Expectations are often proven to be false when predicting the outcome of football matches, and this has never been better illustrated than in Collingwood’s last two weeks.
Following the Magpies this year could best be described as frustrating, as the team that has been consistently in the top four for the last 6-7 years has shown signs of frailty not seen during that period.
There have been legitimate reasons for their reduced output this year, missing several key players, namely Copeland Trophy winner Dayne Beams.
They have also had their backline decimated, with Heath Shaw missing on Friday night along with long term absences for Alan Toovey, Ben Johnson and Dale Thomas.
Heading to the MCG last week to watch the Pies play the Cats, I had no real expectations of a win, rather a faint hope.
I also wanted to see the effort that has been synonymous with Collingwood, and in my heart I thought that a ‘honourable defeat’ was the best outcome that could be hoped for.
As it turned out, we saw that effort and a lot more as the undermanned Pies withstood a withering counter attack from the best team in the AFL to score an inspiring win.
The key to the win wasn’t just the performance of the experienced stars such as Pendlebury, Swan and O’Brien. It had far more to do with the efforts of the younger, inexperienced players such as Dwyer, Seedsman, Elliott, and Kennedy.
I had thought prior to this game that these players, along with Witts and Williams, would be an area of weakness for Collingwood.
These players have looked quite good at times when playing in a near full strength team, but I thought that it was unlikely that all of them could stand up as they did against a strong team such as the Cats.
Young players often look good when immersed in with a strong, experienced group, but when they make up 25 percent of the team, they can really be tested.
The Magpie youngsters appeared to pass this test, and filled their supporters with hope that normal transmission would resume and we would see more consistent and convincing performances from now on.
One week on, I once again headed to the MCG, with much more confidence as Collingwood took on the reigning premiers Sydney.
I certainly wasn’t over-confident about the result, just that we had an excellent chance to compete against last year’s best team.
I can’t recall being so wrong about a game in a long time! My concerns from the previous week, forgotten in the rapturous aftermath of an inspiring victory, were brought clearly back into focus.
The same group of players who were a major reason for our earlier win all failed miserably on the big stage this week. None had any impact on the game whatsoever.
They were not alone, as there were very few Collingwood players who could have claimed to have played anywhere near their best on the night. Credit must also go to the Swans, who played some fantastic football, physically dominating the clearances in close and then smashing the Pies on the outside.
Modern football requires that teams win the contest, and then spread aggressively to create options. The Swans play on Friday night could be recorded and used as an educational tool for anyone wanting to know how to play football today.
These two weeks of football highlight the importance of the mental side of the game. Last week, you could feel the excitement buzzing from the Collingwood players right from the start.
On Friday night, they appeared flat and disinterested against an opponent who happily exploited this shortcoming.
If Collingwood are to rely on this group of players to bring them success this year, they need to contribute consistently. They are not going to star every week, but they cannot afford to disappear completely as they did on Friday night.
It is not necessarily the end of the line this year for the Magpies, with some potentially easier games coming up over the next few weeks.
However, unless they can find the consistent effort from week to week, they will be relegated to making up the numbers this season.
The win over Geelong showed they have the character to beat the best, but Premierships come when that character is shown every week, not just on a whim.
robbo
Guest
you have hit it on the head, jolly is a liability now gives away goals every game, and cloke was never a world beater
Ron
Guest
I've been watching the collingwood reserves quite closely this year and in my opinion Sinclair should come back in to the seniors in the backline, seems to have adapted really well will also add some vital hardness down there. There's also a bloke running around in the twos by the name of Martin! Now this guy has to be elevated to the senior list at some stage, the kid can play, seriously play!! Also bring in Paine he's a forward who is developing nicel wil also add some grunt. I think the lynch project is not working, just not kicking anywhere near enough goals. Gault is another who should get a shot soon, so bring these guys in who can play and get proactive.
pies fan
Guest
I agree with spear tackle response. It appears Collingwood looks lost. Their structure built on forward pressure took years to master. They finally do it and hence play in 2 grandfinals. Come in a whole new coaching staff with a wonderful playing list with new so called evolving ideas and you now get the Collingwood of 2013. This is a middle of the road team either just winning or losing handsomely against the top teams in the AFL. At Geelong coach Scott maintained their structures that stood up for years. He appears to be getting continued success irrespective of their player turnover. My opinion is that Malthouse earnt the right to coach at the Pies for as long as he wanted. Irrespective of some agreement Malthouse was keen to go on. Bucks could have coached elsewhere and when the opportunity arose coached at the Pies later. If Mick was still at the Pies they would still be a force and a premiership contender. Where are those days when the Pies would blow teams out of the water? A win these days seems such hard yakka.
Karen Maloney
Guest
Well expressed David, totally underwhelming performance by us, all credit to the Swans, particularly Adam Goodes
Greg Parker
Roar Rookie
You cannot blame the Buckley game plan in my opinion. Malthouse is now at Carlton, and after 9 rounds is starting to have success with them. Buckley has been at the helm 33 rounds, if the guys don't know his plan by now, they are not ever going to be able to get it. My personal opinion is that there is a lack of hunger in the playing group, and/or attitude issues. I think the young fella's are showing heaps, but can't do it alone. The senior players still have the skills, but are not executing them with any kind of consistancy. Buckley has to do the unthinkable - senior player fails, senior player goes back to reserves and a young player gets a shot. Unthinkable, because of all the decimation injuries have already caused, specifically to the back line and centre. But, it needs to happen. Swan, Cloke, Jolly, Pendlebury, Lynch - no-one, I repeat no-one should be safe from the chop. If players have to show heart to get back in, then they are more likely to perform again when they get there. Currently, we have a lot of stars being dead weight once a fortnight, we cannot stand for that anymore. Perhaps bring back Didac and Johnson, who may be getting towards the end of their careers, but are showing plenty of heart in the reserves. Give Witts a full game in the ruck and send Jolly back to the reserves. Jackson Paine to take over from Lynch for a week or so. Drop Swan, give Josh Thomas another (full) game. Mix it up, send some shocks the way of the senior players, and perhaps they will realise their dinner isn't just placed on their plate every night, that they have to earn it. We might lose some matches because of it, but it will strengthen the playing group, and the next 3 weeks is the time to do it whilst we play some lower end of ladder sides.
SpearTackle
Roar Rookie
The Buckley game plan is just far too different from Malthouse's. It's as if he was not paying any attention in the two years he spent as Mick's assistant. The playing group are being asked to learn and play a whole different game compared to what was working for them. Over the course of five years, it might work but there was no need to change what was working when Bucks came in. Players would have every right to follow Mick to Carlton at the end of the season and I think they should if they want to win a flag.