Tackling, why are we no good.

[btdemon 482]

One of the things that has stood out to me this year is how easily opposition players stand up in our tackles, break them, or just brush us aside. Have we got worse in this skill? It was very evident in the WCE game but again in the Richmond game. is it just about size, weight and experience or do we not have someone at the club who is teaching them the most effective and latest techniques. Other clubs have passed us by in this area (not to mention almost every other football skill). Thoughts?

Edited April 15, 2012 by btdemon

[jnrmac 20,185]

Yep

Last week it was 9 head high tackles. This week it was 'let's go for the waist but don't grab an arm and make sure they can do a 360 degree spin before dishing off to an opponent." Ably assisted by the maggots.

[Deetective Sgt. Taggert 389]

It just seems like they rarely get the timing of the tackle right.

[btdemon 482]

Is it just another area where confidence is down and nothing is working or do we not not how to do properly?

[monoccular 17,573]

Some clubs have so many "specialist coaches" - does anybody know if anyone has a "tackling coach"?

Some have suggested liaising with Melbourne Storm, which may be OK if they concentrate on the hard tackles around the waist, but I believe that over the shoulder is OK there so we would have to avoid that.

[dpositive 1,684]

Dont have an answer but its not a new phenomenom.

I have advocated in the past that we should get someone from the umpiring fraternity in for some advice. Not to criticise them but rather to acknowledge their interpretation and ask how we can correct our deficiency.

We seem to give away more in the back and yet miss out on many same with head high tackles.

Maybe umpires think that our technique is bad or we are committing some other basic error in our play that they overlook our free.

I am definitely not wanting to bash the umpire or question their decision but if we approach it from an effort to understand their perspective we may be able to improve our results.

[Sir Why You Little 37,127]

Not strong enough. The list is not strong enough. Look at the top sides.

I am not talking KG's only here, but strength.

Strength breeds confidence.

[btdemon 482]

Not strong enough. The list is not strong enough. Look at the top sides.

I am not talking KG's only here, but strength.

Strength breeds confidence.

It's interesting you should say that. Look at WCE. They are Gorillas again. We all thought that footy trends had passed them by a few years back but here they are again with a side full of muscle. They made us look weak. Even Richmond and Brisbane did too. They way Foley, Martin and co brushed us aside was embarrassing. Neeld said as much about our priorities. We need strength in the middle. Maybe with Moloney, Jones, Magner, Couch and Trengove all fit and firing we will get some clearances and make some tackles stick. Our best tacklers atm are Magner, Trenners and Bartram. Howe goes ok too.

Once we win some clearances the pressure on the backline will reduce and confidence moving the ball into the fifty will return (I hope). Once confidence returns then skill and creativity can happen.

[rjay 25,088]

The first principle of good tackling is desire, you really want to tackle and have pride in your tackling, no one should ever get past you or slip your tackle. A rugby mindset where tackling is a critical part of their game, no matter what the size differential you are expected to stick the tackle.

Too much emphasis is placed in AFL on pinning the arms and this is what makes it easy for an opponant to slip down in the tackle to draw a free kick and if they don't more often than not they lift the arms to get a handpass.away anyway, particularly with the present rule interpretation that allows players too much time to be spun around and then get the handpass off.

The best tackler technique wise that I have seen in the AFL of late is Nik Nat. He comes in low and hard and knocks his opponants body out with a shoulder to the middle. If you do this enough a couple of things will happen, your opponant will want to protect his rib and stomach area and not raise his arms, if he does raise them he will get the wind knocked out of him. If he is trying to dispose of the ball you will knock him off his line and draw a turn over so there is no need to worry about him lifting his arms.

Desire and good well thought out technique are the keys.

[McQueen 17,867]

Some clubs have so many "specialist coaches" - does anybody know if anyone has a "tackling coach"?

Some have suggested liaising with Melbourne Storm, which may be OK if they concentrate on the hard tackles around the waist, but I believe that over the shoulder is OK there so we would have to avoid that.

IIRC, we received some pointers from (name escapes me) from the Storm last year - the week before Trenners was rubbed out for the sling tackle.

[btdemon 482]

IIRC, we received some pointers from (name escapes me) from the Storm last year - the week before Trenners was rubbed out for the sling tackle.

Get him back again I reckon.

[McQueen 17,867]

Personally, I think this comes down to another structure related issue. Our players are trying to process what their next posotioning move will be whilst the opposition has started to tear away with the pill. Pretty hard to stop a bloke who has 4 or 5 steps head steam up when you're standing still - unless your you're Gary Ablett.

