There are TACKLES and there are tackles

[GoodOne]

We’re still ranked 13th in total tackles in the AFL, so if it is a new team emphasis it hasn’t been that effective.

Where are your stats from Colonel. I have the Tigers as stone last in tackle count. In tackle difference to opponents on game day we are 2nd last with only West Coast behind us. Our tackling count has certainly improved in the last couple of weeks closer to what most teams do on a week by week basis. I much prefer to see effective tackles anyway but there's no readily available stats for that.

 

[GoodOne]

Yeah but, in seasons past we were much worse - I can recall games were we struggled to hit 20 tackles for the game - and I'm talking as recent as 2006.

It's not talk - it is a legitimate improvement in the team's game - the real problem is we are coming from such a long way back - we would have been the worst in the league for tackles and not just for one year I'll tip.

OK so we have advanced only a few rungs, but it does make us more competitive now when we do it with intensity and zeal. At least players are being dropped if they are inadequate at it for too long - unlike season's past!

In 2006 our average tackles per game was 46. In 07 was 44.9 in 2005 41.4 but interestingly our differential to opposition was less (indicating maybe less tackling all around in 2005). In 2004 we tackled 43.9 per game but actually made more tackles on average then our opposition. Obviously tackling has become more focused since then but on these stats we have hardly improved at all whilst other clubs have increased the intensity immenseley.

In 2004 we were 10th most tackling team, 12th in 2005-2006, 16th in 2007 and 2008 so far. We are definitely not improving in that area. Need to take into account also that we have a much younger list playing seniors than we had in 2004.

 

[GoodOne]

Also considering for 6 of the 7 years, the premiers have been in the top 6 tackling teams in a season, you know where you have to be in tackling terms to be a realistic premiership chance. This blows the myth that the best teams tackle less because they have the ball more often.

 

[Merveille]

I think it was 2nd quarter sunday, Titch Edwards took a handball 20 metres in the clear on the wing and took off. Mattner was 20 m off him and behind him, left his own man at 100 miles an hour and ran him down for a holding the ball.

it was an inspired instinctive chase that symbolises the Swans and not Richmond.

no effort from the Mattner's opponent to block for titch Edwards either, but it was an unbelievable chase

 

[GoodOne]

Isnt it a coincedence that we are first for contested possessions yet down the bottom for tackling?

Tackling normally means your second to the ball, ala Pettifers 6 tackles on the weekend.

This is a fallacy. Most of the top teams on the ladder are in the top few in tackle counts. As mentioned in a previous post, in the last 7 years, 6 of the premiers have been top 6 in total tackle count. You are not going to win a premiership being at the bottom of the tackle count ladder.

By the way Pettifer had 21 possessions on the weekend. Must have been a few balls going between players legs.

 

[skiptomystu]

Average tackles per game, obviously doesnt take into account effective tackles. Johnson is 49th on the list for average tackles per game, so our most prolific tackler has 48 players ahead of him.

Wow that is a MASSIVE discrepincy there, that is a really good stat. Coaching staff really need to drive that into the players.

To put it in perspective, on average, there are 3 players on each team (four in 3 cases) that tackle more than our highest, thats disgraceful.

 

[the claw]

once again the tackling woes can be laid at the player type we have to a degree. geez if i came out of a pack at pace with pettrified in front of me stuff going around id lick my lips with glee and run straight at him. that goes for mcmuffin edwards morton king brown any number of our players. the big body will invariably beat the small skinny body.at worst you are going to get the hands free and lay of. at best you are going to run over the top of them and hurt em bad. we have far to many who are not up to the task of laying decent tackles regularly because of body type or lack of pace or both.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Wow that is a MASSIVE discrepincy there, that is a really good stat. Coaching staff really need to drive that into the players.

To put it in perspective, on average, there are 3 players on each team (four in 3 cases) that tackle more than our highest, thats disgraceful.

Sure is.

 

[SkunkDen]

As I said in another thread, tackling is the most over-rated stat ever. It says nothing.

Isnt it a coincedence that we are first for contested possessions yet down the bottom for tackling?

Tackling normally means your second to the ball, ala Pettifers 6 tackles on the weekend.

we r down at the bottom of the tackling stats, CORRECT. We r also down the bottom of the ladder. we arent goin to be first to the ball for 100% of a game, its impossible, so when we dont have the ball we hav to tackle better. if we tackle stronger and harder we will cause more effective turnovers and hopefully create many more scoring opportunities against our opposition from putting extreme pressure on them and making them make mistakes.

pettifer was dropped because he wasnt creating enough fwd pressure when he didnt have it so good on him for coming back into the side and improving that side of his game. he has no trouble kicking a goal or taking a mark but tackling and chasing and creating opportunities for scoring from pressure is just as important as him kickin his 2 or 3 goals.