The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from the AFL preliminary finals

Tyson Stengle’s remarkable redemption story could include a premiership come Saturday. Regardless, Mark Robinson says the Cats sharpshooter has to be recruit of the year.

Sydney players celebrate on the final siren.

What an incredible weekend of preliminary final footy.

Collingwood came within a minute or two of pulling off another Houdini act, while Geelong showed why it will enter Saturday’s Grand Final against Sydney as a red-hot favourite.

The Swans proved in their opening-half blitz that they cannot be discounted, but the ruthless Cats were never threatened by a disappointing Brisbane.

See Mark Robinson’s preliminary final likes and dislikes.

Geelong v Brisbane

Tyson Stengle has been the recruit of the year.

Likes

1. Recruit of the Year. Make no mistake

Tyson Stengle deserves 95 per cent of the credit for repaying the faith from Geelong. It probably makes him the recruit of the year, although people might argue the recruit of the year at Geelong is Eddie Betts. From what we are told, Betts has been enormous in the development and guidance of Stengle, more from the personal side than his footy. Because clearly the young man has always had the talent to play Australian Rules, but not the foundations in place to get all that talent out of him. An All Australian this season, Stengle had a quiet week one of the finals, with just three score involvements in a goalless performance. In week two, he had 10 disposals and kicked three goals, and we’re not sure there’s a better “banana” kick for goal than Stengle. Betts didn’t teach him that. Betts’ work has been mindful and Stengle and the Cats are the beneficiaries.

Jed Bews is applauded from the field after Geelong’s preliminary final win.

2. Jed Bews

Life doesn’t get any easier for the Cats small defender. In week one of the finals series, he played on Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott. On Friday night, it was Charlie Cameron. This Saturday, it’s likely to be the pesky Tom Papley. Of course, it’s one of many match-ups which could decide the outcome. In the Round 2, clash this year, Bews took Hayward and Gulden because Papley was out injured, but you suspect he will be set for Papley this week. He played his 150th game against the Lions on Friday night and, at 28, he has grown to be a very reliable defender. Richmond’s Maurice Rioli is the only player to score multiple goals on him this year, and across the two finals, only gave up one goal to Elliott and Cameron each.

Brisbane Lions put in a woeful performance against the Cats.

Dislikes

1, Where do you start?

Their 46 inside 50s was the Lions’ third lowest total this year, and not one of their forwards could claim to have any sizeable impact on the game. The match was lost all over the field, but it’s impossible to compete for victory when all your forwards lack impact. Joe Daniher had a dirty game – and that happens too many times to be frank – McStay was ordinary, Hipwood played his worst final, and same for Charlie Cameron. Of concern was tailing off in Linc McCarthy’s game. kicked only five goals in his last six games, averaging 12 disposals and four marks per game. Do the Lions go again with largely the same group? Minus McStay? If they could wedge Jack Gunston out of the Hawks, he would be the ideal hybrid forward to replace McStay. Add Gunston to the possible arrival of Dunkley and certain arrival of wonderkid Ashcroft, and the Lions will be a threat again. An intercept defender would help enormously too.

Max Holmes’ injury soured a perfect night for Geelong.

2. Injuries

Cats winger Max Holmes was probably Geelong’s best player behind Patrick Dangerfield before being injured in the third quarter. The Cats are optimistic Holmes can play, but it might be a risk too big to take. He and Sydney’s Sam Reid are in the proverbial “race against time” to be fit for Saturday. Holmes will be a loss. He is the highest rated wingman in the competition. He’s a 16-possession man, he hits the scoreboard, is unselfish and his running capacity is the best at the club. It opens the door for either Parfitt, O’Connor or Menegola to come into the team. Maybe O’Connor comes and sits on Papley and Bews is deployed elsewhere, although Menegola’s running ability on the wing might give the edge.

SYDNEY V COLLINGWOOD

Sydney's Ryan Clarke and Lance Franklin celebrate a goal.

Lance Franklin stepped up for the Swans when needed.

Likes

1. Buddy brilliant

In the first half, he had Brayden Maynard as his opponent and won that match-up, which forced the Magpies coaching staff to deploy Darcy Moore to the rampaging forward in the second half. And Moore won that second match-up, although a massive contested mark by Buddy at half-forward with three minutes to play was a powerhouse play. He was aggressive, Buddy, and we like that version of Buddy. He finished with 11 disposals, seven marks and kicked two goals, but it was his competition in the air which was most advantageous for his teammates. Time and again, Franklin got clocked while bringing the ball to deck, where his teammates capitalised. Good luck to the kid, Sam De Koning, on Grand Final day. It shapes to be one of the more pivotal and logical match-ups. Jack Henry took Franklin in Round 2 when De Koning didn’t play. De Koning is the best young key defender in the game and an individual win over Franklin could be the difference between winning and losing this weekend.

Tom Hickey was herculean in Sydney’s win over Collingwood.

2. Tom Hickey

That’s two big finals from the Swans ruckman. In week one, he shaded Max Gawn and Luke Jackson and on Saturday night he got the points over Darcy Cameron. He’s a lionheart, Hickey. He keeps fronting up to every contest and his big contested mark down the line with two minutes to play was the highlight of his night. He was second on the ground in ranking points (133) and compiled 15 disposals, 11 contested possessions, five clearances and six score involvements. Hickey wasn’t supposed to be the prototype modern-day ruckman. They are supposed to be able to play in multi-positions, be athletic, and can run. He’s just an old fashioned follower who rarely gets beaten.

Tom Papley pushes Darcy Moore in a contest.

Dislikes

1. The howler of the year

Let’s call it as it is, Tom Papley pushed Darcy Moore in the back before taking the mark and kicking the most crucial of goals in the pulsating final quarter. How could the umpire not adjudicate it as such? And surely the AFL can’t tick it off as a correct decision. The lack of constant vigilance on push-in-the-back free kicks this season has been one of the downsides in what has been a remarkable year. It’s now OK for players to push out an opponent in a marking contest. To think, for several years we had the “hands in the back” rule which forbade any contact. And now you shove them out of the way. It’s not how the game should be played. Papley pushed Moore, and although the Pies had opportunities to still win the game, that moment was critical to the outcome. They’re stiff, the Pies. The block on Maynard in the 2018 GF remains a talking point, as will this incident.

Tom Papley on Channel Seven on the non-free versus Darcy Moore. And why the free kicks equalled out on the night. Everyone will have their say but by god he can seize the moment. And celebrate like there is no tomorrow pic.twitter.com/pncvfqIgin

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) September 17, 2022

2. Too hot in the kitchen

Of all the nights for John Noble, it had to be the preliminary final night when too much went wrong for the running defender. Was he overawed? Too many times he was fumbling and unsure over the ball. He conceded three turnovers, one delivering the Swans a goal in the first quarter. The fumbling stuff was his only real issue. He played mainly on Will Hayward, Tom Papley and Ryan Clarke and kept them all pretty quiet.

John Noble had a match to forget.

Originally published as The Tackle: Mark Robinson’s likes and dislikes from the AFL preliminary finals