The Buck Stops Here.
Nathan Buckley has gone through his five biggest takeaways from the weekend of footy.
He has touched on North Melbourne, Nick Daicos, Sydney, Geelong’s defence and Will Hayes.
Pressure valve on North players released
“Emotion plays a massive role in performance.
“This isn’t a David Noble versus Leigh Adams story. They showed some real go, some pressure, there was some energy, but that was there the week before against Collingwood as well.
“I reckon the real reason that players and playing groups perform so well when a decision like the David Noble decision is made, it takes a weight off your shoulders.
“Walking into the club every time with that pressure on your senior coach with the scrutiny and expectation on your group – you’re failing, you’re falling short – it takes a lot away from the top end of what you’re able to contribute physically, emotionally and mentally. It takes a lot of energy to handle that.
“As soon as you take that load off the shoulders, all of a sudden, you’ve got a free hit.
“I don’t think it’s got anything to do with the coaching at all. It’s got a lot to do with the emotional load that those players have carried, and they’re a young group. We can’t underestimate the impact of the pressure that is brought to bear by poor performance or by questions about leadership.
“As soon as that’s removed, it doesn’t really matter who steps in, the players themselves are freed up to have a crack and we saw that against Richmond on the weekend.”
Daicos continues to amaze
“He’s amazing.
“Take the rookie tag away, his talent and his skill is at the top echelon in the game. There’s only a handful of players that can do the things that he’s doing, especially in the last month.
“He’s gone and impacted the result of games, tight games, three of the last four games.
“He’s moved roles. The goal that he set up to his brother at Gold Coast, kicked a goal himself against North Melbourne … that was a five-point game. To have 40 and kick three, you have to say that you’ve significantly influenced the match.
“His capacity to find that extra half step to make the right decision at the right time, clearly he’s got an engine under there that keeps him going as well because he looks like he’s moving just as well in the last 10 minutes as he is in the first 10, and he’s close to the top 20 disposals for whatever disposals are worth, his are worth plenty because he doesn’t waste one.
“He’s in the top echelon and that’s saying something already.”
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Has the penny dropped for Swans?
“Have they found their mojo?
“In the last three weeks they’ve beaten the Dogs, Freo and St Kilda, but then again, they’ve lost to Port Adelaide and Essendon since the bye.
“I think this team has the capacity … I reckon they’re an eight-cylinder car going at five cylinders at the moment.
“And it makes sense because they’re a younger side so there’s still going to be some ups and downs, but they’re potentially scary good and I wonder whether the penny has dropped for them in the last couple of weeks.
“They’re in striking distance of the top four.
“If they get a double chance and they find their mojo, they’re going to be a really dangerous team in September.”
Geelong’s defence continues to stand up
“What they’ve done since Tom Stewart going down has been even more impressive.
“They’re the best, and have been, the best defensive side in the competition for a long time.
“The talk of their more aggressive (ball) use is in my view overrated. They’re a defence first team.
“They’ve only allowed 59 points in the last five games. They’re the third best defence in the competition at the moment and by the end of the year they’ll be number one.
“That’s where they cut their teeth.”
Blue’s suspension for sling tackle
“When I saw the decision on Will Hayes … I cannot for the life of me understand what Will Hayes was expected to do in that situation.
“Will Hayes has worked bloody hard to come back in and play his first game at a second club. He’s been on the fringe a lot, he’s obviously a hard worker, he would be respected by his teammates, he’s come in and laid a tackle early in his first game for his second club.
“He lays a tackle that happens to result in a concussion of the player that gets tackled in Sam Menegola, and he’s slapped with two games.
“I don’t know what he’s expected to do. I don’t know how culpable Will Hayes should be in that instance. Other than not tackle at all, what can the kid do?
“I hope they challenge it. There weren’t two actions.
“You could lay that tackle 100 times and 98 times there’s no concussions. You get two weeks for a 2 out of 100 situation and it’s a free kick for 98 of the 100.
“What do we expect a player in Will Hayes’ position to do? In Will Hayes’ case, this could end his career.
“You could have another young Carlton player who comes in and takes his opportunity and we never see Will Hayes again.
“These are situations we need to consider.”