Tackling

[Hayfever]

Hardwick has identified our #1 problem(kicking) and proactively set about doing something about it. Great stuff!

Our #2 problem is tackling. We were worst in the comp in 2007. In 2008 we improved our average tackles by 7% and were still the worst. In 2009 we improved it another 22% and to 11th in the AFL. Problem is the top teams are also lifting their tackle counts so we need at least another 10% improvement next season.

I was therefore interested in a comment on one of our training reports where the players were off to tackling practice somewhere(not Punt Road). Seriously I hope we are using expert trainers in this regard. Using Melbourne Storm staff would be a good example. All their players have improved immensely in recent years. I'm pretty sure the Sydney Swans use Rugby League expertise in this area and sometimes cross-train with RL players. Paul Kelly played League as a junior and it showed in his style of footy. It's mostly about technique and confidence to throw your body into the contest. The most interesting tackling stat to come out of last season was at St Kilda. They improved a whopping 36% to go from 6th best in 2008 to top spot in 2009. So what has Ross Lyon(ex Swans staff) done there?

If we can lift both our kicking skills and tackling we will be a very competitive outfit.

 

[Tiger74]

been hearing elsewhere reports that tackling practice intensity has increased a heck of a lot.

Hardwick apparently is pushing hard on this, and its another drill where several players are being completely spent after it (due to being pushed so hard)

 

[Tigers of Old]

Using Melbourne Storm staff would be a good example. All their players have improved immensely in recent years.

Robbie kearns was down there for years and it made SFA difference.
I don't think tackling is so much about technique as it is mindset.
Players have got to want to tackle as well as do the 1%s but they need to do it without thinking. It needs to be second nature.
Hardwick by all accounts is really attempting to change the players mindset from their body language to their team first policy. He's also going to get them super fit. It's a good start.

 

[Hayfever]

Robbie kearns was down there for years and it made SFA difference.
I don't think tackling is so much about technique as it is mindset.
Players have got to want to tackle as well as do the 1%s but they need to do it without thinking. It needs to be second nature.
Hardwick by all accounts is really attempting to change the players mindset from their body language to their team first policy. He's also going to get them super fit. It's a good start

Mindset is not much without good technique. Storm work continuously on technique to stay up with or ahead of rules interpretations and what other teams are doing. They use specialist coaches(wrestling etc) not necessarily someone like Robbie Kearns.

 

[forgottenman41]

that was me at posted that. the trainer came and was talking to the bloke behind me, he said somethink bout twice aweek they go to oakleigh for tackling prac.

hardwick is realy drilling them, 6am bay swims 3 hr training sessions and tackling prac.

i couldnt believe how much they are trying to teach the kids , leppa lade realy trying to teach them not just tell them, i liked how hardwick walks around and give encouragement and advice and not just stand in the middle(wallace)

dont think hardwick has put a step wrong, cant wait till rd1 to see if anythink has changed tho

 

[Hayfever]

that was me at posted that. the trainer came and was talking to the bloke behind me, he said somethink bout twice aweek they go to oakleigh for tackling prac.

hardwick is realy drilling them, 6am bay swims 3 hr training sessions and tackling prac.

i couldnt believe how much they are trying to teach the kids , leppa lade realy trying to teach them not just tell them, i liked how hardwick walks around and give encouragement and advice and not just stand in the middle(wallace)

dont think hardwick has put a step wrong, cant wait till rd1 to see if anythink has changed tho

Thanks LL. I wonder if we can find out more about it........ why Oakleigh, who runs it and what they concentrate on?

 

[Tigers of Old]

Mindset is not much without good technique.

It's far more important. Technique can be improved on slightly (ie pinning the arms) but most players know how tackle by under 12s.

 

[Hayfever]

It's far more important. Technique can be improved on slightly but most players know how tackle by under 12s

A lot of our players still tackle like under 12's because their techniques have not improved since then!

 

[CarnTheTiges]

Kicking is the priority, but I agree that tackling would come a close second. It's something that I think would be high in Hardwick's mind, he was that sort of player and it seemed to be something that was highlighted at Hawthorn during Hardwick's time there. I'm actually getting excited by the sort of team and the brand of football that Hardwick is going to make the Tigers play next year.

 

[Danog]

It's far more important. Technique can be improved on slightly (ie pinning the arms) but most players know how tackle by under 12s.

I remember that year. Finally being able to tackle rather than just hip and shoulder was great.

 

[frickenel]

Kicking is the priority, but I agree that tackling would come a close second.

If you tackle hard enough, the opposition can suddenly be kicking as badly as us! (thats not to say that i disagree with the above comment!

How often do you hear half time stats read out, and the opposition's kicking efficiency is running at like about 95%.

In my view our problem of recent years is that you can't tell a team to go out and lay tackles if you aren't doing impact type training off the field. Under Wallace, all i saw was open running flashy type training. In my view, you have to accept there might be a few training track casulties and do a lot of impact type training if you want players to go out on the playing field and play a physical game. It has to be second nature!

