I WAS always taught that tackling was an attitude thing. If you wanted to do it, you did it. And if you wanted to be mean and hurt, then you threw in some aggro and spite. Intent was more important than technique. Years ago, there were thousands of crude tackling attempts that gave away an abundance of free kicks. But it was accepted because the fierceness shown and the black eyes and broken noses that resulted were considered par for the course.

Not now, though, as specialist tackling coaches are employed by all clubs. Now all players are expected to be able to tackle effectively without giving away free kicks. In fact, players are taught to tackle to win free kicks. Forwards, who for years deemed tackling to be low on their priority order, now have it rammed down their throats that unless they tackle with great intensity, they won't be selected.

Proof of this changing dynamic in football was no more evident than what we saw in the round just gone. Collingwood on Friday night put on the best tackling display I had ever seen. The Magpies completely rattled the premiers and previously undefeated Cats with an onslaught of ferocious tackling. It started at the opening bounce and finished on the final siren when Paul Medhurst kicked a goal from a free kick he earned when he dispossessed a hapless Cat with a super-strong body tackle. The Pies had 85 tackles to Geelong's 49.

Come Saturday afternoon and the game is in the balance at Telstra Dome. Once again, fragile Fremantle leads at the start of the final quarter. Once again, it loses.

The Dockers had set themselves a target of 60 tackles for the game. In the nail-biting last 14 minutes of the contest, the Dockers don't lay one tackle. The Blues put on seven. The most significant is put on by full-forward Brendan Fevola, who runs down from behind a lazy Brett Peake. "Fev" earns a most unlikely free. The Carlton fans rise out of their seats in delight. The Dockers hearts sink. The Blues triumph. Carlton finishes the game with 70 tackles, the Dockers fall well short of their goal with 43. Their two highest-paid and profiled players, Matthew Pavlich and Peter Bell, between them, don't put on a tackle for the game.

Now it's onto the MCG for the Dreamtime game. Richmond's intensity and tackling pressure is too much for the young Bombers to withstand. The Tigers apply 65 tackles, the second-highest tally they have ever recorded. Nathan Foley is best afield. He has the most disposals with 32 and, quite significantly, he also records the most tackles for the game, with eight. Playing up forward for Richmond are the experienced Joel Bowden and Kayne Pettifer. Both have spent a month playing for Coburg. Both now know that unless they change their ways and tackle with purpose and passion, their careers will be terminated. The expectations on all players to work extremely hard when they haven't got the ball has never been greater.

Now it's Sunday and back to the 'G. Melbourne is considered no hope against the Hawks. But the desire is there. Dean Bailey's boys play with a grunt that earns everyone's respect. They are gallant in a 19-point loss. The tackle count at game's end has the Demons on 67, which is 15 up on the Hawks.

Beside me at the MCG is a television showing the Brisbane Lions-St Kilda clash at the Gabba. Leigh Matthews' desperadoes put on 58 tackles. Ross Lyon's lambs eke out a meek 33, the lowest tally of the round. Key forwards and big names Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt have no tackles. Midfield runners Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Montagna and Adam Schneider have a total of two between them. They should be embarrassed to look Lenny Hayes and Robert Harvey in the eye.

So if ever a round of football showed us the importance of tackling, it was this one. Now, mentally and physically soft players have nowhere to hide as the game is scrutinised so closely.