Re: AFL 2023 Preliminary Final Carlton vs Brisbane Post Game Prognostications
Reply #226 –
Geelong wasn't left unbalanced by playing those 4, and there's nothing about playing Pittonet, De Koning, McKay and Charlie Curnow that makes us unbalanced. There's not a single person of note in the CFC who would believe that, not one.
If Collingwood had our 4 players, they would play each and every week.
I’m not sure that Pitto and the King would be selected ahead of Cox and Cameron but Collingwood won the premiership with two genuine, lumbering rucks and two key forwards. Admittedly, one of the key forwards was a bit of a decoy because their first choice KPF was injured.
Of course, both of Collingwood’s rucks are a threat when they go forward. Neither managed a goal in the GF, but they demand a decent defender.
The idea that we’re unbalanced with two rucks and two tall forwards doesn’t stack up, particularly since the alternative is two tall forwards, one ruck and a third tall forward/undersized ruck.
That’s not to say that Brisbane model - one outstanding ruckman backed up by one of their two tall forwards - isn’t effective. It worked quite well against us, but there were other factors at play. However, it wasn’t effective against Collingwood.
I don’t understand the reasoning behind some of our team selections but I do understand that the reasoning behind those decisions is based on more and much better information than I have, as well as far superior footy understanding and knowledge. Games of footy aren’t lost by the MC. They’re lost because the players aren’t good enough or they’re not at their best, or the gameplan is flawed or not executed well enough.