Tackling a fine line: Wallace (Age)

[one-eyed]

A fine line: Tiger coach
Rod Curtis | August 6, 2008

RICHMOND coach Terry Wallace said players had to learn to tread a "line" between a tackle that would be applauded for its intensity or condemned for its aggression.

"It is a difficult line. We had Luke McGuane earlier in the year when we played St Kilda, who threw Nick Riewoldt to the ground," Wallace said.

"(Riewoldt) ended up missing games because his leg was slung and got injured. If that was a head, McGuane was probably out suspended, but it being a leg, he didn't get any suspension, even though they both had the potential of doing injury to the opposition player. That's how tight the line is."

Wallace said Melbourne Storm's Robbie Kearns had assisted in coaching the Tigers on "technique", and while players were encouraged to aggressively pin an opponents' arms — ensuring they could not get a handball away — all footballers now knew that slinging an opponent into the turf was "taboo".

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/a-fine-line-tiger-coach/2008/08/05/1217702044163.html

[Stripes]

When we started tackling and TW began to drop players for not tackling it was the catayst for turning our season around. The pressure tackling puts on opposition players, directly and indirectly, is a major influence on clangers, spoils and turn-overs during a game. Last week we were outmuscled and physically intimidated with tackling to turn the ball over which often resulted in an easy goal to the Cats.

So regardless of the 'Spear-tackle' debate, teams that are aggressive and seek to hunt and hurt the opposition to pressure and turn the ball over win games. If we are to continue to march up the ladder we have to not just concern ourselves with our skill level and run and carry game plan but also we need to continue to be physical -tackle, shepherd and block.

Stripes