did it with a bunch of kids. It was one that got away.
3 FORGET THE HEADLINE, HAWKS THE STORY
Coach Alastair Clarkson has been accused of deflecting in the post-match press conference. Although he discussed his team’s issues in some depth the attack on Sydney’s Tom Papley was unwarranted and Clarkson knew it would make headlines. Problem was Papley didn’t milk the free kick and Clarkson’s angst should have been directed at James Frawley. Don’t get sucked in by the headline. The story is Hawthorn. The Hawks skill level is substandard, the ball movement is not threatening and the younger Swans showed up their opponents. What does Clarkson do? What does president Jeff Kennett say in his weekly letter to members? The Hawks are horrible for the talent they have on the park. Don’t worry about being too old and too slow, worry about why the mids aren’t getting it done and why aren’t they taking on the game more? From afar, it seems like the coach is being careful with the game style.
4 BIG DECISIONS HEAD ON SCULLY, SMITH
What’s happening with Tom Scully and Isaac Smith? Smith is playing more forward in recent weeks which means he’s not getting deep from defence and breaking lines, which the Hawks are missing. Scully is the ultimate runner but is not finding the ball. He looks like a shell of himself. He looks old. Others from his draft are either the best players in the competition, the best at their club or one of their best in their position — Dustin Martin (pick 3), Ben Cunnington (five), Daniel Talia (13), Nat Fyfe (20), Mitch Duncan (28) and Max Gawn (34).
5 STRUGGLING JACK
Fox Footy commentator David King is leaning towards it being all over for the Richmond spearhead. The loss of athleticism is a telling factor, King said, and he is struggling to find the ball. I’m not as down on Jack, although it has to be said this slump is worrying. Nine games ago Riewoldt was best afield at halftime at the Grand Final. Since then, he has averaged a goal a game and 51 ranking points. If Riewoldt is feeling the heat, then so should teammate Tom Lynch. But then so should most key forwards in the game who are struggling in this defensively charged 2020 season. Lynch is averaging 61 points and 1.5 goals a game this season and Riewoldt has him covered for total marks and forward 50m marks. The form drop of those two Tigers is part of a bigger picture. The death of the key forward is happening before our eyes and that should be alarming for the AFL.
6 SPEAKING OF TOM PAPLEY
His gather over the back and two-bounce run in to goal was exhilarating, but it was lucky he controlled the ball in the wet and ultimately kicked the goal. Because he should’ve handballed to his younger teammate, second-gamer Elijah Taylor, on the inside. Former Hawk Jordan Lewis didn’t like Papley’s selfishness, either. Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt was in a similar position a couple of years back. He ran into goal from 25m and ignored a teammate in the square and kicked the goal. Skipper Trent Cotchin had a quiet word in Riewoldt’s ear. Wonder if Swans coach John Longmire will do the same to Papley.
Tom Papley has TAKEN OVER!
— AFL (@AFL) July 25, 2020
He turned his man 60m out and TOOK OFF 🚀
Enter @Telstra #5GFastestFootballer at https://t.co/xS8ACsakad#AFLSwansHawks pic.twitter.com/jU898v9uEe
7 ANOTHER KEY FORWARD FAILING
Josh Bruce has to be better. The big-name free-agent signing in the off-season has trouble with his goal kicking and doesn’t hold on to marks as he should, especially when the pressure is not at its hottest. In games when it is an arm-wrestle, opportunities must be take. Such as a marking opportunity in the first quarter against the Suns. Bruce had eight disposals against the Suns and all were handballs. He also recorded zero marks which was the first time in his 121-games he has never recorded a mark in a match. It’s a tough gig playing key forward in the modern game, with so many defenders in the air and filling space, but Bruce has to get better. He has been involved in 17 offensive one-on-one contests this season, winning just three and he has not out marked his opponent in any of these contests. His opponent last Thursday night was Sam Collins, who had seven disposals and 14 intercepts — the second most intercepts by a player this year. The most? Sydney’s Callum Mills who had 15 against Richmond playing mainly loose behind the ball.
