Tackling 2025

[G-Mo77]

Has anyone else noticed our tackling numbers lately? I think we had something like 51 on the weekend, and the commentators mentioned it was pretty low against Sydney too.

Early in the season it felt like our pressure and tackling were solid, though maybe they weren’t? Either way, I’m not so sure now. I don’t usually dive too deep into stats, but higher tackle numbers generally feel like a good sign of effort and when they’re low, it feels like the intensity isn’t where it should be. Obviously, stats don’t tell the full story, but still.

So, do you reckon our tackling and overall pressure has dropped off in the last few weeks? I know we've had some big wins, which can make it harder to gauge, but the Sydney game felt like we were just cruising, and against Adelaide the missed tackles really stood out to me.

FYI. We are currently ranked 16th overall, 17th is Brisbane who are flying so there you go?

Curious what others think.

[azabob]

At the game on the weekend it was extremely noticeable Adelaide were just walking through our tackles.

It will be interesting to see how we respond against the lions as the players have come out and said they were called soft by the coaching staff.

[DOG GOD]

I’ve always thought we’ve been a poor tackling team, either we can’t hold tackles, or can’t shrug them. I guess it depends which team has the ball, but I’ve said for awhile I’d love to see a tackling coach part of our coaching regime. It’s particularly noticeable against the top teams with the big bodied mids…Rowell, Newcombe, Neale, berry, Dangerfield, Tom green, etc etc

[Bornadog]

One reason for low tackling numbers is we have the ball more than any other team ie ranked #1 for disposals.

The guys that couldn't tackle properly on Saturday were Dolan, Hynes, and VDM plus Coffield missed a few.
They need to put on some muscle.

[Eastdog]

Very noticeable at the game and a lot of people around me were saying that.

A big reason we struggle defensively and the opposition gets through us.

[Scorlibo]

We have had a few bad patches this year with missed tackles. The guys need to play with a bit of aggression, be prepared to give away a few free kicks in the process of taking a body. A free against in a tackle is typically a slow play for the oppo, a missed tackle and everything can unwind quickly.

The knock-on effect of missed tackles is that it makes pressure worthless. Where's the pressure in an approaching witches hat?

[kruder]

The frontal pressure at the ball carrier has dropped off significantly, actually there isn't much front pressure right now. We have been a poor tackling side under Bevo for a long stretch and for the most part a poor defensive side.

[Uninformed]

Ed Richards said they would be doing lots of contested work at training because Adelaide were just walking through our tackles. He said 'they made us look stupid!' His words.