North's Scott Thompson weighs in on 'tunnelling' tacticsDaniel Cherny
The Age
September 11, 2015Richmond's key defenders came under fire for alleged "tunnelling" tactics, but ahead of his side's final with the Tigers, North Melbourne full-back Scott Thompson says he employs similar means to his defensive rivals.
Tigers' backmen Alex Rance and Troy Chaplin were the subject of media scrutiny due to the way in which they played against North forwards Drew Petrie and Ben Brown in last Friday night's clash between the two sides at Etihad Stadium. It was suggested that the Tigers had deliberately pushed their opponents under the ball during a number of contests, leaving the Roos vulnerable to injury.
However Thompson came out in support of the Tigers defenders ahead of Sunday's elimination final this week, with positional ties seemingly just as strong as the intraclub bond.
"I haven't really seen too much of it. I heard about it. As a defender, I can't really say anything. I probably do it myself," Thompson said before the Roos' training session at Arden Street on Thursday afternoon.
"So our forwards have obviously seen it and they'll work through it. If they try it again, I'm sure Drew Petrie and Ben Brown have something to combat it.
"I don't think it's tunnelling if you get your hands on the ball, it's just body work.
"It's AFL, so you want a physical contest. If they're still going for the ball I don't see anything wrong with it."
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