The value of a perfectly laid tackle has never been greater. With coaches intent on developing players that can dispossess their opponents and lock the ball inside 50, it is a skill that is increasingly becoming one that players cannot get by without.

CTV has chosen five of Collingwood’s best tackles of the year with a slight twist. The fifth is a compilation of the tackles applied by several Magpies during the win over Essendon in round 19. The Pies put the Bombers under pressure from the get-go and it set a high watermark for the team’s ability to apply pressure in 2014.

1. Jamie Elliott
Refused to give North Melbourne’s Shaun Atley an inch in round one, spinning him 360 degrees in the tackle.

2. Ben Sinclair
Swooped on Carlton’s Tom Bell and ran him down from behind to help keep the ball in Collingwood’s attacking half back in round two.

3. Clinton Young
Mowed down Dennis Armfield after a long chase down the Great Southern Stand wing. It was a real test of his troublesome hamstring but he passed with flying colours.

4. Heath Shaw
Tracked and sweated on West Coast’s Jack Darling before dragging him to ground in the back pocket.

5. Team tackling
Tyson Goldsack, Harry O’Brien, Lachlan Keeffe, Jamie Elliott, Brodie Grundy, Brent Macaffer, Marley Williams, Dane Swan, Ben Reid, Heath Shaw, Sam Dwyer and Jarryd Blair all got in on the act as the Magpies worked together as a team to drag down the Bombers.