Early Tackle: All the likes and dislikes from Round 22 of the AFL season
The world game can determine whether a ball crossed the line by millimetres, so how can the AFL and all its revenue not get some basic calls spot on. Check out the round 22 Early Tackle.
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Dubious umpiring decisions, emotional farewells and the kids – it’s been a big round 22 so far, with this weekend’s results set to shape the top-eight.
Sam Landsberger names his early likes and dislikes.
DISLIKES
Roos zapped by Jack
Jack Ziebell has become a liability late in games. On Saturday, he was twice tackled as the deepest defender and he then dumped a kick straight to Dyson Heppell 40m from goal when the game was still up for grabs. First it was Jye Menzie and then it was Matt Guelfi who got Ziebell and those tackles set up critical goals for Tsatas and Kyle Langford. It might seem harsh on a retiring 32-year-old, but this was not the first time Ziebell zapped his team’s winning chances late in a game. That’s 19-straight losses and time is running out to join in the chorus one last time.
What the tech?
The world game’s VAR technology can tell a Swedish penalty kick crossed the line by a cigarette paper and that Matilda Ellie Carpenter’s back heel was offside by millimetres. So in 2023 how can the AFL – which generated close to $950 million in revenue last year – allow Jeremy Cameron to receive a handball almost in the MCG grandstand and snap a goal? It was embarrassing, particularly when the eight boundary and field umpires would’ve known instantly their team had made a bad blue when they looked at the big screen. When ARC only needs to rewind one disposal (Cameron’s kick) to right a wrong then surely it can overrule and call for a boundary throw-in. The blame has been levelled at the poor boundary umpire in full sight of Cameron and his match payment of about $1500 wouldn’t have helped him get to sleep on Friday night. But law 8.2.1 – Duties for a field umpire – says they “shall have full control of and officiate a Match in accordance with these Laws”. So veteran umpire Simon Meredith, who was also on the spot, might also have tossed and turned on Friday night. About 20 years ago a field umpire took the Sherrin back of Bulldog Matthew Robbins after the MCG replay showed his speccy had hit the ground. The priority should be making the right decision. How we get there should be less important. As for the goal review on Saturday night? Don’t think Caleb Marchbank’s left hand made contact with Christian Petracca’s shot at goal. But the soft call was touched and so Marchbank’s blind swipe denied Petracca what would have been the match-winner. Hey, that’s footy. At least we tried to get it right.
Cat-attacked
The roar when Jack Ginnivan spotted Daniel McStay alone in the goalsquare in the third quarter was spine tingling, and the ensuing ‘Colllingwooood’ chant made it hard to not get excited for the six weeks of footy in front of us. But it served as a reminder why the reigning premiers are unlikely to hang around for long, even if they knock over the Saints and Dogs to qualify for finals for the 16th time in 17 years. Ginnivan had two teammates alone in the goalsquare. How many times did the Magpies manufacture gimme goals? The Cats had a crack, and offensively they remain potent … but they can’t defend their back 50? It’s been a consistent story for their season.
Adelaide teasers
Adelaide has travelled to face Melbourne, Collingwood and Brisbane Lions at their fortresses this year and had each of the top-four contenders on toast … yet they have nothing to show for it. The Crows should be toasting their return to the top eight and being talked about as the wildcard in this year’s premiership race. Instead they will walk away from 2023 with a 1-8 home-and-away record away from Adelaide Oval. Their only win on the road was by three points against Hawthorn in Tasmania … when James Sicily accidentally benched himself and the Hawks led by 11 points after 25 minutes in the last. What a waste. On Saturday they won the contested possession and clearance count yet lost the game. Previously they were 6-0 when winning those midfield metrics. They made all the play in the final term but managed 2.5. They are a tease. That said, can see them also being my March tip for the 2024 flag.
What’s up with Riley?
Riley Thilthorpe had seven disposals and zero tackles against Brisbane and has kicked one goal in a month. To say Thilthorpe is struggling would be an understatement. The Crows are carrying him, but it was hard to forgive Thilthorpe kicking the ball between Lions players when he had Taylor Walker unmarked inside 50m in the last quarter. Was this a choke? The pass from Harry Schoenberg to Luke Pedlar in the dying minutes was delightful. But then Pedlar shanked the set-shot, Josh Rachele slammed his late snap into the post after a gimme turnover from Jarrod Berry and Rory Laird missed one.
Boxing on without Bubba
This was Luke Beveridge’s 2020 coaching panel – Steven King (senior assistant), Rohan Smith (defence), Jordan Russell (midfield), Joel Corey (stoppages), Ash Hansen (forwards), Daniel Giansiracusa (VFL), Dale Morris (development) and Jamie Maddocks (development manager). King is now Gold Coast’s interim coach, Hansen is Carlton’s right-hand man, Giansiracusa is at Essendon, Corey is at Fremantle, Russell is at North Melbourne, Morris was a Covid casualty and now Smith has been sacked after 300 games as a player and 269 as an assistant coach. Beveridge and the players wanted Smith to stay, but football boss Chris Grant chose not to renew his contract. For one favourite son to enforce a heartbreaking decision on another favourite son from the same era only added to the emotion. Smith’s service over three decades should be celebrated. But it’s harder to know what to make of the three-year overhaul of the coaches’ box.
