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ABC News
30 minutes ago
- ABC News
How St Kilda's use of a tagger against Melbourne sparked the AFL's greatest comeback
The tagger is one of the most talked-about roles in footy. Each week, speculation abounds about whether teams will deploy a tagger on the stars of the competition. On Sunday, the tagger was out in force. For the first three quarters, Saint Marcus Windhager toiled after Melbourne's Kysaiah Pickett. In the fourth, the most remarkable comeback in AFL history was completed. For that last quarter, the Saints largely abandoned the tag and focused on attack. A 46-point deficit was wiped off the scoreboard in an instant. That doesn't mean that tagging doesn't work — but it does speak to the situational value of the role. Defining a tagger is tough and working out whether they are effective is even harder. ABC Sport has talked to a range of AFL coaches over the course of the season to try to work out what a tagger is in 2025, and whether they are effective in the modern game. The traditional image of the tag is pretty simple. It is a player standing directly next to a star on-baller, pushing, poking and niggling them prior to a ball-up. The traditional tagger doesn't just stop there — the tagger follows their prey around the ground with indifference to winning the ball themselves. No eyes for the ball, just their target. These days, balance is required between stopping a player and contributing positively as well. These run-with players are deployed situationally by most teams and are expected to contribute on both sides of the ball. Sydney coach Dean Cox has praised the way Swans tagger James Jordon can combine accountability with his own impact on the ball. "The great thing about James is the balance that he does have between 'OK, I need to restrict' but also 'I need to impact when I get the chance as well,'" Cox said. "He's done that numerous times when he's played on an opponent, to be able to try to have shots at goal, or to impact not only by quelling someone's influence." There's a fine line — if there's too much attacking intent, it can open up the defence. GWS regularly deploys Toby Bedford in a variety of roles, including as a tagger. Part of his strength is his ability to counterattack. "It's a hard balance to have — because the more he [Bedford] attacks, chances are his opponent has got a big gap on him and then it's hard to defend," GWS coach Adam Kingsley said earlier this year. The orthodoxy of who to tag has also shifted over the years. While Ron Barassi was once called too creative to tag, these days it's the creative players who draw the most focus. Often, the belief is that if the ball is in the contest, there's little that can be done to prevent first access by the best in the game. Instead, it's the more open ball and work down-field that merits restriction. A player like Pickett — with the ability to break lines when winning the ball on the inside and to do damage with ball in hand — is a prime target of opposition stoppers. In last week's match, this played out to form. For the first three quarters, Pickett was able to win the ball at the contest but had his ability to rack up easy football limited. Despite this, when the tag was broken in the last quarter and St Kilda focused more on winning the ball, Pickett's supply of harder ball dried up. Pickett compiled just one knock-on and three handball receives for the quarter, while the freed Windhager managed five ground-ball gets and four score involvements. There were other major reasons for the comeback, including moving Max Hall into the middle and being more proactive with their ball movement. The total result was a massive turnaround in all facets of the game. It's often hard to work out when a player is being tagged from the outside. Match-up data is patchy at league level and doesn't distinguish between a common match-up, a soft tag or a hard tag. As a result, it's hard to know exactly when players are being tagged without intensive research or unless coaches or players across the league disclose the use of the tactic. Take Brad Scott's explanation after Essendon's loss to GWS in round 19. To most watching the game, a tag was not easily discernible. It also didn't appear to have any impact on Tom Green's monster game, with the Canberran racking up 30 disposals, including 17 contested possessions and 16 clearances. It's tough to assign causation to one player, but when their teams have lost this season, some of the top midfielders in the competition have struggled. Players like Nick Daicos, Caleb Serong, Hugh McCluggage and Jason Horne-Francis have seen their inside 50s drop by a third and their metres gained by about a quarter in losses against wins. Geelong coach Chris Scott explained the idea on Fox Footy earlier this year. "There is a cost to tagging. Very few teams play one-on-one where they think they are going to take out a certain player," Chris Scott said. "Every team prioritises their structures and their set-ups first, but what I will say — no team plays Collingwood and puts no time or effort into stopping Nick Daicos. It all happens on a spectrum." This is exactly why teams tag. Limiting an opposition's best player can have massive impacts on game results. But usually it's hard to work out whether it was the tag or whether the player in question was having an off day. No tactic in football comes without a cost. To get something, clubs have to give something. A tag can also hand over initiative to the opponent, with Craig McRae saying two weeks ago that "you can manipulate the tag a lot". This manipulation of the tag can take several forms. Clubs copping a midfield tag have free rein to decide where the opposing player will be positioned and what parts of the ground they'll be taken to. Often, they'll be moved forward for