Lions midfielder Andrew Raines part of new breed of taggers

TAGGING has evolved in Australian football.

Andrew Raines

TAGGING has evolved in Australian football.

The likes of Brownlow medallists Gary Ablett and Chris Judd may find the tactics no less irritating, but the traditional style of tagging - as championed by retired close-checking stoppers such asTony Liberatore and Steven Baker - is fading.

A new breed has stepped into their place, headed by some of the AFL's most exciting players.

Sydney's Kieren Jack and Eagle Scott Selwood are the figureheads but Brisbane Lions midfielder Andrew Raines is not far behind.

By now, Lions coach Michael Voss would have handed Raines his assignment for Saturday night's meeting with St Kilda at the Gabba.

In the past it has been Nick Dal Santo or Leigh Montagna.

The difference between the "bad old days" and now is that Raines will be analysing his opponent's every movement to define how to play off them, rather than simply on them.

"You've got to do your homework," said Raines, one of the few players this season to have won a head-to-head battle with mercurial Gold Coast Suns captain Ablett.

"Vossy usually tells me Tuesday or Wednesday.

"Then I go through the video and try to find ways to expose them and learn about the craft I'm doing."

Former skippers Brett Kirk (Sydney) and Cameron Ling (Geelong) mastered the dark art as it began demanding run-with players win their share of football.

The better ones can hurt opponents to the extent that it is difficult to identify who is tagging whom.

West Coast's Selwood averages 25 disposals this season and has also claimed the key scalps of Judd and Ablett. Likewise Jack, who averages 23 disposals and at least one goal a match.

Raines played on Jack in last week's loss to the Swans and had 20 possessions of his own. He also underlined the value of his craft by running off his direct opponent to kick a first-quarter goal.

"You just have to find that balance," the 26-year-old said.

"You can't take away your natural instinct.

"The old rule applies. If you've got the ball, they don't."