THE INTERCHANGE> HOW TO PL AY tackling with intent When it comes to tackling, the Swans have some of the best. Howard Kotton speaks to one of them, .

hen star the league background and Jude Bolton is that’s helped them. We get a lot about to lay a of training from some of the , his major union and league coaches. Wfocus is on his opponent’s hips. “Our tackling coach Les Kiss “You try to look for the hips. has done a lot of work with us in That’s the base, that’s where terms of tackling from behind. you know they’ll be moving You have to be able to twist them, from,” Bolton said. “If you take turn them and roll with them, your focus off the hips, you can so you’re not just charging in sometimes be (side-)stepped.” and giving away a free kick. Bolton was renowned as a fine “For me, a lot of tackling is tackler before he joined the Swans intent. Technique might take from TAC Cup team Calder about 20 per cent of it and intent Cannons in 1999. takes up the rest, in terms of just The blond Swan has laid the desire to make that tackle and the fourth-most tackles in the make it stick. The technique is League this season with 72. Only really your icing on the cake.” teammate (74) and Bolton, who plays his 200th St Kilda pair (76) and game against at (74) have made more. Manuka Oval this weekend, said Two of Bolton’s younger tackling skills have become more teammates, and Paul important in the AFL this season. Bevan, come from “I think it’s definitely stepped backgrounds and the hard- up another level,” Bolton said. working midfielder marvels at “I just want to make sure I’m not their tackling skills. missing too many tackles, so that “They go at a million miles an you’re giving your teammates the hour in their desire to make the best opportunity of winning the tackle,” Bolton said. “They’ve got ball back.” ■

Part 6 of a series on how to Play the game – tackling eyes focused low and Strong ARMS PINNED free ball basic roles Bolton has his eyes focused Staying low to ensure that the Bolton has pinned Bartel’s left The tackle has caused the ball Tackling takes practice, appropriate supervision and good coaching. on the hips of the opponent tackle is made at the correct elbow and is using both arms to spill free giving Bolton or a (Geelong’s ) height (around the waist), to pull his opponent strongly teammate an opportunity to take There are three angles from which players can tackle – front, side and carrying the ball and is going Bolton’s left arm is moving to into his body and is beginning to possession and create a turnover. behind. Think of all the good tacklers in Australian Football and the first 1in low to make the tackle. As Bartel is 2wrap around Bartel’s body and left arm 3drop his weight to drag his opponent down. 4(If the player is judged to have had prior turning to evade the tackle, Bolton has which is controlling the ball. Bolton says The effect of the tackle has caused Bartel opportunity, a free kick would result for not thing you realise is that they want to tackle when they know they can’t gripped his body at waist level with his that when he is about to tackle, his major to begin losing control of the ball as he immediately disposing of the ball with a kick win the ball or an opponent has the ball. The essence to good tackling, right hand. focus is on his opponent’s hips. hurriedly attempts to handball. or handball when tackled correctly). like all team play, is to want to do it and know how to do it. • Technical advice in this series courtesy of the AFL Development Department.

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