Who is the best ever tackler in AFL football?

rogiebear93

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Thread starter #1
Note, not the most voluminous tackler, but the best.

I'm not going to make this a poll as there are too many for me to think of off-hand, but it's a good subject to think about as it's such an unheralded and often unrewarded part of our game.

There are a lot of elite tackling players in modern day AFL, particularly considering it's a much larger part of the game now - but even going back there are some examples of players who did it well, even before stats were measured.

There was Maurice Rioli, who told his teammates that in tackling "you've gotta draw from the hips like a gunfighter" which has become the standard, grabbing the arm, stripping the ball. Tony Liberatore held the tackling record for a very long time and was dogged in how he went about it. Jude Bolton, Lenny Hayes, Luke Ball did it best throughout the 2000s and it has been carried into modern day footy by Cyril Rioli, Priddis, Scott Selwood, Viney and others.

I believe there are multiple ways to judge it. The boys from the tiwi islands, like Cyril and Tippa, seem to be able to execute a tackle that reaps a reward the best. Run down tackles, and tackles where the arm is secured and the ball simply falls away are most often pinged by the umpires. Cyril is still the best I've ever seen at this, though Tippa is starting to come close.

In terms of ability to play the game as well as tackle non stop, Lenny Hayes was one of my favourites to watch. He was such a great player in his own right and he still managed to find the energy to play defensive footy the right way too.
 

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Topkent

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#15
Aaron Davey basically pioneered forward pressure for us in the early 00s. Back when guys stayed in there area it was so exciting watching him come from behind to run someone down.

Cyril riolis ability to complete a tackle was nuts. You just didn't get past him
 
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#21
Pound for pound the Riolis (Maurice and Cyril) would have to be up there.

But I agree with the others above that Jude Bolton and Tony Liberatore are the ones that first come to mind.
 

Plugger35

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#22
Guys that come from a rugby background are usually the best tacklers, two of our best tacklers have been Lenny Hayes and Sam Gilbert who both grew up playing rugby. Our tackling has gone up a notch this season and no doubt having Billy Slater around to give tackling tips has played a part in that.
 
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