LIKES
Gen next
Elijah Tsatas’ first AFL goal was set up by Nic Martin, Sam Durham and Jye Menzie. It was Martin who cleared the footy from halfback, Durham who ran on to it and centred it to a dangerous spot and Menzie who created a turnover with a hot tackle on Jack Ziebell. The play ended with Tsatas punching the Bombers 11 points clear. Then it was North’s turn. Harry Sheezel’s crisp centre clearance set up Eddie Ford, who goaled to bring the margin back under a kick in the dying minutes. Ford is 0-20 – he still hasn’t tasted a Gatorade shower – but the way the Roos have responded recently that might come in the next fortnight. Get the feeling both sets of supporters would’ve gone home happy reflecting on some of those moments from their talented teens. This was an exciting game of footy. Free flowing, flushed set-shots and fun to watch. And for the Bombers, it kept that finals flame flickering.
Best season ever
It might be time to sit back and take stock on season 2023. Is this the greatest year of them all? The Brownlow Medal and Rising Star shape as thrilling catch-me-if-you-can vote counts as a couple of newcomers in Nick Daicos and Will Ashcroft try to cling on. Two goals separate Charlie Curnow (70) and Taylor Walker (68) for the Coleman Medal. With two rounds remaining, only five clubs know they will play finals and another eight are hoping to play finals. And the best team in the premiership race is probably going to start September from fifth. Carlton – yes, Carlton – was $201 for the flag and $1.03 to miss the eight after round 13. On Saturday night, after an eighth-straight victory that was played with unwavering desperation, the TAB wound them into $6, equal with Brisbane Lions and ahead of Port Adelaide. They are missing Sam Walsh, Harry McKay, Adam Cerra, Mitch McGovern, Matt Kennedy and Jack Silvagni but it matters little. They are in, the Blues. They will play an elimination final for the first time since 2013 next month. Unless, of course, they knock over Gold Coast and GWS and Port drops its last three games. That would pinch fourth place in eerily similar fashion to the way they had eighth pulled from their grasp last season. Here’s one question for Bluebaggers to ponder: If Harry McKay is fit, does he walk back into the team for the first final?
Blue-chip winners
Not sure what Nic Newman was thinking when his hurried corridor kick exiting the backline was intercepted by Christian Salem, who charged towards goal. But, outside of that, at first glance it looked like the frantic finish was crammed with moments of commitment and coolness by Carlton’s believers. The Blue started the season billed as the late bloopers after a run of heartbreaking results. But Alex Cincotta’s desperate dive towards Jacob van Rooyen on the boundary, Adam Saad’s assertiveness to keep commanding the ball and barrel it out of the backline, Blake Acres’ brutal tackling and follow-up pressure acts and Charlie Curnow competing against multiple opponents high on the wing were all acts from players who pulled the right rein under September-like pressure.
Ben’s last harvest
Alastair Clarkson said pre-game Ben Cunnington and Anthony Stevens were “neck and neck” in that famous No. 10 jumper for North Melbourne. Then Ben bowed out in vintage fashion – 10 clearances (four out of the centre), 16 contested possessions, two goals and a few rugged tackles. Cunnington whispered to Jy Simpkin last week that he was going to retire – but even without the shock factor Simpkin became a blubbering mess during this week’s retirement speech. His wet cheeks illustrated the enormous impact Cunnington had at Arden St. And it was no coincidence that the Kangaroos scored 55 points from stoppages on Saturday (their equal-most for 2023) when they had Cunnington at the coalface for the final time.
Ginny the tonic
Collingwood is 9-0 this year when Jack Ginnivan plays and has eight wins from 12 games without him. Of course there is a lot more to it than that, but Ginnivan’s performance on Friday night showed he should be part of September plans. He is like the Times Square ball in New York; everything happens around him, even if it is not all universally loved. Dressed in long sleeves, a headband and bright boots, Ginnivan sparked his teammates and the crowd on Friday night and is a damn clever little player. It was like the Magpies received a shot of adrenaline when he was substituted into the match and to hear he has been the club’s best trainer recently on the back of eight VFL goals in the previous month suggests he should finally have a foothold back in the side.
Rescue Joe
Last week – as Fremantle fired every shot in the frantic final minutes – it was Joe Daniher’s follow-up work out of the middle that franked the four points. Daniher denied the Dockers and that was damn important after this Lions team lost the unlosable against Melbourne and then were given a fright by Geelong the following week. On Saturday night it was Daniher who again stood tall for the final contest when he took the game-saving mark. Before that it was an Adelaide avalanche … but Dayne Zorko’s tackle on Jordan Dawson and, in the third quarter, Jaxon Prior’s courage to spoil Taylor Walker running back with the flight were two defensive efforts that should be highlight
Super signing for SEN?
Craig Hutchison’s new Super Netball team has a coach, former England boss Tracey Neville, and the whisper is 190cm West Coast Fever defender Rudi Ellis is on the SEN team’s wish list. That would be a coup for the netball club and might also help Western Bulldogs supporters breathe a little easier. Ellis is West Australian Tim English’s partner and her signature at the Melbourne-based netball club would be further evidence to suggest the 2024 free agent is unlikely to act on the Eagles’ interest to lure him home
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