In a lot of ways I want to beat Richmond more than Collingwood at the moment; their fans have become insufferable since they started winning. They need a good dose of losing for a change.
However, detestation of Collingwood was bred into me. I want to flog them.
We will have a few players available this time, but we will not be a full strength for some time to come.
Williams is near certain to debut for us.
In : Williams, Martin (hopefully, Betts if not)
Out : Silvagni (inj), O'Brien
Might even consider McDonald ahead of Casboult. Levi looked slower than a statue tonight, and the run in the game really showed him up.
Levi is definitely lacking some conditioning. He probably needs time in the VFL. His ruck work was very ordinary as well.
Yet I thought in the middle he was more effective in the 2nd half than Pittonet, they all looked underdone, is that perhaps deliberate given the effect of the new rules?
Have a look at Dow, went from run above the ground in pre-season to slug mode again like he was injured!
Out SOS SPS
In Williams Stocker
I'd persist with Dow and LOB
Martin won't get up I reckon, if he does, perhaps LOB makes way.
I asked in the other thread if anyone would keep LOB in the side.
I then suggested that anyone who would, is doing so simply to give him some time in the 1's and hopefully get up to speed. Rather than he deserves his spot through his performance.
So i gotta ask, which is it?
3 changes I reckon.
Out: LOB, SPS and Jack
In: Williams, Martin and Oscar. If Martin is not ready I would play Stocker.
I would give Dow another week. He preseason form was promising and needs to be given every chance to prove he can play at this level. Lob made some howling errors that cost us so even though it was a tough game to promote him in he should be dropped imo.
Can’t possibly continue to gift SPS games anymore. Stuff him. Needs a massive rocket this bloke. He either pulls his finger out and gives 100% defensively or he can play 2s and go back to riding bulls in WA next year cause doubt anyone will want him.
Massive massive game this one. No excuses if we are going to make the move we all said we should be this is a must win game.
Cant have three small defenders who prefer rebounding to defending and getting their hands dirty.
I thought Saad defended well plus ran/attacked used the ball well after a poor first quarter where he had two goals kicked on him and was in our best players easily.
Docherty and SPS both had very average games for different reasons, poor Doc has had a terrible run with injuries and ill health and just lacks confidence and touch. SPS for reasons discussed at great length by others isnt your ideal defender and now we have Saad, isnt required down back anymore as a rebounder and I'd be removing him from that role.
Williamson does some good things but also looks jittery and everyone knows that when he goes on his right side you have got him covered and he will turn the ball over....his position in the team is 50/50 with Newman waiting his turn.
We also had the shaky Jones on display, when he had the ball it made me nervous which option he would take and Reiwoldt really made him look bad on the stats sheet with such straight kicking, wasnt so much his defending but his panicky use of the ball.
Its a defense needing stability and another player who can be reliable like Weitering and Saad, Tigers have that solid reliable well drilled defense to anchor the team and even though we controlled a lot of the play we couldnt score heavily and they lived off our mistakes rather than generating a lot of their own good play IMO.
I think the time has come with SPS and biting the bullet.....move him out of defence!
We got Saad and Williams in who play a similar role to SPS, runner + user.
Put SPS further up the ground and let him kick at goal, not 2m in front of mids in the centre of the ground.
I think SPS has been played out of position in an effort to turn him into a Saad-like defender. Now that we have the real thing, I would re-purpose him into a run-with mid. We will need one when Ed finally hits the wall.
We can't get him to chase an opponent when he is a defender....what hope do we have if he is a mid?!
Wing/HF for mine.
Tend to agree, I think SPS might have the odd day when he can defend and man a player but its not his natural game and as a winger he might have some freedom to create. I see him as that 4th or 5th midfielder not as a core player who you can rely on each week to get you 30 possies but that poor mans Brad Hill type.
Shawny....exactly my selection in another thread. McDonald can be a marking option and Casboult purely back up ruck. Martin and Williams in for sure....LOB, SPS and SOSJ out.
He has great endurance and has a weapon of a left foot but doesn't use either enough. He needs it drummed into him to take the game on and use those weapons at every opportunity. He needs game after game in the top flight league to learn how to use them. Go for broke, play him every week and get the confidence up and he could flourish. Just my opinion.
