Tackling within the AFLW has hit an all-time excessive this season after rising steadily over the previous 4 seasons.
It’s the good storm of established sides utilising strain to search out success and newly-added groups basing their model round tackling.
Six rounds in to season seven, 72.2 per cent of sides are averaging 60 or extra tackles per recreation, the very best in competitors historical past and a big shift from the 42.9 per cent of groups in season six earlier this 12 months. Because of this, common sort out and tackle-inside-50 counts throughout the board have elevated to all-time highs this season.
Break up into two camps, some high-pressure sides like Brisbane have set the bar for the competitors and problem deep into finals, whereas others, resembling growth groups Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, use strain to slender the margin between themselves and people who are extra established.
The leaders of the pack
Presently sitting on prime of the ladder, Brisbane is setting a brand new commonplace for strain this season, notably within the ahead half. The Lions common 71.7 tackles per recreation, equal-second in competitors historical past, with 19.2 of these laid inside 50.
Due to this elite strain recreation, the Lions are conceding a mean of simply 20.2 inside 50s, the bottom in competitors historical past and, in flip, solely 19.8 factors in opposition to every recreation.
Given the way in which ladder share works, conceding fewer factors can do extra to extend a group’s share than its personal rating does, and Brisbane’s 288.2 per cent is essential in conserving them in rivalry for the highest 4 come season’s finish.
The Lions are additionally conceding the second fewest disposals of any facet this season, permitting their opponents simply 189.5 touches per recreation.
However Brisbane this season isn’t the primary facet to make use of strain as a key tactic for fulfillment. Final season they averaged the ninth most tackles in competitors historical past and have merely doubled down on that this time round.
As well as, Fremantle’s preliminary remaining group of final season and its undefeated 2020 facet averaged the fifth and sixth most tackles in AFLW historical past respectively.
Excessive strain and tackling isn’t the one manner for elite groups to attain success, however it’s one thing groups can construct an identification on.
Narrowing the hole
The opposite key sort of group that focuses closely on tackling is one that’s nonetheless within the technique of discovering its ft and wanting to remain in contact with its extra skilled opponents.
When talking to the media through the week, West Coast captain Emma Swanson indicated as such, saying matching Richmond’s proficient midfield group “will come off the again of strain”.
This season probably the most obvious examples of this model of play are Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, who’re averaging greater than 70 tackles per recreation.
Usually dropping the disposal depend, growing groups like Hawthorn and Port Adelaide’s first port of name to win possession again is to harass the ball provider, making use of strain and laying tackles. However to do that successfully, the entire group should purchase in and implement that strain recreation throughout the size of the sector.
Every of those rising sides boast gamers within the prime 10 for tackles this season. Port Adelaide duo Jacqui Yorston (54) and Maria Moloney (44), and Hawks captain Tilly Lucas-Rodd (52) lead their respective groups.
As well as, 100 per cent of gamers from either side who’ve performed a minimum of one recreation this season have laid a minimum of one sort out, indicating the team-wide purchase in.
If achieved effectively, as each the Hawks and Energy have at occasions this season, an air of unpredictability is added to the sport, which might scale back the effectivity and system of extra skilled opponents and open the door for a much less established facet to generate a few of its personal management.
With the addition of 4 growth groups to the competitors this season, rebuilding present groups like West Coast and St Kilda and a dominant Brisbane at its peak, tackling is at an all-time excessive, however with a view to execute completely different methods.
For the established sides, that tackling strain is about producing scoreboard dominance. In the meantime, for rising groups, it’s all about limiting the effectivity of stronger opponents.