8 LOOK AFTER PATTY, PLEASE
Umpires are in the sights. Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley wasn’t happy, but suspect his angst was directed towards the AFL and its change in incorrect disposal interpretation rather than the officiating umpires. But suspect Carlton coach David Teague would have a greater reason to complain. His skipper Patrick Cripps is being denied access to the ball. No one expects the gun mids to be allowed to play in a dinner suit, but at the same time, they do need protection from their stoppers. If a forward has his opponent’s arms wrapped around him, umpires pay a free kick. The same rule is not applied at stoppages. Cripps is being assaulted at stoppages and is not being looked after. Come on, umpires, don’t worry about holding the ball all the time, what about holding the man.
Should this have been a free for Cripps?
— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 25, 2020
(via @LaFramage)
pic.twitter.com/OZCJcP9swl
9 WHAT WAS PITTARD THINKING?
Don’t know why Carlton’s Marc Murphy is being caught up in Pittard’s moronic behaviour. Murphy was collected and went down. He didn’t flay his arms to say look at me, look at me. Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall nailed it: “That’s just dumb … this is where I hate this aggression, it’s fake aggression.” No one was to blame except Pittard. His actions lost the Kangaroos a shot at goal and momentum. If the Kangas didn’t have such a long injury list, coach Rhyce Shaw would probably consider dropping him this week. True, Shaw has more problems than Pittard’s brain fade, such as getting a four-quarter effort from his team, but setting standards when the team is struggling is vital. Pittard didn’t think of the team. He thought of himself. Maybe a week in the scratch matches might be a lesson for him and his teammates.
MORE AFL:
AFL 2020: All the latest Injury news for Round 8
Alastair Clarkson avoids fine for umpire comments, but not wrath of Tom Papley
LIKES
1 ALLEN A KEY TO EAGLES
West Coast’s vast improvement — having got back home — has come via Oscar Allen and Tim Kelly.
Kelly was superb on Sunday night in the middle and we know his level of impact. Oscar’s impact was equally profound.
He plays relief ruck behind Nic Naitanui and forms a formidable tall forward group with Josh Kennedy (seven goals) and Jack Darling, and even Jake Waterman.
When the Eagles mids have time and space, this is what their tall forwards can deliver.
The Big O was the highest-ranked player (148 points) ahead of Kelly (147 points) on a team of stars last night and looms as a troublemaker for opposition teams.
He’s only 21. And played only 29 games. And will only get better.
2 WINNING UGLY
A slog in the trenches at Metricon Stadium was won by the Brisbane Lions, but Melbourne also departed with positives. Not in the business of handing out gallantry awards, but the Demons are a dangerous team to play. Smarter at the death and it could have been different. Brisbane’s mids worked on Max Gawn’s dominance. Melbourne led hit outs 44-18, but the Lions won clearance 35-22 - their best clearance differential for the year. It gave them so much ground that they were able to score five of their seven goals from the forward half. In simple terms, they got the ball forward and kicked goals.
3 BOMBERS PRESSURE IMMENSE
The Bombers were lucky to win this game. If not for Adelaide spraying shots at goal in the final quarter — they kicked 1.6 in the final quarter and kept bombing long to the goalsquare — the Bombers would’ve scurried back to their hub with their heads in their hands. It was an unpolished display on the back of fierce pressure, which is the kind of dirty win you need when you don’t play well. Their pressure rating of 203 was their best of the season, climbing above their next best against North Melbourne in Round 6 (190) and Collingwood in Round 5 (186). Tom Bellchambers in the ruck gave the Bombers an edge they haven’t had for several weeks.