Too slow, doesn't go hard enough and doesn't have a penetrating kick. Would get rag dolled in the middle. Play him in the twos, not the ones, to learn what he can and can't do.
No he doesn't deserve an extended run. He made critical errors that cost goals, we can't carry blokes like that. He can learn in the twos, and if he shows sustained form he can come in but given last nights showing Cottrell or Carroll can play wing, and quite frankly are probably going to have more impact and c$@'! Up less. We need to win games, the seniors is no longer about gifting development games to kids.
Tend to agree. SPS has had a very kind run. Avoided the axe I reckon at least 5 times in his career.
Enough is enough.
I have not been so negative about SPS, but with some young defenders coming up, and a good one in Newman available soon, it might be time to give him a different job. That way we can see if he can be the player we need him to be.
Having learnt a bit about the negative side of the game in the last couple of years, it could be very interesting seeing him trying to kick goals. Having him swap in the middle with Jack Martin could also be interesting.
Cottrell must be close. He was very good in the 2's. Carroll could use some time on the wing like Sam Walsh did two years ago. Certainly they both run harder than SPS has been doing.
Exactly the team I'd select along with the Martin / Stocker switch.
So as i thought, play him for playing hims sake, rather than earning it.
Look, i get that you need to do that from time to time, but i think we are just about at the point where we need to play players who deserve it and force players to knock the door down.
Agree but issue having the depth where you have blokes knocking down the door.
You don’t want to be gifting games but also need to give blokes a decent block to build some confidence and then you know exactly where they sit.
I would love to give stocker a block of games. From what I have seen from him he has a bigger body then most his age, was strong over the ball and was confident with his disposal.
Give him 5 or 6 games and let’s see what he has. Also very keen to see Kemp later in year.
Mate its round 1 and there have been no reserves games to gauge form, just PS games and training. He must have earnt a spot ahead of others based on pre season training standards and attributes he has that they want to use/exploit. All Im saying is give him a decent run at it then at some point, if he has cut the mustard, see ya later. He was great last night but shows glimpses of what he has. If its in one a row form that's the benchmark? Fine cut him loose.
On what I've seen tonight, we should have Collingwood's measure.
I think we'll be in with a big show if we come out with the right attitude.
Agree, with DeGoey playing midfield to cover for Treloar they dont have many avenues to goal other than Mihocek who is more of a workhorse than a heavy goal kicker. Saying all that they might get Sidebottom back and that will make them more dangerous.
Very important game for club and the coach next week IMO, another loss and the knives will be out..we should prevail though and I'd expect a 3-4 goal win...
I understand the logic of a block of games, it is a legitimate call. He must be the best trainer at the club though because his preseason form was as bad as his form against the tigers.
But sure pick him for that if you want.
But....looking at the bests from the vfl, and knowing Jack is injured...some changes should be made and I'm not sure we can justify keeping him in....it could cost us a chance at winning....which is unacceptable imo. Pick him as the sub, maybe.
Yes we SHOULD, like us they will be like a wounded animal. I like how English and Martin worked Grundy over, he will ne a tired boy today, will Levi and Pitto be able to continue the tirade? Our defenders have a different fwd line to contend with, the Yank is a monster and a very straight kick so we must a hatch a plan to counter the the supply to him. If he gets silver service, he will be hard to contain.
Williams and Martin will be good ins for us, Teague said in the presser Martin should be right to go, sounds like he nearly played v Rich. Be interesting to see if any other changes come from the VFL sides performance.
Tough MC calls this week. I've tried picking the team several times and no matter which way i do it, i can't get LOB in the best 26!
I'll pick the 22, and nominate a sub and show the 'like for like' replacements.
McDonald -> Silvagni (inj)
Martin -> LOB
Williams -> SPS
Kennedy -> SUB
Close to selection....Cottrell, Stocker, Betts,
Close to omission...Williamson, Dow, Casboult
FB - Plowman Jones Williamson
HB - Docherty Weitering Saad
W - Setterfield Cripps Newnes
HF - Martin McKay Murphy
FF - McDonald Casboult Fisher
R - Pittonet Curnow Walsh
INT - Williams Gibbons Fogarty Dow
SUB - Kennedy
EMG - SPS, Betts, Stocker, Cottrell
Biggest worry in this game is they have a solid defence with very good talks. Moore and Howe will make life very difficult for Harry and Oscar or Levi. Maynard is another tough quality back as well.
