The headline says it all, doesn't it!Originally Posted by CureTheSane
The headline says it all, doesn't it!
They reported pretty much the same on AFL360 -ie that this was a regular, scheduled report and had nothing to do with The Meeting.
Tonight was players' night with Jack Riewoldt and Jordan Lewis and the issue was discussed at length. Lewis opened up with a bit of a chuckle, saying they used to specifically train for it at Hawthorn. He then commented that he thought the Langford hold on Grundy was a clear free kick, while he saw nothing wrong with the Grundy/Rampe/Roughead contest, saying that Roughead was out of position and just needed to work to get better position in the contest.
Both of them said they have no issue with blocking/holding down (not with arms but by body position) in a contest in principle, while acknowledging that some are illegal. Riewoldt commented that it is very easy for the player supposedly being blocked to play for it and make no effort to get position to mark the ball if blocking frees are awarded too liberally. And both thought there's nothing wrong with a team getting some kind of advantage where they have more players in a contest.
McLachlan told the Herald Sun he had met Clarkson at the Hawthorn coach�s request with no idea of the topic.
He said he had not spoken to AFL football boss Steve Hocking about the contents of his meeting, which on Monday became public...
McLachlan and Clarkson are close friends and often meet, with the Hawks premiership coach determined to get his point across about how the game is played and officiated.
It is understood McLachlan agreed to meet him on Sunday night after several Clarkson text messages.
When Clarkson began to present a series of video grabs about blocking over breakfast, McLachlan listened to his message.
But Hocking and his new team have been separately working on how to minimise blocking in marking contests, believing it has crept into the game and stopped players flying for marks.
The AFL�s determination to stop defenders chopping the arms of forwards has meant defenders have got craftier as they attempt to stop goals.
Many including Sydney�s Dane Rampe, St Kilda�s Nathan Brown, Essendon�s Cale Hooker and Richmond�s David Astbury are masters at tactics such as pushing players under the ball with their body weight.
Cheers.
Lol, that�s just great. I suddenly like Lewis!
Actually from what you report both players said, I am impressed with their constructive responses. Riewoldt in particular could have been much more self-serving had he chosen to be.
Yes, obviously just a case of great minds thinking alike. Though, some of the soft frees paid against our defenders in the North game, may suggest that it was already on the agenda.
So, essentially, Clarkson is screaming "blue murder", over a tactic that he coaches his own players to employ? I'm actually starting to wonder about the state of his mental health.
Its probably not mental health, he is just an arse hole.
In fairness, it has been on the AFL agenda for the last few years. The following quote comes from the Herald Sun leading into the 2015 season:
�Clubs have also become elite at not only blocking marking players as they lead for the ball but blocking their run as they leap for marks, disguising their actions as marking attempts.�
�Evans said the league was keen to crack down (on those two areas).�
�The other thing that really emerged was the team style of defence where you have some players whose only job is to get in the road of someone and preventing them to get to the marking contest in the first place.
�It is pretty difficult to pick up on because it can be so well disguised but we think the umpires need to have a greater attention to it so we can give their key forwards a real chance to contest for the ball.�
None of which excuses Clarkson for singling out the Swans defenders immediately after losing a game to the Swans.
You might be on to something there.
The Swans �pinched� his premiership in 2012.
Then the Swans �pinched� his Buddy end of 2013.
He�s like a rejected lover, thrashing around bitterly looking for revenge.
That works. But I was thinking more along the lines of, somebody high in the dark triad trait of Machiavellianism, descending inexorably into unhinged paranoia.
Holy hell. I just popped onto big footy to see what other team's supporters are saying about this. It's basically this:
Hawk: you're a sook!
Swan: you're a crybaby!
Hawk: no, you are! You've been crying ever since the 2014 grand final!
Etc etc. Is that forum filled with children?
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