patches, hoping for a hand-off or a mismatch in the forward line. Against the Saints, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge shifted Bontempelli to the back line to influence the game there. "Marcus played a really selfless game tonight. It meant teammates capitalised on that." Beveridge explained after that Saints game. "He went to half back briefly, he played forward, so that means they have to move their chess pieces around a bit and it can be a bit destabilising" Of course, forcing a star player into a secondary role can often be the victory the tagging club is after. Moving Nick Daicos away from the ball could be the difference in a game. There are also some more direct tactics that can be employed. Teams can also use space at contests to create more space for the other midfielders in a side. This can turn a 3v3 contest at centre bounce into a 2v2 and will allow an easier exit if executed correctly. If a side still wants to focus on getting the tagged player the ball, they can execute blocks to physically force the tagger to switch opponents. This often only works for a matter of seconds, but that can be enough to get the separation required to get the ball headed goalwards. The practical elements of the game aren't the only reasons to tag. In a tough sport where group mentality is one of the great intangibles, some clubs also believe tagging can bring the risk of instilling a negative mindset or distracting players. "Sometimes when you have too many of those things going on, it sends the wrong message to your team," noted Brisbane coach Chris Fagan after they declined to tag in their win over Geelong. "We just came out to play, and that was more because I wanted our players to have a positive mindset." The Lions chose to take a different path around the ball, working positionally to make Cats opponents like Bailey Smith accountable for their own stars. Flipping this accountability on its head is also one of the ways some of the best taggers mitigate many of the drawbacks associated with the tactic. There's also the need to be flexible in-game when applying a tagging role. For GWS, Kingsley often switches up tags mid-game. Other sides move away from tags when they don't look like working. Fremantle's coach explained the idea after the Dockers' landmark comeback victory over the Pies in round 19. "Well, we tried [to tag Daicos]. He [started] at half-back. We actually played better when we dropped the tag. That can happen sometimes. You get caught up in that and it creates a bit of confusion." St Kilda coach Ross Lyon didn't place much focus on the dropping of the tag in the wake of their win. "I think it's a part of giving you a different mix. There's no doubt about that. When you're coming from behind, as an old coach taught me, you've got to do everything right and you've got to take your opportunities. Clearly, we did that, didn't we?" Like all things in football, the tagger isn't a golden bullet. But it also isn't likely to disappear fully any time soon.
News.com.au
30 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Godolphin kicks off new training era with trial victories for Michael Freedman
Godolphin's life after James Cummings got off to a winning start at the Rosehill Gardens barrier trials on Tuesday morning. Randwick trainer Michael Freedman won two trials for the blue army with new additions to his yard – Polyglot and Ohope. 'They have a depth of a lot of nice horses, and these are the first couple they sent to me in the changeover,' Freedman said. 'Polyglot has pretty good, exposed form. They haven't rushed him, he's been given all the time in the world so hopefully we'll be the beneficiary of that. 'He seems to have come back in nice order and is ready to go in the next couple of weeks. 'I spoke to James about Ohope the other week and he said he's always given a good impression, just taken a bit of time. 'He still did a few little things wrong today, but he has his share of ability.' Chris Waller also trialled a couple of his Godolphin recruits with quality mare Commemorative producing an eye-catching third while her stablemate Burma Star also rounded out the placings in his trial. 1⃣ Spring Lee 2⃣ General Salute 3⃣ Commemorative An all the way win for the @BBakerRacing mare in a 900m trial at Rosehill on Tuesday. Also trialling were Anisette, Gatsby's and Powers Of Opal. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 28, 2025 Meanwhile, Freedman revealed Golden Slipper winner Marhoona was likely to bypass the Silver Shadow Stakes in August with the trainer leaning to the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 9 a likely starting point. 'She's coming along slowly,' he said. 'I'll probably let the Silver Shadow go being set weights and penalties. 'Being a Group 1 winner, she would get a three-kilo penalty in that so I think we will wait and kick her off in the Furious at set weights. 'She's grown, strengthened and seems good. 'She'll either have her first trial next Tuesday at Randwick or there are sets at Warwick Farm and Rosehill the Friday and Monday after that. We've got a bit of time so we're not in a rush.' • Richard Callander: Can we please now step up instead of tear down? Sydney's first Stakes race of the new season is the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9 and an emphatic trial win on Tuesday has Bjorn Baker giving thought to an ambitious first-up assault with his progressive mare Perfumist. The rising four-year-old was trialling for the second time and she never gave her opposition a look in, leading throughout to score by 9-1/4 lengths from her Sydney Cup -winning stablemate Arapaho and The Metropolitan winner Land Legend in a 1000m course proper trial. 'I know they were stayers behind her but she looked pretty good to the eye,' Baker said. 