4 COULD JACK STEELE BE THE MVP?
He’s not the best player in terms of winning matches off his own boot, but he is one of the most valuable players at performing important roles. Steele helped keep Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak quiet after quarter-time on Saturday night in a match that went a long way to St Kilda announcing itself as a strong finals contender. Steele is an inside mid who wins his own ball and quietens the opposition’s best midfielder. His opponents this year have been Ben Cunnington, Marcus Bontempelli, Taylor Adams, Trent Cotchin, Patrick Cripps, Nat Fyfe, Matt Crouch and, on Saturday night, Boak and Dan Houston. Saints coach Brett Ratten would have been satisfied with every outcome. Steele is ranked in the top four in the AFL for pressure acts and tackles — two elements that have consumed the AFL this season, like it or not. He is also in the top 20 for the contested ball and clearances. He was second in the coaches’ award going into Round 8 and he will poll again — behind ruckmen Patrick Ryder and Rowan Marshall, of course.
5 WALSH OR ROZEE … OR BOTH?
Remember the hullabaloo in their first year about who was going to be a better player — Carlton’s Sam Walsh or Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee? It was a ridiculous argument as both players needed time to deliver their best football and find their groove. Rozee has tricks and Walsh consistently plays at a high level, but 12 months later the debate still seems ridiculous. It happened with the Luke Hodge and Chris Judd. Everyone wanted Judd early, but after Hodge won four flags and two Norm Smith medals the debate wasn’t swayed so easily in Judd’s favour. Walsh and Rozee will both have their moments. Right now, it is Walsh who is playing better football. In fact, the Western Bulldogs’ Bailey Smith is playing far better football than Rozee. From Rounds 3-8, Walsh averaged 96 ranking points and 18 disposals. In the same period Smith has averaged 83 points and 17.8 disposals, while Rozee has averaged 44 ranking points and 11.3 disposals. Let’s ease off on the comparisons.
6 ALIIR ALIIR IS UNIQUE UNIQUE
He is a dual-position player unlike any other in the AFL. Most teams have a second ruck who plays forward, whereas the Swans have a second ruck who plays key defence. And Aliir’s athleticism in the ruck, it seems, gives the Swans a creative lease of life. This season Aliir has spent 63 per cent of game time in defence, 24 per cent in the ruck and 13 per cent up forward. Against Hawthorn on Saturday, Aliir kept pre-season hotshot Mitchell Lewis to one disposal, which is incredible when the Hawks had 53 inside-50s. Aliir, Dane Rampe, Jake Lloyd and Ryan Clarke were all terrific for the Swans in defence.
7 JACK IN THE BOX
In the review you have to wonder if Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew will concede he and his assistants got it wrong with Jack Macrae, as so many opposition teams do. With so much focus on teammate Marcus Bontempelli, Macrae is able to go about his business. Too often against the Suns Macrae was able to mop up on the defensive side of the stoppage. They weren’t all clearances, but he was able to help teammates with a receive or gather. Opposed to mainly Touk Miller and Dave Swallow, he had team-highs in ranking points (169), disposals (29) and contested possessions. Might be time for Bulldogs opponents to reallocate the tag to the game’s most unassuming elite midfielder.
8 IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS
Pressure is mostly afforded to tackling and harassing opponents, leaving smothers to be the poor third cousin. On Saturday against the Hawks, Sydney had 12 smothers. That’s 12 times the Swans thwarted the Hawks from moving the ball forward and, in a game decided by seven points, those smothers were crucial. It was a season-high from the emerging Swans and almost double the AFL average of seven a game.
9 UNSUNG HERO
All the glory was piled on Greater Western Sydney’s midfield after it beat Richmond, but if the Giants are going to make a run at the flag, they need their role players. Keeffe is one of them. The big fella could have dropped his bundle after being axed from last year’s Grand Final side, but instead has knuckled down and is having a solid season. He kept Tom Lynch goalless from 75 minutes of match-up time. Before that he kept Brisbane’s Eric Hipwood to one goal when opposed to him for 92 minutes in Round 5. Keeffe, whose five intercept possessions against Richmond were the second most for the Giants, needs to own one the defensive key positions — the other key defender is Phil Davis — because it allows Nick Haynes to do what he does best, and that’s intercept.