The role of the tagger in an AFL team is important, but are they getting away with breaking the rules when it comes to stopping the big guns of the competition?
Brent Macaffer went straight to Richmond superstar Trent Cotchin on Friday night. He hardly left his side for the remainder of the night, restricting Cotchin to just 13 disposals.
Macaffer annoyed Cotchin to a point that I’ve never seen before. It takes a lot for Cotchin to lose his cool, but he did on Friday night. He was beyond frustrated with the treatment he was receiving. Cotchin fought back late in the match, wrestling Macaffer and standing up for himself and his team, but it was a case of too little, too late.
Macaffer was touching, blocking and holding onto Cotchin all night long. Was Macaffer breaking the rules? I certainly think so.
Macaffer certainly isn’t the first tagger to employ these tactics – the name Ryan Crowley should ring a bell.
Macaffer did his job, and I’m sure Nathan Buckley was beyond pleased with the way his midfielder played. What I don’t understand is why a tagger is allowed to grab onto his opponent and a backman isn’t.
As soon as a defender even touches his opponent the whistle is blown. A small jumper grab or hold of the arm is enough for the umpire to award a free kick. Surely the rules should be the same for every player, regardless of the position they play.
The tactics of most taggers are the same. Hold onto and block your opponent, and hope the umpires don’t see. Macaffer did this, and luckily for him and Collingwood the umpires weren’t aware of it for the majority of the match.
The role of the tagger is an ugly one. They don’t necessarily want the ball – they just want to stop the best player on the opposing team.
While I think this role is necessary, what I don’t think should be tolerated is the blatant overstepping of rules by most taggers.
If you can’t beat your opponent fairly, you’re simply not good enough and that’s the way it should be. I respect a tagger that outworks his opponent – what I don’t respect is a tagger who has to break the rules to help his team.
Brent Macaffer clearly overstepped the boundaries of fair play on Friday night. I hope sooner rather than later, the umpires wake up to what has been and is still going on around the league.
Gordon smith
Guest
You can not compare Crowley with Baker. Crowley is a fair player notwithstanding him getting fined on the unsubstantiated word of an angry opponent he toweled up one day.
Cat
Roar Guru
That was stupid of shuey ...
DJW
Guest
Shuey had a Saint tagging him all game last week, really niggly. Shuey ended up snapping and getting suspended.
John Ascenzo
Guest
Shepherding or holding is only ok when the ball is within 5 metres. If that rule was followed then it would be a better game for all.
AzzaM
Guest
I agree, as bad as it was watching Macaffer have no interest in the footy only stopping Cotch - the onus is on team mates to help out and stop him. Michael Voss said when he was copping it rough he would have the Scott brothers, Martin Pike and Browny all letting the tagger know what was going to happen to them. Vossy said his Lion team mates would "terrorise" the tagger. Sadly the Tigers look like they are lacking that team quality and willingness to do what is required. Too many players pointing at others, playing for free's and lifting their heads to the sky when things don't fall in their lap. Stop the kid stuff and get about playing hard football - and stand up for your captain.
Cat
Roar Guru
I think its when tagging turns into nasty like Crowley or Steven Baker used to do that it become a problem. Guthrie for Geelong this year has shown tagging doesn't have to be all negative
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Nothing wrong with touching or blocking as long as your eyes are on the footy. Holding is outside of the rules but as a tagger you run the risk of getting penalised for it. The tagger is an important role in the game and most sides have one, without them players like Gary Ablett would go unmarked each week racking up 40 possessions. Just because a star player doesn't like it doesn't mean it's wrong, it's up to them to break the tag. If anything Cotchin should be filthy that his team mates didn't come and give him a chop out.
JB
Guest
I agree Hayley, it's an ugly side to the game.
Cat
Roar Guru
Cotchin for 5 frees for on the night, the most of anyone on the ground, he was looked at by the umps, just not by his own teammates. Best way to get a tagger to stop hanging on is make them pay when they give away a free, Cotchin never made Macaffer pay.