Lag Tackling

[Redford]

Has anyone noticed the long standing practice of lag tackling at Richmond ? I call it lag tackling, but maybe there’s a better description.

Basically, it involves situations where there is a one on one contest for the ball and the player that commits themselves the most physically, wins first possession or gets their hands on it first. But what a heap of Richmond players do though in these situations is to wait that split second just before the clash is about to occur, let their opponent get their hands on it first, and then attempt to lay a tackle thereafter. Lag tackling.

A classic example was Tivendale last night. The very first WCE goal came from Tivendale not committing to a contest with Lynch, preferring instead to wait that split second so he could let Lynch gather it up and then he’d wrap him up in a tackle. Needless to say, Lynch had all the momentum…the tackle wasn’t strong enough…Lynch shoved it out to Graham who kicked WCE’s first goal.

A lot of supporters get confused into thinking that half the tackles that Richmond players lay are great when in fact they’re just a result of not being committed enough in the first instance to try and win first possession. Alternatively, they’re fooled into thinking the Richmond player couldn’t quite get there first so it was better for them to hang back which in many situations is just not the case i.e. they could have gotten there first if they were committed enough. Its almost become an epidemic at Richmond, brought on in my personal opinion by years and years of such practice by the Wayne Campbells, Matthew Knights and Nick Daffy’s of the world. The amount of times Campbell would let an opponent get the ball first then lay a tackle and get up off the ground thinking he’d done a great job used to infuriate me.

How about a side that’s prepared to take a knock to get its hands on the ball first… instead of hanging back waiting to make a tackle ?

 

[Al Bundy]

Great point Red, I agree with what you have said. Last years loss to the Weagles was based on this issue as seen by the effort of Campbell who pulled out & I was scathing on. Cost us the game.

The way the umpiring have been interpreting the holding the ball, this lag will continue. It is quite interesting to see that the RFC younger players are the ones getting the ball from the packs eg.. Raines, Tuck & Cogs. Thats why I use to loved Flemming even though his skills where poor he was the first one in. Hard nuts !

Red, some of the players who have been guilty on this issue IMO are; Tiv, Krak, Gas, J Bowden, Pett & Chaff.

Who would u name from the current crop?

 

[Redford]

Great point Red, I agree with what you have said. Last years loss to the Weagles was based on this issue as seen by the effort of Campbell who pulled out & I was scathing on. Cost us the game.

The way the umpiring have been interpreting the holding the ball, this lag will continue. It is quite interesting to see that the RFC younger players are the ones getting the ball from the packs eg.. Raines, Tuck & Cogs. Thats why I use to loved Flemming even though his skills where poor he was the first one in. Hard nuts !

Red, some of the players who have been guilty on this issue IMO are; Tiv, Krak, Gas, J Bowden, Pett & Chaff.

Who would u name from the current crop?

I agree on the umpiring part Bundy and Coke. Its ridiculous the way the umpires penalise the ball player nowadays. This no doubt has an affect, I agree. But there's still heaps of instances where Richmond players hesitate and prefer the tackling option when they could have got there first. You've named most of the current offenders, although in Krakouers case, he IS genuinely slow and I believe does struggle to get to the contest first, thus he has no alternative but to go the tackle option. Gaspar and Bowden are the two worst at the moment. Kane Johnson does it a lot too. They should all take a leaf out of Coughlan's book. He goes the first hands on it option most of the time.

 

[Tigerfan]

hmmm. interesting point

i don't think ricciuto would let another bloke get the ball first

 

[Redford]

The whole lag tackling approach is exactly how Campbell racked up so many tackles in his career. But it was a falsity in the sense that he was hanging back waiting to make those tackles instead of genuinely putting his nose over the ball.

 

[geoffryprettyboy]

A classic example was Tivendale last night. The very first WCE goal came from Tivendale not committing to a contest with Lynch, preferring instead to wait that split second so he could let Lynch gather it up and then he’d wrap him up in a tackle. Needless to say, Lynch had all the momentum…the tackle wasn’t strong enough…Lynch shoved it out to Graham who kicked WCE’s first goal.

Clearly remembered this part of play last night as many comments regarding the effort of the tackle were flying around the room. The lack of physical intensity on the man was clearly evident, and even swung Lynch into the goal mouth instead of away from the goal mouth.

Pure fundamental mistakes continue to punish us, especially from the 'usual suspects'.