'My original plan was to kick her off in a Benchmark 88 over 1200m on August 16 but more and more I'm thinking about giving her a shot in the Missile seven days prior. 'She's a mare without black-type, it's a Group 2 and it might be worth having a throw at the stumps being so early in the season.' "This is going to be an exhibition." Easy work for @BBakerRacing mare Perfumist as she wins a 1000m Rosehill trial on Tuesday over Group 1 winners Arapaho and Land Legend. @tabcomau — Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 28, 2025 Baker was also pleased with the first trial performance of his three-time winning and Group 1-placed filly Within The Law. One horse that will be lining up in the Missile Stakes (1200m) is the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou -trained General Salute which finished second in his 900m trial. 'I'm really happy with how he is going,' Ryan said. 'He trialled terrific, action was great, looks well and is strong than he's ever been. 'I'm really looking forward to his next run. I think he's really going well at the moment.' Ryan also indicated his talented new season three-year-olds Skyhook  and Blitzburg will represent the stable in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16. Blitzburg won a trial on Tuesday while Skyhook finished second.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Miserly Aussies need 171 for West Indies clean sweep
Australia need 171 runs to complete a clean sweep of their West Indies cricket tour after restricting the home team to their lowest score across the five T20Is. Incredibly, Australia won all eight tosses across the two-format tour, and for the fifth time in as many T20I games they put West Indies in to bat. A clatter of wickets early and late in their innings at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts, meant they were unable to post a big score on the small ground, dismissed for 170 In the last over. Shimron Hetmyer (52 off 31) was their most effective batter before falling to Sean Abbott's good low running catch at long-off. Sherfane Rutherford (35 off 17) looked in great touch and hit a booming six over extra cover off Abbott, but was bowled by Glenn Maxwell as he stepped away to cut. All six Australian bowlers took at least one wicket. West Indies lost three wickets in the first five overs despite having Brandon King dropped on six by Maxwell at mid-on. . Recalled left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis (3-41) bowled Shai Hope after being struck for successive boundaries, then had King caught at mid-on. Allrounder Aaron Hardie had Keacy Carty taken at deep midwicket by Maxwell. The home side again fell away badly in the closing overs, losing their last four wickets for just 15 runs. Adam Zampa (1-20 off three) marked his 100th T20I by bowling Alzarri Joseph in the 19th over, though he also had a catch dropped by Mitchell Owen four balls later. Australia need 171 runs to complete a clean sweep of their West Indies cricket tour after restricting the home team to their lowest score across the five T20Is. Incredibly, Australia won all eight tosses across the two-format tour, and for the fifth time in as many T20I games they put West Indies in to bat. A clatter of wickets early and late in their innings at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts, meant they were unable to post a big score on the small ground, dismissed for 170 In the last over. Shimron Hetmyer (52 off 31) was their most effective batter before falling to Sean Abbott's good low running catch at long-off. Sherfane Rutherford (35 off 17) looked in great touch and hit a booming six over extra cover off Abbott, but was bowled by Glenn Maxwell as he stepped away to cut. All six Australian bowlers took at least one wicket. West Indies lost three wickets in the first five overs despite having Brandon King dropped on six by Maxwell at mid-on. . Recalled left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis (3-41) bowled Shai Hope after being struck for successive boundaries, then had King caught at mid-on. Allrounder Aaron Hardie had Keacy Carty taken at deep midwicket by Maxwell. The home side again fell away badly in the closing overs, losing their last four wickets for just 15 runs. Adam Zampa (1-20 off three) marked his 100th T20I by bowling Alzarri Joseph in the 19th over, though he also had a catch dropped by Mitchell Owen four balls later. Australia need 171 runs to complete a clean sweep of their West Indies cricket tour after restricting the home team to their lowest score across the five T20Is. Incredibly, Australia won all eight tosses across the two-format tour, and for the fifth time in as many T20I games they put West Indies in to bat. A clatter of wickets early and late in their innings at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts, meant they were unable to post a big score on the small ground, dismissed for 170 In the last over. Shimron Hetmyer (52 off 31) was their most effective batter before falling to Sean Abbott's good low running catch at long-off. Sherfane Rutherford (35 off 17) looked in great touch and hit a booming six over extra cover off Abbott, but was bowled by Glenn Maxwell as he stepped away to cut. All six Australian bowlers took at least one wicket. West Indies lost three wickets in the first five overs despite having Brandon King dropped on six by Maxwell at mid-on. . Recalled left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis (3-41) bowled Shai Hope after being struck for successive boundaries, then had King caught at mid-on. Allrounder Aaron Hardie had Keacy Carty taken at deep midwicket by Maxwell. The home side again fell away badly in the closing overs, losing their last four wickets for just 15 runs. Adam Zampa (1-20 off three) marked his 100th T20I by bowling Alzarri Joseph in the 19th over, though he also had a catch dropped by Mitchell Owen four balls later.
