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Taking out the fend-off

bush demon
bush demon
in Melbourne Demons

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Why is Dusty given free reign with his arm-blocking tactics when it is barred as a strategy in ruck contests (Big Maxy). Why doesn't our club, any club - employ some martial arts dude to teach players to grab Dusty's wrist and draw him forward so he  loses balance. Really embarassing watching his triple fend off last night. Take away the don't argue and dusty is just another player.

Edited by bush demon
Fix sentence.

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    • Like 1
     

    He's very good at it.  I wish we had him.

    I think everyone has tried everything to combat it.  The only thing that seems to work is coming at him from different directions which I think we did last night on one occasion.

    People will complain about it, the fact is he is peerless in our game with that particular play.

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    The other option is to not worry about his disposal but to tackle low like a rugby player so that we just stop him. 

    Edited by Thehardtackler

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    Players should learn to tackle his type by grabbing his arm. They should be aware it’s coming. Even if they don’t fully restrain him they will inhibit effective disposals.

    Edited by america de cali

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    1 minute ago, Thehardtackler said:

    The other option is to not worry about his disposal but to tackle low like a rugby player so that we just stop him. 

    Exactly, wondered about this last night. 

    Tackle hard, fast and low.

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    Martin is not tough like Viney or Kieran Jack.  A lot of his hardness is posturing, like his tatts. If Billy Slater hit Dusty with 3-5 tackles on a field, he would be seriously demoralised. I think the psychology of AFL is all wrong at the moment. It is like soccer, all about skill so the way to stop that is physicality. 

    Edited by Thehardtackler

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    Actually the Demons of 2005 were a good tackling team. I think we led the league for most of that year and we finished in the 8.

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    Reading the header I thought it was about Harmes being asked to stop his poor attempts at a fend-off. Been pinned for holding the ball every time he’s tried it this year.

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    His fend offs are great to watch and perfectly legal.  The issue is, which he is somehow not getting credit for here, is his incredible physical strength.  Last night we saw Petracca and Harmes both try to fend off, but they simply weren’t strong enough.  He is the only player in the history of our game who has been able to do this so consistently.

    If he hits a player high, then penalise him.  If a tackle sticks after a fend-off, then penalise him. 

    If it were an easy thing to do, then everyone would be doing it.  If it were as easy as grabbing his hands, then everyone would be doing it.

    With all that said, we played Dusty very well last night; had zero impact on the match.

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    • Like 3
    1 minute ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

    His fend offs are great to watch and perfectly legal.  The issue is, which he is somehow not getting credit for here, is his incredible physical strength.  Last night we saw Petracca and Harmes both try to fend off, but they simply weren’t strong enough.  He is the only player in the history of our game who has been able to do this so consistently.

    If he hits a player high, then penalise him.  If a tackle sticks after a fend-off, then penalise him. 

    If it were an easy thing to do, then everyone would be doing it.  If it were as easy as grabbing his hands, then everyone would be doing it.

    With all that said, we played Dusty very well last night; had zero impact on the match.

    he was best on ground mate

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    • Shocked 2

    16 minutes ago, Elegt said:

    he was best on ground mate

    Not even close.

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    20 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

    With all that said, we played Dusty very well last night; had zero impact on the match.

    We did 39. The planning was spot on early in regards to Dusty playing forward. When he pushed out of the 50 when we attacked Hunt went to him on the Southern wing, Hibberd had him in the centre and Jetta on the Northern side. He did lead the clearances at one stage in the first half but that’s just Dusty.

     

    25 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

    If it were an easy thing to do, then everyone would be doing it.  If it were as easy as grabbing his hands, then everyone would be doing it.

    Spot on, a lot of people have missed this point. 

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    I was on Level 4 on the wing, so that was the first time I’d seen Dusty from that vantage point. As previous posters have said, there are/have been very few players like him, who have the physical, core strength, speed and kick that he does. It was impressive to watch, but not BOG for mine. When we pressured him in close, he often coughed it up or fumbled.

    I actually thought we dealt with him pretty well - two crunchers from Oliver and Hunt were great to see. He’s also something of a protected species: he should have been pinged at least once for holding the ball and also got a couple of very soft frees close to goal in the 3Q, which killed our momentum.

    That said, I would love him on our team.

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    • Like 4
    2 hours ago, bush demon said:

    Why doesn't our club, any club - employ some martial arts dude to teach players to grab Dusty's wrist and draw him forward so he loses balance. 

    Krav Maga is what you’re after. 