 

[Al Bundy]

Campbell was a damaging player around the packs ( not in them). Was one of the best link players. DDT that why Ricc is an excellent player. Will get the ball 1st & used it well at the same time.

Not sure what the answer is but it is somehting they need to address. Maybe trying to knock the ball out in a particular direction & have a couple of players ourside the scrum to sweep the ball & not everyone dive on top.

Wonder if we can orgainse an Afl umpire to actually come out to the club an officiate over many simulated loose ball gets from scrums? help work ou a solution as it is a problem. I don't know just an idea

 

[GoodOne]

Great point Red, I agree with what you have said. Last years loss to the Weagles was based on this issue as seen by the effort of Campbell who pulled out & I was scathing on. Cost us the game.

The way the umpiring have been interpreting the holding the ball, this lag will continue. It is quite interesting to see that the RFC younger players are the ones getting the ball from the packs eg.. Raines, Tuck & Cogs. Thats why I use to loved Flemming even though his skills where poor he was the first one in. Hard nuts !

Red, some of the players who have been guilty on this issue IMO are; Tiv, Krak, Gas, J Bowden, Pett & Chaff.

Who would u name from the current crop?

I agree on the umpiring part Bundy and Coke. Its ridiculous the way the umpires penalise the ball player nowadays. This no doubt has an affect, I agree. But there's still heaps of instances where Richmond players hesitate and prefer the tackling option when they could have got there first. You've named most of the current offenders, although in Krakouers case, he IS genuinely slow and I believe does struggle to get to the contest first, thus he has no alternative but to go the tackle option. Gaspar and Bowden are the two worst at the moment. Kane Johnson does it a lot too. They should all take a leaf out of Coughlan's book. He goes the  first hands on it option most of the time.

Its a tough one really.  Asa player it is ofen a split-second decision deciding whether you have a 50% or greater chance of committing to gain posession of the ball or not.  Misjudge and you can end up over-committing and the opposition player has a free possession to do whatever they like with it.  I think backmen are more cautious in this respect as the consequences can be alot worse in their forward line.

Question of whether some players do it more than others has to be taken into context of their position and so on, and each incident taken on its own merit.  Personally I havent noticed any patterns with players, but then again my view of last night's match was via some Perth radio station on the Internet.

Cheers  

 

[Al Bundy]

... and even swung Lynch into the goal mouth instead of away from the goal mouth. 
Pure fundamental mistakes continue to punish us, especially from the 'usual suspects'.
You would think some brains would be working there. NEVER tackle a player by turning him towards the goal for crying out loud !. Spot on.

 

[TigerForce]

Has anyone noticed the long standing practice of lag tackling at Richmond ? I call it lag tackling, but maybe there’s a better description.

Basically, it involves situations where there is a one on one contest for the ball and the player that commits themselves the most physically, wins first possession or gets their hands on it first. But what a heap of Richmond players do though in these situations is to wait that split second just before the clash is about to occur, let their opponent get their hands on it first, and then attempt to lay a tackle thereafter. Lag tackling.

A classic example was Tivendale last night. The very first WCE goal came from Tivendale not committing to a contest with Lynch, preferring instead to wait that split second so he could let Lynch gather it up and then he’d wrap him up in a tackle. Needless to say, Lynch had all the momentum…the tackle wasn’t strong enough…Lynch shoved it out to Graham who kicked WCE’s first goal.

A lot of supporters get confused into thinking that half the tackles that Richmond players lay are great when in fact they’re just a result of not being committed enough in the first instance to try and win first possession. Alternatively, they’re fooled into thinking the Richmond player couldn’t quite get there first so it was better for them to hang back which in many situations is just not the case i.e. they could have gotten there first if they were committed enough. Its almost become an epidemic at Richmond, brought on in my personal opinion by years and years of such practice by the Wayne Campbells, Matthew Knights and Nick Daffy’s of the world. The amount of times Campbell would let an opponent get the ball first then lay a tackle and get up off the ground thinking he’d done a great job used to infuriate me.

How about a side that’s prepared to take a knock to get its hands on the ball first… instead of hanging back waiting to make a tackle ?

Do you mean 'herding' an opponent ?

If not, then that's another habitual problem we have of just standing and waiting to expect the opponent to make some mistake in decision-making rather than just go for the direct tackle as other clubs do.