2018- Year of the fend off

[inbetween]

This boys and girls, is how you make yourself look like a complete idiot.

Remember it's better to be silent and thought a fool than to open our mouth and remove all doubt.

I hear people say this, but being 30 I barely saw anyone do it, if ever, until dusty came into the game, despite watching plenty of footy the last 15-20 years.

I'm assuming it was something that was used around the 80s but fell away during the 90s until it was nearly gone in the 2000s.

That irony, though.

 

[blitzer]

It does seem like the technique for fend-offs has improved substantially recently. I can recall hating seeing our players going for fend-offs years ago because they always seemed to get tackled and give up holding the ball frees. These days the success rate is pretty high.
Martin is the benchmark but its hard to find an elite player that doesn't use it in their bag of tricks these days. Martin came into the system with a good fend-off he was doing it year 1. Powell-Pepper was the same.

 

[mick500]

Yeah it's not new, of course, and some players were pretty good at it, but I can't think of any I've seen at least who use it so consistently and effectively as Dusty. That's probably the difference. It's not as easy as it looks to pull off, let alone that often.

Exactly.

 

[theyellowsash]

That irony, though.

Name me some players through the 2000s who regularly used a fend off. And I don't mean the arm flail while trying to avoid a tackle, I mean the full fledged hand in the chest which isn't meant to avoid a tackle but break it.

The don't argue as it is today simply didn't exist as a conscious planned tactic through the late 90s and early 2000s. Players may have occasionally used it as a reaction, but players these days plan to use it and train to do so. You could name more players consistently using it this year than for all time from probably 2000-2010, perhaps earlier but I only got to the age of paying lots of attention to footy around then.

 

[The 747]

Looking forward a Tiger supporter's post about Trent Cotchin inventing the tackle next.

 

[The 747]

And that time Alex Rance punched the ball instead of marking it and invented the spoil.

 

[theyellowsash]

And that time Alex Rance punched the ball instead of marking it and invented the spoil.

Don't worry your minnow club invented something too: handbagging

 

[EDFL follower]

Dusty is clearly the king of the fend off on the run. Don't think anyone would be better than Cunnington in the middle of a pack!

 

[Engimal v3]

Few as good as Majak crushing Morris a few years ago.

 

[Pusswah]

The only two dramas with fend offs are that the umps don't call the high ones often enough, and that the commentators only jizz themselves when Dusty does it.

 

[The 747]

Don't worry your minnow club invented something too: handbagging

Awwww

 

[Duskfire]

James Kelly was the first player I remember doing it consistently like ten years ago but I am sure there were plenty before that

 

[Power Raid]

what a great part of the game!

 

[TiggyTig]

what a great part of the game!

About half of those are to the face lol

 

[TiggyTig]

Few as good as Majak crushing Morris a few years ago.

Average against a player half his size!

 

[ClintEastwood]

 

[HTT]

And that time Alex Rance punched the ball instead of marking it and invented the spoil.

Well it wouldn’t surprise me, he’s got form. According to BF he invented staging too!

 

[wowlace]

Yes Richmond players are always coming up with new and unusual innovations.

The don't argue, swan diving etc.

Could be a few I've missed.

 

[Maylandsman]

Don't worry your minnow club invented something too: handbagging

and they jam that handbag full of salts.
jealousy is a curse and dusty owns the 'don't argue.'
the term was coined because of martin. even hear 'he's done a dusty!' 'oooohhh he's gone the dusty!'
teams even talk about how they will combat the 'don't argue' when dealing with martin.
thank you dusty for reinvigorating the don't argue.

now it is in vogue and proving to be very useful.

 

[Maylandsman]

what an ad...will live with me forever.

 

[Maylandsman]

Yes Richmond players are always coming up with new and unusual innovations.

The don't argue, swan diving etc.

Could be a few I've missed.

you missed melbourne - the imposters.

 

[Damon_3388]

Waiting for some jiu-jitsu expert to grab onto the hanging arm and drag the fender to the ground, and making them tap, with no argument.

 

[3rdManUp]

Few as good as Majak crushing Morris a few years ago.

Undoubtedly the best fend off in a NAB cup practice match ever. What a talent!

 

[3rdManUp]

I don't think anyone in this thread has said that Dusty invented the "Don't argue". Rather he has become synonymous with it. Like Ablett snr with the one-handed screamer, or J.Selwood with ducking the head. Some players just perfect parts of the game

 

[Bazzar]

Yes Richmond players are always coming up with new and unusual innovations.

The don't argue, swan diving etc.

Could be a few I've missed.

Making and wining finals.