Missing: Tackling ability.

[WALL-e]

One of my pet hates is the 'One Armed Token Tackle'. This has no sick at all.

 

[Heafy83]

One of my pet hates is the 'One Armed Token Tackle'. This has no sick at all.

The chicken wing tackle?

 

[Vader]

I think it was a bit from this column and a bit from that.

Yes, the kids were regularly unable to stick a tackle because they lack the requisite core strength. However, it's also fair to say that the techniques on display at times were downright poor. Both technique and physique need to be worked on during the pre-season.

 

[WALL-e]

The chicken wing tackle?

The 'get wrong footed' then 'dive and throw out an arm as a token of a tackle though it won't stick' tackle.

 

[fatbarber]

A really outstanding tackle is a game turner, just like the hanger can be. To get a slight edge especially in something as intimidating as a great tackle seems obvious. Personally I love to see a great tackle - there was one last year, I think it was Stiffy against the Cats??? Was a pivotal moment in the game, or am I remembering it wrong?

 

[-WWJD-]

The 'get wrong footed' then 'dive and throw out an arm as a token of a tackle though it won't stick' tackle.

You mean the 'Sam Newman tackle'

 

[FR0GGY]

Whenever tackled we never seem to be able to get an arm free or brush them off however the reverse happens when we tackle.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Whenever tackled we never seem to be able to get an arm free or brush them off however the reverse happens when we tackle.

Bullseye.

Even when we lay a tackle, the tackled player does exactly what he would have done had we not tackled him.

 

[sydney_crow]

Yeah bring in Mel Brown......

I still think it's not too late to follow Crow36's terrific advice and bring in former Spice Girl Mel Brown (aka Mel B) to help with our tackling.

The way she tackled Eddie Murphy in that paternity suit recently shows she hasn't lost anything with age and could teach our blokes a thing or two.

 

[Glenno23]

The 'get wrong footed' then 'dive and throw out an arm as a token of a tackle though it won't stick' tackle.

But do you think if they don't make the "effort" they will get dragged?

A really outstanding tackle is a game turner, just like the hanger can be. To get a slight edge especially in something as intimidating as a great tackle seems obvious. Personally I love to see a great tackle - there was one last year, I think it was Stiffy against the Cats??? Was a pivotal moment in the game, or am I remembering it wrong?

Stiffy tackled Ablett. Looked like he was going to get away from him, but Stiffy put in that extra effort to hold the tough to tackle Ablett

 

[FR0GGY]

But do you think if they don't make the "effort" they will get dragged?



Stiffy tackled Ablett. Looked like he was going to get away from him, but Stiffy put in that extra effort to hold the tough to tackle Ablett

Don't get me wrong it was an awesome effort but it wasn't a great text book tackle. One that sticks on my mind was J Whesthoff last yr in the showdown. Someone Bock maybe tried to take him head on and his tackle was just vice like.

 

[MarcusP2]

Yes I remember that. I'm pretty sure it was Bock, he got absolutely stuffed. :-|

Stiffy's was good but he didn't wrap him up, he dragged him as he tried to dispose of the ball.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Westhoff nailed Johncock from memory

 

[WALL-e]

Rioli's tackle on Bock in Tassie was superb. I hate Hawthorn and Rioli, but that tackle.....Bock just gave up mid shrug because it wasn't coming off.

 

[OldCrowBloke]

2 points:
- we do have players who get brushed aside too easily, or are wrong-footed. Although Dougie had a good year, he is bad (but not alone!) in that area. There were games last year where there was plenty of intent from players, but opposition teams were able to complete chains of handballs to advantage

- I wonder if the tackling is a function of our zone-style defending. We are always just an extra step or two away from the player receiving the ball, giving them that extra split second for the quick release, or to go into an evasive sidestep.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I don't seem to remember us struggling with tackling a couple of years ago. If anything it was a strength and we pressured the opposition as well or better than anyone.

Neil Craig said in his press conference a couple of times that tackling was a mindset and an attitude moreso than a technical or strength issue. I tend to agree. We just didn't seem to have the same intensity about our play last season, for whatever reason.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

Obviously you didn't read my comment too well. I said it was bad because we played a lot of young underdeveloped players who haven't got the core strength yet to hold big tackles against other developed players. Pretty simple.
Plus when your losing and losing often nothing goes right for you. We have always been a good tackling side, in the top half of the comp most years. Something we should work on, correct, but not as diabolical as you state it.
Plus these days its more about gang tackling than individual tackling. You watch any top side and most of the time its 2,3,4 guys swarming the ball carrier and bringing them down.
Some seem to forget the great tackles we also had last year. Does anyone remember one said Johncock tackle on some dud called Gary Ablett?
Last year was a complete right off and more went wrong than went right. I'd be more interested in where we need to improve after this year as its a totally new group of players with new strengths and weakness'.

You are wrong. I did read your comments and I disagree with it. Tackling is more technique and state of mind than it is brut strength. Marty Mattner was one of the best tacklers our club has had and that was when he was a kid.
Most of the skinny Indigenous forward pockets are also sensational tacklers, just think Rioli and Alwyn Davey.
I agree that being underdeveloped will have us knocked off the ball more but disagree it is an excuse for the way teams continuously ran through us last year. It also seems to be contagious.

 

[WAG]

Bored at work - make of this what you will........

Year - Ave Tackles Ranking/Ladder Position

2010 - 15/12
2009 - 12/5
2008 - 8/5
2007 - 12/8
2006 - 4/2
2005 - 7/1
2004 - 13/12
2003 - 3/6
2002 - 7/3
2001 - 7/8
2000 - 11/11
1999 - 16/13
1998 - 3/5
1997 - 1/4

 

[Vader]

Looks to me as though the number of tackles per game is increasing, due to changes in tactics. However, we've gone from being best in the league in 2005 & 2nd best in 2006 to one of the worst in 2010.

 

[OldCrowBloke]

Looks to me as though the number of tackles per game is increasing, due to changes in tactics. However, we've gone from being best in the league in 2005 & 2nd best in 2006 to one of the worst in 2010.

I think you read the figures the wrong way around Vader - first & second were our ladder placings 2005/2006.

Our ranking of 15 for average tackle count in 2010 seems to support the line of this thread...

 

[adelaidecrows]

We have been really shit for over a while and its incredibly frustrating. I think it has been a combination of smaller bodies and a lack of focus on tackling for the last couple of seasons. could be a result of trying to avoid injuries and focus on skills which had become lacking 3 seasons ago.

It is suprising we backed away from tackling considering the type of game plan craig is trying to implement.

Tackling is an art form rather then brut strength so it has to be practised, how often do you see great tackles by smaller blokes against bigger bodies.

our lack of technique could also explain our stupidly high free kick against ratio.