He is seriously strong Dusty and his fend off works better than others who try it because he seizes the initiative and attacks the tackler. I'd like to see, rather than trying to grab his arm, tacklers block / deflect his fend off arm from inside to out which would open up his ribs nicely. Wax on, wax off.

As someone else has stated, he lunges forward when he fends so he puts all his force behind it. This is why it works so well

  On 25/04/2018 at 03:25, Go the Biff said:

He is seriously strong Dusty and his fend off works better than others who try it because he seizes the initiative and attacks the tackler. I'd like to see, rather than trying to grab his arm, tacklers block / deflect his fend off arm from inside to out which would open up his ribs nicely. Wax on, wax off.

This 

 

as as others have said some martial arts. Kung fu for starters 

 

 

 

 

Having said that - you want something that presents high ROI. No point having players do 40 hours training for x encounters with Dusty Y times a year (is there?)

  On 25/04/2018 at 00:32, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Not even close.

True, but will get Brownlow votes nonetheless. 

  On 25/04/2018 at 00:13, 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.

Well not quite zero impact but reasonably held anyway.

  On 25/04/2018 at 01:39, willmoy said:

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......

Worried that there may be a few bikies  at their door one dark night ??  Or some ?  in their ? ? (But then the latter could probably do little to impair their severely limited vision)

  On 25/04/2018 at 01:48, Redleg said:

Or grab his wrist and pull or swing.

Grabbing his wrist and pulling or swinging could well dislocate his shoulder, which would no doubt limit his influence on the game; and would almost certainly result in incorrect disposal which could even be penalized occasionally.  I seem to remember our MIA co-captain doing similar things to a Saint a couple of years ago .... pity he isn’t playing at present.  Could have been handy especially in the three games we lost.  

I mist admit, I love watching it, just not when it's one of us, like when he swatted off nibbler last night. He is a ripping player.

Wanted: One Money Super Arm to play for MFC. Must be nice to all umpires. Tattoos optional......

  On 25/04/2018 at 06:43, timbo said:

Having said that - you want something that presents high ROI. No point having players do 40 hours training for x encounters with Dusty Y times a year (is there?)

We have 44 on our list, surely there is a case to dedicate one player to stoping Dusty. They could get some neck tatts and sport a Dusty cut while using martial arts to deflect his fend off and follow through with an axe kick to his clavicle and finish him off with a pair of ? 

Wont be long until opposing players drop low and take the palm to the face/neck, i know he often fends high but if its super obvious it will get called.

  On 25/04/2018 at 00:08, Dee Zephyr said:

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.

Snort. Had an ironic chuckle seeing Harmes get caned attempting a fend after seeing Dusty do a squillion in a row. Seemed to fit the narrative of the match nicely.

Protected species. His fend off to Harmes slid up to the throat and tilted his head to the side. Because it's loved by the crowd, this is let go.

And don't get me started about his throw when tackled in the forward line that resulted in a Rich goal.

Having said that, his strength, excelleration and vision are amazing to watch. Wish we had a crack at him when he shopped around

  On 24/04/2018 at 22:46, bush demon said:

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.

If they actually tried to spear tackle his hips instead of his chest region they might actually stop him from having all the time in the world.

  On 24/04/2018 at 23:59, hemingway said:

Exactly, wondered about this last night. 

Tackle hard, fast and low.

I’m amazed, gobsmacked in fact that AFL players tackle so half-heartedly on so many occasions. Try watching, or playing rugby league or union. If you tackled like a pu$$y you would never get a game again. In fact you just simply wouldn’t do it. Those guys know how to tackle and put you down., properly. Why don’t our coaches take some lessons from them or get some of their players to show AFL players how to tackle? Is it the arrogance or snobbery that separates the codes that prevents cross pollination?

  On 25/04/2018 at 12:12, Win4theAges said:

If they actually tried to spear tackle his hips instead of his chest region they might actually stop him from having all the time in the world.

That would leave his arms completely free to handball off to a teammate.  He can't handball when doing a fend off. Grab his hand and pull forward to put him off balence would be my suggestion

  On 24/04/2018 at 22:46, bush demon said:

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.

Free rein: it’s an equestrian analogy: let the horse have its head by letting the reins go a bit, not free reign: that relates to royalty.

  On 25/04/2018 at 12:12, Win4theAges said:

If they actually tried to spear tackle his hips instead of his chest region they might actually stop him from having all the time in the world.

 

  On 25/04/2018 at 12:17, Moonshadow said:

That would leave his arms completely free to handball off to a teammate.  He can't handball when doing a fend off. Grab his hand and pull forward to put him off balence would be my suggestion

It would be hard for him to handball from that position though 'Moon'...if you take him low.

Also means he's not just walking around with time to find the right option.

One of the things a good rugby type tackle will do is take the wind out of an opponent if you get them right under the ribs low and hard. It's not so easy to get a handball off then.

Apart from Oliver we tackle like [censored].small cats...

  On 25/04/2018 at 00:08, Dee Zephyr said:

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.

I had the same thought.

Harmes is a long, long way off getting it right. He doesn't know the secret. He has to eat far more Chinese food, and ditch the fork!

  On 24/04/2018 at 23:59, hemingway said:

Exactly, wondered about this last night. 

Tackle hard, fast and low.

he'll just lift the arms and handpass. no worries. especially with his kiwi background. those tactics won't work. teams need to get two players at him at a time. from different directions. afl players also need to learn how to tackle front on!

We played Martin better than any side this year. His disposals were often rushed, and at times he was just getting boot to ball. After last weekend I can see other sides using the multiple player approach. The key is to hurt Martin when you can from the right side. That way the next time he attempts the fend off in the back of his mind he is unsure whether someone is coming from the right side. The fend off has finally been cracked IMO.

  On 25/04/2018 at 11:06, Forest Demon said:

I mist admit, I love watching it, just not when it's one of us, like when he swatted off nibbler last night. He is a ripping player.

I want to see him do it to Viney. The tackle on Weller was one of the best tackles of all time.

Hit his arm from beneath. This makes his tackle high or it misses and you tackle his body.

  On 24/04/2018 at 23:57, 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. 

Agree with this go low and hard, he either fends you off high or you spear tackle him.  Do a Selwood and duck into the hand so he gets you high

  On 25/04/2018 at 12:17, Moonshadow said:

That would leave his arms completely free to handball off to a teammate.  He can't handball when doing a fend off. Grab his hand and pull forward to put him off balence would be my suggestion

yeah he can just spin off and run and carry more and pin point some one though.

Cant do that when you get speared its a rushed handball.

Cant believe no one has worked it out yet.

It's no surprise the high fend-offs by Dusty aren't called. It is a celebrity based league these days and Dusty, Danger, Joel Selwood etc rarely have frees against awarded. Yet the biggest celebrity in the league would be close to the most penalised player - Buddy. He does play for a non-Victorian club which probably explains it.