THE BAD

The ‘perfect tackle’  

The perfect take down or suspension worthy? Brodie Grundy laid a contentious tackle on Ben Brown where he pinned his arms and drove him head first into the ground. Brown was stretchered off with concussion and taken to hospital.

Nathan Buckley labelled it a ‘perfect tackle’, but it’ll cost the Pies’ ruckman a week, maybe two. Just a week after Dangerfield was controversially suspended for a similar tackle, the AFL is clearly trying to remove such antics.

The players now have a duty of care every time they step onto the field, from bumping, to tackling, to sledging. It’s a new age and a line’s been drawn to protect the health, safety and warfare of the players.

 

Always take your first option

Last week, a McGovern was the hero. This week, he was the villain.

In the dying stages of the game and West Coast’s season on the line, Jeremy McGovern ignored a simple hand pass to the sweeping Sam Mitchell. Instead, he ran back into traffic and got tackled, turning the ball over. The turnover resulted in a Jack Billings goal that sealed St Kilda’s win

McGovern can’t be blamed for the result, but it was a moment that personified West Coast’s season – too slow and unconvincing. What hurts more is that it cost them a position in the top eight and means the Saints are breathing down their neck with equal points.  

 

League punching bag

Zach Merrett will almost certainly be suspended by the Match Review Panel after jumper punching Carlton’s Lachie Plowman. Two weeks ago, Dayne Zorko was handed a one-week suspension for striking Plowman and Toby Greene was suspended for two games after jumper punching Alex Rance.

The AFL has made a strong stance against any sort of foul acts this year and Merrett, like Zorko and Greene before him will be penalized. Merret is set to miss Essendon’s crucial clash with Adelaide.

It’s also not crazy to think Merrett could win this year’s Brownlow Medal. Imagine if he and Dangerfield placed first and second in this year’s count? Stranger things have happened.