Well, here we are again. Like any true fan, I blame myself for Collingwood’s loss last night.
I should not have tempted the sports gods last week by saying I will review each week, whether the Pies have a triumphant victory or a heart-breaking defeat. I sealed Collingwood’s fate and I apologise.
We will start with the good: Collingwood’s defence. This point will quickly become tiresome for non-Pies readers because I will continue to hold onto whatever good we have week to week and I suspect this will be repeated.
Darcy Moore was not quite the best and fairest winning saviour of the first two weeks. This is down to Joe Daniher.
Daniher is a match-up issue for Moore. Moore relies heavily on speed and athleticism. You will often see Moore sitting off opponents behind because he knows he possesses an amazing ability to make up space on the ground and in the air.
Joe Daniher possesses those traits as well and showed if you give him any room, you will not catch him. The battle between these two will be an amazing watch for the next ten years. Please sports gods, don’t smite me with injuries to these two after that comment.
Isaac Quaynor continues his rise. His first half was a perfect mix of defensive work and rebound play.
Jeremy Howe was again a dominant aerial force. Jordan Roughead and Jack Madgen were un-remarkably good in getting the job done. This is a compliment.
Scott Pendlebury is greatness.
(Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Josh Daicos is electric. Give me that rose-coloured-glasses shot of his old man going off in the stands any day.
Collingwood’s pressure and intent was elite in the first quarter and a half. It could have been a blow-out but it felt like the Grim Reaper himself was hanging over whichever player kicked the ball into attack.
Countless times there was inefficient ball use going forward started to eat at Collingwood’s team confidence. It was death by a thousand crap kicks. You could feel it happening long before the Lions got close on the scoreboard.
This is when Collingwood lost. The heart-breaking goal after the siren was just the final candle on the cake Collingwood started baking much earlier in the game.
Now, the not so good. Jordan de Goey is an impact midfielder at best at this time in his career. Start him forward, leave him forward, think about a run through the middle, and then leave him forward.
I understand the importance of these matches for De Goey to gain experience and possibly one day be that guy, but it still hurts to watch.
Will Hoskin-Elliott got De Goey’s time out of the goal square. It was probably hard to notice, right? It was pretty difficult to know the bloke was playing actually. Let’s give the bloke a go in the twos.
De Goey took Jack Crisp’s time in the middle. One of Collingwood’s best moves early in the season was barely existent last night. Crisp’s time in the middle was significantly shortened and when he got the ball, he was wasteful and hurried – a point one of my fine readers brought up last week.
Watching Crisp this year will be very interesting. I would leave him in the middle. Let’s see if it settles him.
Mason Cox was average enough to get another game as always.
I’m not quite sure what to make of the Brown boys’ game. I’m not sure if it was a positional difference or just a down game but I’m still a believer.
I was going into last night’s game thinking this is an early crossroads game for the Pies. One dismal loss and one heartwarming reply: whichever of those two teams showed up is what we could expect from Collingwood’s season.
I’m not so sold on that notion now. With the intent and attitude of the first quarter and some magnetic board shifts, Collingwood can have a positive year. The decisions moving the ball forward seem a little more like a systematic issue. It is concerning.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Agree SB. I see Mcreery is getting a game, hope Macrae does too.
Sports Bloke
Roar Pro
Cheers Kevo :thumbup: yeh mate bring on the kids. Time to give some blokes a spell. If not just to get them to fight for their spot in the team. Anyone would think we are watching some blokes who would rather be somewhere else.
djdart
Roar Rookie
I was living in Perth at the time, tough gig
Kevo
Roar Rookie
:cricket: Thanks for another good article sports bloke. With the season having so many upsets, all is not lost for the Pies. Youth and speed are showing the way. Bucks will have no choice but to take some risks and play some more of our youth soon. Pies are playing like front runners at the moment. Look great when they have momentum but go to water under pressure. We need more speed/skill and more importantly much longer periods of sustained pressure.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Good observation. Collingwood have potential match winners and the bottom six is a concern. Our big bodied midfielders are great at their caper in general but they go off their game and lose momentum too easily. Like they need to find that deeper level of self belief, and faith in their game. But they also need some fast skilful midfielders to compliment them and creat pressure on the opposition. Our big body midfielders sometimes become slower (seems to depend on momentum, confidence and what side of the ledger physical pressure is) as the game progresses, particularly if we let the opposition start to have first possession and dictate play, as on 2018 GF.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Spot on! And bring some youth in to speed up and enliven the middle.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Quaynor is still a little skinny; but I agree the pies should push him into a wing role.
