The age old question - Taggers

[GVGjr]

I'm still a strong believer that their is room in all clubs to have a tagger or two on their playing lists.

I do not understand our reluctance to either recruit or develop players to shut down opposition prime movers even allowing for the fact that we have a very strong midfield group

Looking back at some old games we would often use the likes to Tony Liberatore or Jose Romero in those roles to great effect so why can't we do the same. Versatility is the key though, the player need to be able to adapt and be effective in more than just the tagging aspect.

It seems Bevo wants to back our midfield to outplay the opposition midfield but I think it's a fairly predictable model. When Carlton tuned us up last year, Cripps run amok and we didn't do a lot to curb him and Carlton had an impressive win against us. A few weeks later in a rematch Macrae put work into him and the possession count for Cripps was well down and we got our revenge with a close victory.

Should we look at adding or developing a player or two who can lock down an opposition midfielder or should we continue to back ourselves to run over the opposition midfield?

[bornadog]

I think we should have a tagger in the team who can shut down damaging players, especially midfielders who dominate games. One guy that is not too bad as a tagger is Jong, if he can stay fit. He has a strong body as well as pace. It doesn't mean you have a tagger for every game, it will depend on the opposition

[GVGjr]

I think we should have a tagger in the team who can shut down damaging players, especially midfielders who dominate games. One guy that is not too bad as a tagger is Jong, if he can stay fit. He has a strong body as well as pace. It doesn't mean you have a tagger for every game, it will depend on the opposition

I'd question how effective Jong has been in that type of role. Can you spark my memory?

[bornadog]

I'd question how effective Jong has been in that type of role. Can you spark my memory?

I think it may have been under Macca where he played some tagging roles.

I was more thinking he would be the type Bevo could develop into that role.

[Mofra]

We tagged Josh Kennedy in the second half of the GF. Bevo has used Wallis in a run-with role before.
The issue with using a tagger is you are taking a Bont, Dunkley or Macrae out of the centre. That's a lot of ball-winning power to sacrifice just to nullify an opponent.

[GVGjr]

We tagged Josh Kennedy in the second half of the GF. Bevo has used Wallis in a run-with role before.
The issue with using a tagger is you are taking a Bont, Dunkley or Macrae out of the centre. That's a lot of ball-winning power to sacrifice just to nullify an opponent.

I sort of acknowledged that in the opening post. The tagger must be adept in performing a couple of roles
It's more about having the option of moving a player onto an opposition star player. If we are outgunning the opposition then there is no real need to change, in the example where Cripps was getting the better of us then implement plan B

[bornadog]

I sort of acknowledged that in the opening post. The tagger must be adept in performing a couple of roles
It's more about having the option of moving a player onto an opposition star player. If we are outgunning the opposition then there is no real need to change, in the example where Cripps was getting the better of us then implement plan B

The great thing about the Cripps one, is not only did we quell him, but Macrae ended up with 37 disposals himself. That is what I call effective tagging.

[GVGjr]

The great thing about the Cripps one, is not only did we quell him, but Macrae ended up with 37 disposals himself. That is what I call effective tagging.

We learned a lesson from the previous result and planned for it the 2nd time around.

[bornadog]

We learned a lesson from the previous result and planned for it the 2nd time around.

True. My point is a tagger can also be more than just a tagger - Macrae's effort must be one of the best ever tagging performances.

[GVGjr]

True. My point is a tagger can also be more than just a tagger - Macrae's effort must be one of the best ever tagging performances.

In the example of Macrae the problem is that if you do this regularly you will typically limit their effectiveness in the weeks that follow
I wonder how many weeks could play a more tagging based role before it impacted his ball getting ability?

[bornadog]

In the example of Macrae the problem is that if you do this regularly you will typically limit their effectiveness in the weeks that follow
I wonder how many weeks could play a more tagging based role before it impacted his ball getting ability?

I would only be using Macrae as a tagger in exceptional circumstances such as the Cripps example. Cripps is one of the best in the AFL, and maybe not too many can stop him.

[GVGjr]

I would only be using Macrae as a tagger in exceptional circumstances such as the Cripps example. Cripps is one of the best in the AFL, and maybe not too many can stop him.

And this is why I think we need a more specialist tagger albeit with the skills and ability to play a couple of roles.

In days gone by I think Jose Romero was one of our best midfielders who could easily switch between ball getting, hard tags and run with roles during the course of a game. His endurance and focus to the task appeared to be elite

[bornadog]

And this is why I think we need a more specialist tagger albeit with the skills and ability to play a couple of roles.

In days gone by I think Jose Romero was one of our best midfielders who could easily switch between ball getting, hard tags and run with roles during the course of a game. His endurance and focus to the task appeared to be elite

Do you see anyone on the list that can play this role.

[GVGjr]

Do you see anyone on the list that can play this role.

Not really and I don't think we would ask anyone to adapt to that sort of role. It will continue to be Dunkley and Macrae more than a McLean type

[Mofra]

Do you see anyone on the list that can play this role.
Libba.

Wallis as a plan B (I see his primary role as a forward these days).

[Smads57]

I'd go Libba as well given the need for him to have more than one string to his bow when he returns to the team. It also takes him away from having to rest in the the forward line as part of midfield rotations which I don't think has worked for us in the past due to his size and pace.