I think if Eddie is ready this may be a week he plays. Our smalls will need to be the ones creating havoc. They don’t score but they make scoring for the opposition hard so we have to be smarter going forward.
Reckon Gibbons Fish Murphy and Betts are the ones who will worry them most.
Don’t think our talls will bother them too much - this game will be won if our small forwards can kick multiple goals each.
Martin and Williams are no brainer ins.
Kennedy has been BOG (or close) 2 weeks running in the 2s.
He is a like for like replacement for JSOS surely? Plus adds midfield grunt. And he's not slow now he's fully fit and not carrying an ankle! Bet he'd thrash Crippa easily.
So, my ins and outs:
Out: Willo, LOB, JSOS
In: Martin, Williams, Kennedy
Murphy needs to show a lot more too...
I think Grundy will hit back this week after getting caned in the media.
Pitto and Levi not in the same class as Martin and English either.
I think we should have an edge, but only just. Grundy is out of sorts, which evens the out the ruck contest, and their midfield, which has lost some pace and skill with all the trades, also brings it closer to ours. Their defence is pretty good. They,like us, weren't able to generate many inside 50's, and they look like they will struggle to kick big scores. Blues by 1 or 2 goals.
Don't reckon you need class to reduce Grundy - more about being a smart hard to move ruckmen who doesn't just try and out ruck him but block his ability to jump. Dogs did there research this time around as Grundy has slaughtered them in previous years. Martin ran at Grundy early a lot at the centre bounce which stopped Grundy's ability to leap over him and use his agility which is his main weapon.
Initiate the contact with Grundy and you reduce his effectiveness. Reckon Pitt is capable of this tactic and also have to have a plan to stop him when he floats forward. But our guy is also a decent mark and if he wanders deep for us he can be a concern as well as Grundy can be a bit loose defensively.
I still say our best chance is with our small forwards - they are hard to score against so Gibbons Fish and Co need to impact the scoreboard as their talls in Moore, Howe and Maynard are tight good defenders that dont leak goals.
To me, the Dogs kicked those first 3 goals in minutes, then started lairising....
once you start fluffing around, hard to get back into the right mental place.....
Pies tried early to play a shoot out, sling shot style then realised when dogs kicked the 3rd it’s not going to work and went back to their default which is full blown team defence.
We need to play very smart and we can account for them. Play long bombing dumb footy and Moore and Howe will love it and they will strangle us and kick a big enough score them-self to get the win.
I don’t rate them as a top team but we are also not exactly the smartest team tactically so I’m still not expecting an easy game this week.
Pittonet was spent and the Nank overpowered him and the Nank aint no Grundy when it comes to running. Levi was next to useless in the ruck and it was a big factor in the game IMO.
Levi will have to lift his output to make Grundy slow down and I wouldnt be relying on that to happen.
Agree the Pies defense has their best lines especially with Howe back but kicking goals is still their problem and we should win well given they are a teetering on the brink of a rebuild and new coach.
I also wouldn't discount the off field upheavals being a distraction for the Pies. Treloar certainly seems very well liked by his ex team mates. They were joking with him last night like a social game at the local park. Those trades, plus the Do Better report, the lead up to it and the fallout afterwards, would be unfamiliar territory to a club not accustomed to that type of negative scrutiny. When you add all that to team selection, lists etc., this is a golden opportunity to get a win early in the season.
Agree Stocker must be close. He can use both sides of his body, and adds much needed attitude.
More like Benny Hill - if only he would move as fast.
Having said that, I would retain him and play him at HFF or wing. Like Murphy, he can be creative and can't chase.
Perhaps this new rule has really exposed SPS and his lack of pace, play is much more open and it's hurting him, I'm not sure he is suited to the HBF anymore while this game style persists.
