Having a "Tagger" to tag down the elite players, Is that a good thing for our great game or not?

Question

Wouldn't it be great if the likes of Judd, Ablett, Goodes, McLeod, Buckley, Voss,Hird and so on... can run around, play their natural game and not worry about some guy with lesser skills to "tag, stop and pull"

I think its ruined the game...but I understand it's part of the opposition's tactics to slow the impact of the elite player in question.

Answer 1

Taggers are just a natural evolution of the game, a means to combat players who if you left alone would run amock and kick your backside. The response? Close them down with someone who can run with them everywhere, harrass them at every opportunity, get inside their head and generally limit their game. If the tagged were any good they'd be able to shake a tagger. I use to love watching Tony Woods, a 'guy with lesser skills', just harrass and scrag his opponent all day whilst racking up a few kicks himself.

Answer 2

That's not so new Kev, been used way back also.....like Barry Harrison on Barassi in the '58 GF.



But I agree, it has become an important part of today's game. It can work both ways...attempting to blanket players like Judd and Ablett out of the game, can open space and create opportunities for other players.



And there are not so many great taggers in the game....plenty have been tried and some messed it up badly.



The game has a lot of changes....sometimes I wonder if the traditional full forward....a player with limited ball winning skills, will still be needed, in the near future.

Answer 3

Ye, but its a smart tactic, and even if we change the rule now, it will still happen now that we no about it. And teams could just say their not "Tagging" and just playing on an opponent, coz it would be pretty stupid to let a dynamite player run around with no-one 2 stop him, see where im comin from

Answer 4

It is part of the reasoning behind why our game has increased in skill levels.

Why is AFL more faster?

Our best midfielders need a way to get away from our games best taggers.

Why is AFL more skillful now?

Our best midfielders need to break their way out of taggers. Takes skill and a good knowledge of the game. Not an easy skill to develop.

Answer 5

Pre-interchange a coach could try player after player on the opposition "big gun" to shut him out and he couldn't get away from it. Now the coach'll just bench him for a couple of minutes to break the tag

then sneak him back on immediatly the tagger heads for the interchange bench.

Answer 6

I don't have a problem with it mate, i reckon the players you named and more like them have the ability and skill to break tags every week, that's why they are the elite players, I like to watch them at stoppages especially to see how they get rid of taggers.

Answer 7

Hows it ruined the game?

It is a strong tactic used to shut down gun players.



But I do agree with you that the taggers pull and grab their opponents far too much, and this goes unnoticed by the umpires.

Answer 8

I think it is, I mean even in the NBA you have to get your match ups right.

I mean a player can not be classed as a tagger and still keep the likes of those players to minimal possestions

Answer 9

It's a tactic that has been going on since the game started. It's part of the game to see how the stars react. If they're good enough it won't have any impact.

Answer 10

if they`re good enough