Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your footy questions
The likes of Connor Rozee, Sam Walsh, Matt Rowell and the King brothers have all had impressive starts to their careers but is it too early to tag them as superstars and should we give them time to earn accolades?
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Should we enjoy our youngsters for what they are and wait until they fulfil their promise before labelling them superstars?
Was Hayden Crozier’s penalty too harsh? Did the AFL get it right with the new holding the ball interpretation?
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News Corp chief football writer Mark Robinson answers the week’s best reader questions.
Andrew: Is Melbourne getting beaten in games or is Simon Goodwin being outcoached? When an opposition gets a run on Melbourne is slow to swing changes. When Melbourne gets a run on it gets nipped very easily.
Robbo: There are problems everywhere and, in the end, the coach (and his assistants) have to wear the responsibility. The Geelong game prompted discussion about why Melbourne did not confront Chris Scott’s game plan earlier in the game, so that’s on Goodwin and the coaches I reckon. Two years ago, the Demons were contested-ball beasts and now they are wildebeest back in the pack, and that’s on the coaches and the players I reckon. The fact they can’t score is, as I said this morning, the biggest mystery in football, and that’s on everyone. The pressure is on Goodwin to arrest the situation. The pressure is also on the players. I was in the supermarket this morning and a Demons fan said he wanted me to thrash Melbourne on AFL360. Clearly, the fans are angry again.
Geoff: Is Harris Andrews now the number 1 defender in the game? And should it be time to recognise Brisbane as the premiership favourite.
Robbo: Andrews is the best tall defender in the game. He marks and he spoils and he balances the two. The next best defender this year, in my opinion, is Nick Haynes from the Giants, a hybrid type who can mark, rebound and intercept.
Sam: Know it could be controversial, but what’s your thoughts on Caleb Daniel being the best 30-40m kick in the game. Just seems to bite off difficult targets out of defence at ease.
Robbo: Daniel made the Tackle for exactly what you just said. He’s a phenomenal kick of the pill and has the rare ability to kick on the outside of the right boot to find targets. At the halfway point of last year, Daniel was in the All Australian team. He didn’t make it at the end of the season. He’s tracking the same this year, so AA jacket is not out of the question,
Mark: Concerned modern AFL journalists are attaching superstar and legend status far too often. The two King brothers, Matt Rowell, Connor Rozee, Sam Walsh etc, have all been announced as superstars and legends. Can we not just enjoy them as extremely promising kids and prospects before the super star status comes? Surely they need to earn their accolades?
Robbo: Fair call, Mark. At the same time it’s difficult not to entertain commentary about the future of these young men. Have not heard legend, though. Future stars? So, who in the media lavishes these players as superstars and legends? Get back to us next Monday with your top five media people
Brian: With the new holding the ball rule coming in and the AFL trying to reduce the amount of congestion, do you think it was an appropriate way of doing it or are there better ways and if so what are they?
Robbo: I agree with tightening of the holding-the-ball rule and, unlike others at the weekend, wasn’t scathing of the new approach by umpires, via Clarkson. I hope it helps fix congestion. Because something has to be implemented to unravel the game. I’m big on starting positions to help stretch the game. It is a last resort, but I think the AFL will use that lever if the game continues to be played in a rolling 70m bubble. I asked Barry Hall when he retired how he knew his time in the game was over. He said, he spent all of his career leading out from goals and, at the end, spent most of this time leading back towards goal. Not good.
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Michael: What do you think of Crozier’s penalty in the light of the Bulldogs losing two players to hits in the head?
Robbo: Agree with it, and I note the Dogs are appealing. The AFL’s mistake in recent weeks is allowing other sling/dangerous tackles go through to the keeper when, I thought, all sling tackles would result in one-match suspensions. Will be interested in the outcome.
Chloe: Why does the AFL insist on having grey rules with neon anomalies? Terms such as, “he tried”, “no prior” & “deliberate” are simply subjective when applied. If a ball leaves a player’s possession at any point without being kicked, handballed or bounced then it is illegal/incorrect disposal. Same with the last touch out of bounds is a turnover. No need to read a player’s mind or assess their level of skill. Getting rid of the grey will move the game along and remove this blight that is a rolling maul. Do you agree or am I missing something?
Robbo: Not missing anything, other than football has always tried to protect the player who goes in and wins the ball. Recently, I wondered if prior opportunity was needed in the game, but have swung back the other way. The player with the ball needs protection and time, the question is how much time.
Nick: Eddie McGuire can’t help saying things that get him in trouble with all his different roles. If he had to pick one, which do you think he would choose? And which should he?
Robbo: That’s up to Eddie McGuire to decide if, in fact, he would even consider the question.
Greg: How do you rate Harry McKay alongside either of the King twins?
Robbo: Would take either of the King twins. That’s not a slap down of Harry, it’s just early acceptance the King twins might have better careers.
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