Yes, Grundy will have a bee in his bonnet next week, the media are all over him being done over by the Dogs B-Grade rucks, a has-been and a kid smashed him, their words not mine! Some listed English in the best, just for running interference on Grundy and doing sweet feck all else!
I think good defence is having less impact under this new rule, there are just too many clean F50 entries. Get toasted in the midfield and I think you're well and truly cooked!
A nice set of ins and all of them give us aggression and intensity, however I’d be retaining Williamson for at least another week as he has a go.
In addition to LOB, I’d go ahead and drop both of Murphy and SPS, with Setterfield on his last chance. We can’t accept players who refuse to commit to tackles and pick and choose which contests to make. Much prefer to see Stocker and/or Cunningham in their place.
Need to rid the club of any signs of apathy.
Well Pitto and Levi have to have an even bigger bee in their bonnet.
They aren't in the same class though, it might be trouble for us!
I'd be more worried about Levi and Big H having the irrevocable fumbles inside F50, we can't burn rare entries on guys that might drop uncontested marks!
Agree on Williamson, other youngsters able to impress during preseason, should be given the opportunity to play at least another game & show their ability to contribute.
I’d like to see Kennedy, Stocker, all contenders for a place in the starting 22 really make a case for selection. More involvement & passion is what we need for the 2nds team.
Any idea if Sidebottom is ready to play?
Heard earlier "he may be a chance" so not really sure atm.
very likely according to the last Pies' injury report.
Yep, slight calf strain but they expect him to play, reckon he might spend a bit of time forward given he is an older player now
and calf injuries can be hard to shake.
Good read re Walsh and hope the boys have a big win for the 1970 reunion
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/better-than-judd-training-wheels-are-off-as-walsh-stars-in-new-role-20210323-p57d6u.html
My outs: LOB, JSOS, Willo, Murphy.
My ins: Kennedy (like for like with Jack), Betts, Martin, Williams.
Would like Kennedy in - but unlikely that Murph would get dropped - so who else comes out.....
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/blues-coach-won-t-buy-in-to-early-pressure-talk-20210324-p57dkh.html
Teague not buying into talk of early season pressure.
I just have to read the headline to know that Teague is an idiot if he thinks The Richmond Bloke, Lloyd and The Board wont start to sharpen the knives if we are 0-3 let alone 0-6.
Yes, until the day that doesn't happen, nothing has changed.
I can't help but feel Teague is another Ratten, it's our history.
One of my favourite sayings is "p!55 or get off the pot".
I'm with GTC.....SPS goes out. I'd drop him, LOB and Silvagni out injured. Initially I had McDonald in my starting 22 but if it's wet over there as it's forecast, then maybe he misses out...but only for that reason as he deserves a spot on the back of last week. Then in would come Williams, Martin and Kennedy instead of McDonald.
Betts is thereabouts but Fogarty was okay last week and with Gibbons, Fisher and also Murphy, the smaller forward role looks too congested.
Agree, Liddle and crew wont sit back and cop the blame for a average season and missing finals, they will be looking for a scape goat real quick and the bloke with the L Plates on wont be coaching next season if that happens.
Going to be a few name coaches on the market for jobs and I dont envy Teagues position, the hype from the media preseason was strong but only one journo picked us as a finals team after all the positive spin.
Even the pro Carlton journos like Riley Beveridge from AFL.com didnt have us making it, you feel too there is that one big injury around the corner as well threatening to derail us.
Its unfair on Teague but thats the job and how we roll at Carlton....
Ain't that the truth.
That said, if we can't make finals this year, we are truly a joke.
Looking alright, but it is Melbourne:
Need to win this one. Too often we show alot of promise round 1 only to screw it up round 2.
I have seen nothing in the preseason or round one that suggests we will be anything more than a middle of ladder team like last year. Of course a string of wins can change all that quickly, but a loss to the Filth tomorrow night (who everyone reckons are on the nose) will not be a good look for Teaguey. No matter what we all think, Carlton sacks coaches like no one else and the spectre of Lyon and Clarkson loom.
Middle of the ladder is 8th or 9th, which is often 12 wins. I'll take that.
Team are in:
In: Williams, Martin.
Out: JSOS (inj) LOB (omitted).