I'm sick of watching out intra-club games and then hearing posters here say how quick we were moving the ball because the flip side is that means there's a destinct lack of defensive pressure! Our intra-club games of late have been open running affairs and that's not how AFL is played anymore! I'd prefer to see us do what we were doing in 1995 - smashing the crapper out of sides physically!

One of the first thingg Hardwick said on getting the coaching job was that he wants us leading the tackle count in 2011. That gives us 2 years!

 

[Tigers of Old]

A lot of our players still tackle like under 12's because their techniques have not improved since then!

:hihi
A lot of our players don't tackle at all. If Hardwick can instill that into their ethic we'll be better off.

 

[Hayfever]

If you tackle hard enough, the opposition can suddenly be kicking as badly as us! (thats not to say that i disagree with the above comment!

How often do you hear half time stats read out, and the opposition's kicking efficiency is running at like about 95%.

In my view our problem of recent years is that you can't tell a team to go out and lay tackles if you aren't doing impact type training off the field. Under Wallace, all i saw was open running flashy type training. In my view, you have to accept there might be a few training track casulties and do a lot of impact type training if you want players to go out on the playing field and play a physical game. It has to be second nature!

I'm sick of watching out intra-club games and then hearing posters here say how quick we were moving the ball because the flip side is that means there's a destinct lack of defensive pressure! Our intra-club games of late have been open running affairs and that's not how AFL is played anymore! I'd prefer to see us do what we were doing in 1995 - smashing the Krakouer out of sides physically!

One of the first thingg Hardwick said on getting the coaching job was that he wants us leading the tackle count in 2011. That gives us 2 years!

Hawthorn's tacke counts were, believe it or not, marginally worse than ours from 2005-2007. Like us they improved about 10% in 2008 and 23% in 2009. Hardwick was their midfield coach in 2008-09. If he can lift our tackling game(technique and mindset) then we are sure to improve.

 

[D85]

i think if we really want to improve and be best in the league at tackling then we need a few alternative types of training beyond the standard "bring in some rugby guys" method.

freestyle wrestling, greco roman wrestling, judo, jiujitsu, and other forms of grappling martial arts would really benefit imo

 

[Tigerbob]

i think if we really want to improve and be best in the league at tackling then we need a few alternative types of training beyond the standard "bring in some rugby guys" method.

freestyle wrestling, greco roman wrestling, judo, jiujitsu, and other forms of grappling martial arts would really benefit imo

Maybe get you and Joshie in to teach the fella's mate? :hihi

 

[TigerMasochist]

Always believed that tackling was a vital component of modern AFL footy.
The players are so skilled and so well drilled nowadays that if you just run alongside the ball carrier flapping your arms like a headless chook ( corralling ) then it's virtually a free possession to the ball carrier. He can prop, sidestep, direct traffic safe in the knowledge that no-one is going to touch him.
Constantly laying tackles on the ball carrier forces him to rush his disposal and places implied pressure because improper disposal will see him penalised. The best teams over lengthy periods of time are the ones that consistently put tackling pressure along with some corralling work on their opponents.

 

[Col.E.Kurtz]

i think if we really want to improve and be best in the league at tackling then we need a few alternative types of training beyond the standard "bring in some rugby guys" method.

freestyle wrestling, greco roman wrestling, judo, jiujitsu, and other forms of grappling martial arts would really benefit imo

Doozle that the storm employ a true grappler themselves, John Donehue, who as you probably know better than me is a Gene LeBell black belt.

Personally I don’t think you need that for AFL, it’s a specialized type of tackling that takes a bit from a lot of sports but it’s got a lot better over the last 10 years. It’s now an art form of it’s own.

 

[Tiger74]

this could be the end of an era though...

assuming this takes does this mean no more:

1) corralling

2) the muppet arm tackles where you give the opponent a light hug before he runs away from you

 

[TT33]

this could be the end of an era though...

assuming this takes does this mean no more:

1) corralling

2) the muppet arm tackles where you give the opponent a light hug before he runs away from you

Corralling, geee that really "gets up my goat" It's the most isipid thing that has EVER come into footy.
Thgere were times when I was watching the Tiges play & they were doing that stuff, fair dinkum I nearly ran out onto the ground & tackled the opposition team myself.

If we continue to do that cr@p in 2010 I will fair dinkum "spew up"

 

[gustiger12]

Was talking to someone the other day who has connections with the club (no not some mystery insider), who provided the following snippets;

1. All the new recruits have better than average footskills and that was a prerequisite for draftees'
2. The players are far more advanced fitness wise than they have been in the past; (probably consistent with other reports on training)
3. The fitness level of all the draftees is generally pretty good
4. The key areas Hardwick is really concentrating on is

a) defence
b) The Corridor
c) gameplan

5. Players are being worked in 6 week blocks at the moment;
6. New coaching staff have been big on teaching (again similar to what others have said)

Probably not a lot new in their, simply what I was told by someone who is a lot closer than me.

Sounds like a fairly simple gameplan as I think we probably all expect from what is being said.