What was noticeable with Brisbane, Collingwood and to a lesser extent with Adelaide was our tackling. Melbourne is now 4th on tackling in the comp and had two players in the top ten tacklers in the league. Mind you Essendon is 1st and they stink!

McDonald and McKenzie lead in this field with an average of 8 and 6 per game respectively. Moloney averages 6 and is 12th overall on tackles. Cam Bruce averages 2, Grimes 3, Davey 4, Jamar 2, Newton 2, Petterd 3, Jones 2, Frawley 2, Joel McDonald 2, Trengove 3, Dunne 3, Bate 2, Warnock 1, Skully 3, Sylvia 4, Garland 4, Rivers 1, Martin averages 0.

Against Collingwood McKenzie had 12 tackles (!), Trengove (8), McDonald (8).

McKenzie might have some "general soreness" from his tackling.

Tackles rank up there with effective kicks and hard ball gets and has a big impact - also the prospect of a tackle puts pressure on the opposition which results in their poor use of the ball - all obvious stuff.

I note with Junior and (particularly against Brisbane) he gives away a few free kicks with his tackles (mostly in the back. McKenzie has 1 free against compared with McDonalds 10 which says his average of 6 tackles is better in net outcome.

My question is was our tackling down against North?

Who of those we should consider for elevation to the team delivers most on this score?

Sometimes with tackles its not how many we lay, its the intensity and area that we lay them which is the Key, both those were down against North, something i hope is back up to speed on Friday night. If we are not on the ball early against the dogs, then we will be done at qtr time.

Im expecting a free for all shoot out, lots of run, lots of transition.