I think 8th will save Teague even with 10-11 wins, no finals and I wouldnt be confident of him keeping the job especially if they had Clarko lined up early. Agree with GTC that Ross Lyon is always just lurking too.....see Pagan and Malthouse though for reasons why and likely end result if we went with Lyon.
Harry Mckay's 50th game and DeGoey's 100th.
If he got 9th with 11 or 12 surely they wouldn't repeat history. It would be still a significant improvement. as they say, those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Or, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.
Much better side this week.
To win 12 games this year will require us to really rattle home, because if we lose tomorrow we could be six and zip. Then phone calls will be made - though I suspect they already have been made.
I thought that we had learnt our lesson but it seems not!
I reckon Teague could get another season if we miss out on finals. However, we would have to beat a couple of top 4 teams and finish 9th or 10th on percentage or a game. No blowout losses, no giving up 5 or 6 goal runs and no slow starts will help.
Bringing Williams and Martin in makes us a stronger team with more scoring potential and better delivery into the forward 50. I reckon Rottingwood is unsettled after the off-season turmoil and we have a great opportunity to make them pay.
I wonder if those comments from Walls a couple of weeks ago were his genuine opinion, or whether he made them at the behest of the club ?
I don't care where we finish this season. If they sack Teague at the end of 2021, then they would have found the tiny hole at the bottom of the barrel, and sunk further than anyone thought possible. Disgraceful idea.
This is exactly the kind of game we should win, but the last 25 years says we'll be bitterly disappointed by another mediocre performance.
You crafty thing you. I'll give you my definition of middle of the ladder, 9th if we are lucky, 10 to 11 more likely.
We are good a repeating don't worry about that. How many games under Teague had 5 goal swings? 18 out of his 28 games.
Apparently they're only expecting 60,000 despite the 75,000 capacity.
It is a thursday night....with average weather....and a convoluted way of releasing tickets.
Much (arguably at this point, way TOO much) has been said about where we finish at year's end. Before round two.
But how about the fortunes of those who are considered certainties?
I can see five. The rest of the eight are up for grabs. But as sure as hell and taxes, there will be changes.
Guess it's ingrained in all of us to speculate, but this soon? Ummm ... no.
Agreed, I could have got level 4 tickets but have chosen not to go as I'd rather watch on TV.
Thursday night isn’t an option for me ... unless I stay in the city ... and Mrs DJC wouldn’t be happy ... or would she 🤔🙂😇
127 wins a piece, we lose to them and its the first time since forever they will be positive vs us. Not an option Blues.
Spare weapon in the knife block GTC ... not that I think many current players give a toss.
I grew up with us having a positive record on everyone. When the new teams came in, only PA and Freo had the wood on us. I cannot stomach the Filth going positive ledger on us.
I'm not confident tonight, I fear we aren't yet polished enough to pull of Teague's game plan!
I hoping like hell my doubts are unequivocally wrong!
Not sure Walsh can back up that sort of punishing physical effort week after week yet, he took a battering last Thursday. The Filth actually have a bigger heavier bodied midfield, although slower than Nthmond it won't be any easier, and Grundy if on is a step up in ruck class over Nankervis. De Goey is a bit of a big game player, and it's is his 100th I believe!
Adding Williams and Martin is nice, but I fear it was probably a De Koning that we need, a mobile ruck who can hit the scoreboard.
I'm not sure what the weather does for our chances, we aren't really elite ball users so that part isn't a loss, but we aren't elite clean around the footy either and fumbling opens the gateway for opponents. I suspect guys like Pendles, Sidebottom, De Goey, Adams have us covered in the wet, we are probably lucky they have swapped a few older bigger bodies like Greenwood for some kids around the ground. Moore tore us a new one last time we played if I recall!
It could be a draw!
http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/melbourne.shtml
The weather report says 0-2mm of rain, less likely in the evening. Hopefully the surface dries in time for kick off.
Pies are vulnerable at the moment. Our line up is pretty decent tonight, although I'm disappointed LoB was dropped. If we can't beat them tonight, I'm not sure finishing 8th or 9th is realistic.
I expect nothing less than a win tonight. No excuses even of the Sidebottom type.