If all our players chase the man with the ball with the intent of tackling him, we will be slaughtered at the next contest due to lack of numbers.

Plenty of things wrong at the moment and an inability to tackle effectively is one of them but I don't for one minute buy that our players do not have the strength to bring an opposition player to ground. It's a momentum issue and we're static.

[btdemon 482]

The other thing I have noticed this year is the speed at which players are picking up and handpassing in one action, especially in heavy traffic. WCE were fantastic at it last week. It must require confidence in where your teammates will be and split-second planning prior to picking up the ball. Our players pick it up and then look around. Unfortunately they then give it to a teammate who has an opponent breathing down his neck. Again, hopefully this will improve as the players understand where they are meant to be and confidence in that returns.

[The Chazz 4,077]

Who's "tackling"? I'd love to hear his opinion as to why we are no good too.

[jackaub 1,402]

The first principle of good tackling is desire, you really want to tackle and have pride in your tackling, no one should ever get past you or slip your tackle. A rugby mindset where tackling is a critical part of their game, no matter what the size differential you are expected to stick the tackle.

Too much emphasis is placed in AFL on pinning the arms and this is what makes it easy for an opponant to slip down in the tackle to draw a free kick and if they don't more often than not they lift the arms to get a handpass.away anyway, particularly with the present rule interpretation that allows players too much time to be spun around and then get the handpass off.

The best tackler technique wise that I have seen in the AFL of late is Nik Nat. He comes in low and hard and knocks his opponants body out with a shoulder to the middle. If you do this enough a couple of things will happen, your opponant will want to protect his rib and stomach area and not raise his arms, if he does raise them he will get the wind knocked out of him. If he is trying to dispose of the ball you will knock him off his line and draw a turn over so there is no need to worry about him lifting his arms.

Desire and good well thought out technique are the keys.

As a former Rugby union player i couldnt agree more

Low and hard with desire can make up for strength

"Hit em hard ,Hit em low and if they get up againhit them again"

[jnrmac 20,185]

Isn't that what we were supposed to get by being at AAMI Stadium?? Some free lessons from the Storm????

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

Sometimes poorly timed and i remember one where the tackler was looking at the ground and ignorant of the fact that the person he was tackling was handballing, but mostly its just size and strength or lack there of (currently).

[rjay 25,088]

Sometimes poorly timed and i remember one where the tackler was looking at the ground and ignorant of the fact that the person he was tackling was handballing, but mostly its just size and strength or lack there of (currently).

No, it's nothing to do with size or strength. It's about wanting to lay the tackle (desire) and the technique to do it and maybe as others have pointed out not knowing where they should be positioned, over thinking the game.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

So your questioning their intent? Maybe i was being too kind...

[rjay 25,088]

So your questioning their intent? Maybe i was being too kind...

Yep, that's part of it along with technique.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

No, it's nothing to do with size or strength. It's about wanting to lay the tackle (desire) and the technique to do it and maybe as others have pointed out not knowing where they should be positioned, over thinking the game.

I realise there's technique/desire etc. I also realise stats can be inaccurate lol. And i also know it depends on who's tackling who....but a stat from last Saturday's match against the Toiges FWIW.....

Team Weight (average, per player)

Tigers: 86.5kg

Demons: 88.9kg

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

As a former Rugby union player i couldnt agree more

Low and hard with desire can make up for strength

"Hit em hard ,Hit em low and if they get up againhit them again"

Freo, way to go!

Hit ‘em real hard, send ‘em down below

Oh Freo, give ‘em the old heave ho

We are the Freo Dockers!

[Bitter but optimistic 22,246]

I too was shocked at how easily the Richmond players escaped our tackles. I remember blubbering into my beer. But, its not about weight - its about technique. Years ago Tony Liberatore was known as "The Clamp" - he made tackles stick but he was only a little guy. Our own Junior ( hardly a giant - excuse the pun) knew how to tackle. So yes it is yet another skill in which we are lacking.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Yep

Last week it was 9 head high tackles. This week it was 'let's go for the waist but don't grab an arm and make sure they can do a 360 degree spin before dishing off to an opponent." Ably assisted by the maggots.

Go high so I don't bump heads.

Go Low so I don't clash heads.

It takes a bit of courage to go in fearlessly to hit or tackle well. and some aggression which helps counter any trepidation. We lack all.