Tagging? Should something be done?

Question

Kerr has had players hanging off him

Ablett copped it against freo

The forwards get free kicks if a defender just touches them in the back, and we have players hanging off stars, preventing them running and so on... should something be done????

Answer 1

Its gone on for years, it will continue long after we have all left the planet, players just have to deal with it or do what greg williams used to do.

Answer 2

No...it is a test of a players mental strength.

Paul Kelly, Peter Daicos & Craig Bradley were ALWAYS tagged, but they never retaliated.

Some players have control over their emotions, but some are just 'Wayne Kerr's'

Answer 3

No its the only physical part of the game left

Answer 4

I think taggers such as Kane Cornes and Cameron Ling do a great job and it's intriguing to see how the big name players try to combat it.

However, some things such as the treatment that Ablett copped against Fremantle needs to be looked it because that's not in the spirit of the game at all.

Answer 5

Yes.

The scragging tagging that is done nowdays is ridiculous. Dumb umpires have no idea how to control it. They'd much rather concentrate on giving free kicks in front of goals for minor in the back offences.

Answer 6

Personally I hate it.  That players would rather stop someone getting a kick then get one themselves.  Or maybe they, or the coaches, have resigned themselves to the fact they'll never be as good as the person they're tagging?  To me it's just another negative aspect of the game that's crept in and been ignored by the powers that be.  Invented by coaches who know their sides are c**p, they'll do anything to stop big losses.  Even if it means ruining the game itself.  Milking the clock and flooding are having the same impact.  Until something gets done,  our great game will never be as fast or as exciting as it was a decade or so ago.

Answer 7

Yeah it must be frustrating, annoying and if yr having a bad day, totalling obnoxious!

Personally I would lose the plot but then I didnt choose AFL as a career..

I believe its become a strategy of the game and it goes part and parcel..

I tune in to watch footy not ballet or ping pong..

Oh and by the way.. I didnt hear swans squealling, "Staker was scragging, boo hoo" when Hall decked him...

Why?

Cos its part of the game, barry shoulda controlled his temper and he took his punishment and apologised like the big boy he is!

Get over it kerr..

Answer 8

If one team insists on spraypainting graffitti on the other team's players then that is technically assault, and a matter for the Police, not the game's officials.

Answer 9

There's a difference between tagging and scragging

What has been happening is scragging ie hanging on, hitting, shepherding, nipple cripples, holding

Tagging is simply staying close to your opponent eg Hudghton on Lloyd last week.

Scragging occurs where you are not good enough to keep you opponent down so you have to hang onto him

Scragging should be stamped out

.

Answer 10

Stop whining and enjoy the greatest game.

Answer 11

Yes.

I agree with what Asterix has said ..... very well said!

Answer 12

i agree with imawannbe

staker got what he deserved

Answer 13

i like it

if you dont

got to netball

Answer 14

Yes, something should be done.

In the good old days - if a person did that to a player, one of the persons team-mates (generally a big bloke) would whack him good & proper. That stopped taggers scragging! The only solution, really.

Answer 15

Aussie RULES,..the word "farce"should be included.   A defender can't touch a forward, "but a tagger can do as he wishes"..THATS A FARCE!...there are 3 umpires , 1 at least should be instructed to look for infringements against  midfielders.

Answer 16

you have to mate, im an adelaide supporter and im soo d**n glad that Shirley held judd to just 15 disposals cause he looked like blowing the game open. You have to tag to win a game of footy, its a part of the game.

But in reference to ablett and kerr, i mean is it just them who cannot handle being tagged, look at players like judd and buckley, two absolute superstars in there time, but they had the discipline and ability to not worry about this type of "tagging" and still managed to destroy teams.