I'm more confident about tonight than I was this time last week.
We aren't playing a side that's as a well-oiled machine as the Tiggers are.
Williams is an important midfield addition... and swapping him for LOB is like a 12 pt goal.
Our biggest issue will be the same as last week in terms of general match-ups/play at the midfield bounce-ups - the Tiggers absolutely tore us a new one there last week, and if Grundy and Co. hit their straps that potential still exists. Last week it was Cripps & Walsh v the rest... and Crippa tired somewhat after half time. Hopefully Williams has an impact in that area, Ed tightens up, Pitto makes it tough for Grundy to dictate terms, or our mids get smart and read Grundy and even rove to him.
The De Goey match-up will also be critical.
Imperatives: NO allowing Rottingwood one of our, now famous, 4-7 goal run-ons. Last week we allowed the Tiggers 4 unanswered goals to finish the 2nd qtr.
We must bring a persistent ruthlessness, ie, if we find ourselves in front - increase the lead, then repeat... consistently.
I'd suggest a 30 point goal. Especially with the other Jack back in too.
Two huge ins for us....
We'll have to try hard to lose this one....
I just can't see Collingwood getting within 5 goals. We are better than them all over the ground.
Agreed.
As I said, we'll have to try hard (to f... it up).
Martin and Williams huge ins. Levi will be better for the run.....
Time we pumped a team good and proper.
Blues by 44.
Tonight is an incredible springboard into the next two games. Get across the line tonight and we then face a very wounded Fremantle in Melbourne and an emerging Gold Coast the next week. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, I know but we have a great opportunity in the coming weeks.
I think this is a really big game for us. There are a lot of doubters on this site. Lose this one and I think the doubters are right.
At least Gold Coast will be (more) easy thanks to Rowell's latest injury (poor kid).
We should win easily, Collingwood have lost talent over the summer, have their best most influential player out of form (Grundy) and are not stable in the coaching box with Buckley looking to exit to the media. Only lack of effort and appetite for the contest will prevent us winning imo..
You are only as good as your last game, but it's Grundy's next game I worry about.
Pittonet doesn't strike me as the ruck best suited to deal with Grundy if Grundy gets on his bike!
Wasn't it De Koning that did the job on Grundy last year? If I recall Martin had a shocker, Simmo and Plowman not much better, and they stitched us up even without Sidebottom and Treloar, but Adams and Daicos had a field day! Did we even score after 1/2-time?
PS: After leading by 2 goals at 1/2-time, we kicked 0-4 and they kicked 5-6 to beat us by 4 goals.
Pittonet isn't ideal but the cumbersome Martin assisted by the kid English did the job on him last week.
Problem I see is Pitto not being able to run out the game and having to rely on Casboult for the last quarter if the game was close. I'd expect Collingwood to be physical this week and look to tag Cripps at the stoppages with Sier and Pendlebury.
Be interesting how they approach Walsh... I'm thinking Adams will take him.
Hopefully with Martin and Williams in they will deliver well and we don't end up bombing the ball to our forwards.
Both Grundy and Pendlebury were down last week. I can't remember the last time I saw Pendles play at that level.
Grundy doesn't strike me as the arrogant, super confident type. He seems more cerebral and more likely to go into his shell. It's just speculation on my part, but I'm wondering if his early 2020 mega new deal was at least partly responsible for the need to offload players in the off season, and maybe his form is due to some kind of guilt / responsibility for what happened to Treloar et al.
@PaulP Feeling the pressure of those expectations?
Perhaps. No doubt he'll have a blinder just to spite me lol.
A pretty fair diagnosis there, Pauly. I suspect he may also not be helped by his senior coach who doesn't strike me as having a lot in the emotional intelligence area - which would be an imperative in a leader in this situation. Grundy may discover that getting angry might shake off any 'survivor guilt' (an actual condition).
I certainly wouldn't count on Grundy being down, in fact I would prepare for him being at his best - regardless, this is always the best preparation for a contest with any opponent. :)
I hope Grundy and Collingwood are at their best. To be the best you've got to beat the best.
Can you think of anything worse, than listening to his corporate-speak toddle, 24/7, on Fox or Ch7??