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    He gets a special deal from umpires. He has lowered his fend off slightly to the upper chest only, whether or not murmurs from umpiring or AFL, from what used to be very close to the throat area (hence the different interpretation). He does not get penalised, or very rarely. Umpires are actually quite scared to give against him and now in Richmond we have a formidable blend of streamlined players like him, who does remind me of Billy Barrot and Nankervis who would appear to be an upgraded/mobile version of Paddy Guinane. Chuck in a couple more like Eric Moore and Billy Brown and this is a fast and hard side.

    We should worry.......or emulate...

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    1 hour ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

    His fend offs are great to watch and perfectly legal.  The issue is, which he is somehow not getting credit for here, is his incredible physical strength.  Last night we saw Petracca and Harmes both try to fend off, but they simply weren’t strong enough.  He is the only player in the history of our game who has been able to do this so consistently.

    If he hits a player high, then penalise him.  If a tackle sticks after a fend-off, then penalise him. 

    If it were an easy thing to do, then everyone would be doing it.  If it were as easy as grabbing his hands, then everyone would be doing it.

    With all that said, we played Dusty very well last night; had zero impact on the match.

    No they are not. At least half of them are too high and a free should be given but the maggots would be lynched by the salivating media and the Richmond fleas. 

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    He actually goes at the player who is trying to tackle him which throws out their timing as every other player tries to get away from oncoming players. When our players have tried the fend off then do it going away from the player which is a lot easier to  get at, hence they get nailed. 

    Players should either go low as said earlier and just let him get his handball away (which is currently coached against as they want a tackle to have no disposal) but this is better than him fending off and then running another 5 metres and kicking it 60. I would also suggest the drop their knees when coming in to tackle, the fend off would then get them in the neck/head and they (should) get a free kick. This though would mean being willing to take a hit which would no doubt hurt and none of our players are willing to hurt for the team. Maybe other club players may though. 

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    10 minutes ago, Age said:

    He actually goes at the player who is trying to tackle him which throws out their timing as every other player tries to get away from oncoming players. When our players have tried the fend off then do it going away from the player which is a lot easier to  get at, hence they get nailed. 

    Players should either go low as said earlier and just let him get his handball away (which is currently coached against as they want a tackle to have no disposal) but this is better than him fending off and then running another 5 metres and kicking it 60. I would also suggest the drop their knees when coming in to tackle, the fend off would then get them in the neck/head and they (should) get a free kick. This though would mean being willing to take a hit which would no doubt hurt and none of our players are willing to hurt for the team. Maybe other club players may though. 

    How many illegal disposals from this bloke did you see yesterday that were penalised and that were not penalised? The point is, it wouldn't matter because he usually does not get penalised and moron commentators and recalcitrant umpires are scared, yes scared......

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    His fend offs ended in rubbish disposals.  He may be strong, but I thought we curbed him fairly well.

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    1 hour ago, hemingway said:

    Exactly, wondered about this last night. 

    Tackle hard, fast and low.

    Or grab his wrist and pull or swing.

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    Yes, Dusty never gets pinned for incorrect disposal, Selwood always gets the high contact, the reigning premier always seems to get the 50/50 free kicks. It's just the way it all seems to work. We don't have any stars who get the good treatment, we won't ever be one of those top teams. Like someone else has said, it's like we were born into poverty, we will never break out of it unfortunately, not matter what we do. 

    Just go with it is what I have learned, nothing will change. I just get to vent on here now and then or else I'd have kicked the dog by now (be a better kick though than any player we have could do!)

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    46 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

    Krav Maga is what you’re after. 

    Lucy Wilde knows....

    e9543d16f3e6d548e80ee32b653eb21e.jpg

    Then when he's done for holding the ball celebrate with some krumpin'!

    2FGx.gif

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    21 minutes ago, Age said:

    Yes, Dusty never gets pinned for incorrect disposal, Selwood always gets the high contact, the reigning premier always seems to get the 50/50 free kicks. It's just the way it all seems to work. We don't have any stars who get the good treatment, we won't ever be one of those top teams. Like someone else has said, it's like we were born into poverty, we will never break out of it unfortunately, not matter what we do. 

    Just go with it is what I have learned, nothing will change. I just get to vent on here now and then or else I'd have kicked the dog by now (be a better kick though than any player we have could do!)

    The best players in teams who have played finals, or win a Brownlow or other awards definitely get the rub of the green on decisions. Dusty got pinged a few times last night, one great one handed hand pass that led to a goal in the third and a few others. Tigers seemed to throw the ball over their head a lot.

    But it’s up to the Demons to make finals, win awards etc and we will get better treatment.

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