Dees take tackling to new league

MELBOURNE is reaping the rewards of weekly tackling sessions with martial arts expert John Donehue.

The Melbourne Storm tackling coach has been enlisted by Demons coach Simon Goodwin and ramped up training in recent weeks to steel the Dees for the finals assault.

It paid dividends last Friday night, with extreme and relentless tackling pressure the blueprint for Melbourne’s droughtbreaking elimination final win over Geelong.

The Demons bullied the Cats into submission, laying 88 tackles with Jack Viney (11) and James Harmes (10) the chief rib-rattlers.

Donehue has introduced AFL-specific tackling techniques and cues but also leant on his vast 16-year Storm NRL experience to bone up the Demons in one-on-one situations.

“It’s just different with AFL because it’s 360 degrees,” Donehue said.

“A few different challenges presented, more open space, more of that one-on-one type situation which was probably what you’re going to find more in the NRL . . . tackling from behind, the side.

“The contact side of it and the intent of it doesn’t change.

“It’s taken a while (to bed down) because it’s something they haven’t done a lot of in the past.

“The boys have really taken to it, they’ve been great, receptive, and really good to work with.”