Grundy is an intelligent lateral thinker, reads a lot of books and likes to educate himself which means he wouldnt have much in common off the field with too many of his teammates...Darcy Moore excepted.
Stef Martin who went to the Bulldogs would have been a nice addition to help Grundy and give him someone intelligent to talk to..
Speaking about Buckley, actually, he's a lovely bloke to meet, but that was many years ago. Engaging and warm
Now? Dunno, but his monotone delivery would turn off many. Not the media type.
If we can maintain the same effort as which we drew last week and with the inclusions we should win comfortably. Our problem over the years has been to maintain that form week in week out. We shouldn't have to worry about any opposition players if we just show consistency. Only then can we say we have truly improved.
Let's bring it tonight.
Let's kick straight and not keep the opposition in the game.
It’s our best chance against this mob for a longtime as i finally think our fielded team, individually at least, should be to strong if we play to our best. On the flip side they have been a fairly settled team who have finished in the finals for a long time and are now copping it in the media. This scares me. We were favourites against them last year when they had a lot of injuries. They still accounted for us. Also our record at night at the G is awful - I heard we have lost the last 20 out of 21!
The game will be won and lost in the midfield and which teams small forwards impact the scoreboard most. Both teams tall defenders should prevail it’s the smalls and Mids that will be the difference. Need big games from gibbons fish Martin and need to really believe we will win and we should get the points.
No excuses this time
Moore will take 15 uncontested marks because Levi and Harry will be shoved out, under or blocked at every contest.
@Professer E I know I'm a bastard, but in the old days those little shoves would be just enough for me to lose balance and drive my knee into Moore's kidneys Luke Hodge style!
It's interesting to read Diesel's comments about young Sam:
Really good points, all of them.
Even in years when we were sh1te and they were doing well we would upset them, and vice versa. Of course the opposite has also been true (when we've going well and them sh1te, we've belted them... etc).
When we look at the cattle overall, we have them covered, except for the ruck division. As much as I'm hesitant to do so, I will add another factor - game day coaching. I think Teague has FF covered in the senior coach division... but I'm not so confident about our assistants up against theirs. The risk of losing this game in the coaching box is a real consideration. I have very little confidence in centre clearance/midfield coaching and forward line coach.
As you say, and 100% rightly so, there are no excuses this time.
It was obvious when they ditched the hands in the back rule that this was going to happen. At the time, the promise was that the umpires would only allow a player to “protect his space” but no one bats an eyelid now when the man who has taken front position is pushed out of the contest. It seems that “protecting the space” has now transformed into “stealing an opponent’s space”. I saw a particularly obvious example on the weekend - IIRC Tex Walker just pushed a defender with an arm bar right under the ball.
We’ve gone back to the days where it’s a sin to take front position. Stay on the side and wrestle. And whatever you do, don’t jump as it’s too easy to push you into a rotation that will make it impossible to take the mark.
The difference now is that the umpires won’t mind if forwards can kick goals by pushing out defenders as the AFL wants to see bags kicked. But what happens when the defenders team up and push forwards out of the contest?
Agree, I think they might do a few things different this week and play a few different players through the midfield.
Pendlebury had a poor game IMO even though the scribes had him as one of Collingwoods best, got caught which is most unlike him and also stuffed up a few kicks and was worn down by the Dogs army of mids...looked old and tired IMHO.
This week I think they will use Maynard and Crisp up the ground and look to inject some muscle and run into the middle.
The player who can win them the game is DeGoey...poor mans Dusty but one of those types who if he is on will be the difference.
I would play him forward if I was Buckley and hope Plowman or Docherty are forced to play on him, Jones will get Cox and Weitering should get Mihocek but I would change that around as I dont want Mihocek taking Weitering out of play like he did last time. Like I said before we should win easily in terms of talent but being brain dead in the coaches box with matchups has cost us in the past and its often history repeating itself with the same opposition players doing the damage.
I did the maths on that last year. From memory we've been in front on the 'wins vs losses' since 1982!
Please win :o
At the cricketers right now and it's all clear. Not a cloud in the sky and quite mild. Ground should not be a factor
Whos the sub
Oscar McDonald.