Jordan De goo goo
Guest
Buckley had his chance 2018/19. But creedance given to astute assistants then remember Buckley let the reins go then Longmuir, Hocking and Brad Cotch nearly won us a flag. For goodness sake could someone please take Harvey (he is useless ) Buckley is a much better assistant coach. Plaudits to him for the 2010 flag it was Buckley''s shrewdness that helped Malthouse's predictable around the boundary line game plan implementing lock down forward pressure and pepper the goals game style that helped win us that flag. Sad to see his time will be over soon flagless.10 years in chair and he oversaw to pick the players he has picked. My choice for new coach Clarkson 2/ longmuir from Sydney 3/ Id give Luke Hodge a go with Ross Lyon as confidante and director of coaching. Hodge has an excellent footy brain just needs time................My number 1 pick if we could get Clarkson we will win a flag within 3 years. then who knows after that , maybe a dynasty like Hawks, Geelong and Richmond. PIES GO AND GET CLARKSON ! come on Wrighty make it happen
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Greg, Buckley says congestion at stoppage has reduced the efficiency of Grundy in dominating tap outs but he does hit to advantage at times. You are right about the 2002 effort in the GF but hey against the odds in a final doesn't get tougher than last year against the Eagles and we showed some grit in that game too.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
De Goey extended two more years to the end of 2022. Rumour is his dad wanted $1 million, Pies paid $750K after Carlton spurned his Dad floating him to them for a million. I believe the trial is adjourned now to August but I could be wrong.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Chris your comment on Aish in the 2018 GF is harsh. Aish in the GF stood Venables. His job was to keep Venables quiet at all costs. Venables had three touches.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
So good you had to say it twice Flagpies?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Sidebottom has elite skills. Quaynor should be moving to the midfield with his skills.
Greg
Roar Rookie
Earlier in the day, Foxtel re-played the 2002 GF which brought back to life a magnificent effort by a team underrated by their opponents class on all lines. What impressed me was that every person involved from supporters, officials, players, and coaches were fully committed to winning against the odds. We fell short, nothing can change that. This year's game against Brisbane appeared to me to be a repeat of the courageous effort versus class across lines situation. Except for the ruck. How can a team that has a rampant ruckman not succeed in dominating possessions in the attack? No amount of weasel words will wish this away. We are stuck in mediocrity without a clue how to prevent the same mistakes from being made. When did rucks become irrelevant? How the hell did all those champions of the past achieve respect in the game? This is madness. It's being repeated over and over. I thought everyone from supporters, players etc., were dedicated to willing Collingwood to succeed. But they didn't and nothing can change that. What will change? Nothing in my opinion. We will watch and hope and continue to accept irrevocable moments as being our lot. Do a google search on losing, on why people feel the way they do universally about their sporting clubs. There are hundreds of inspirational quotes, philosophies, and positive thoughts. Winning is what matters, and you can't achieve that without a base culture to provide for that. Love of Collingwood isn't going to get there, it can only ever be a minor part of the whole.
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
The question was not about guilt. It was simply does anyone know if he has signed a new contract & does anyone know when the trial is. If you want to crucify him that's your curious choice (in the current season).
Sports Bloke
Roar Pro
questions 1a and 1b. let’s just take it easy until his been either found guilty or not guilty. There will be plenty of time to crucify him if his guilty. Curious circumstances the Treloar trade, I suspect we will only no once some careers are over.
Sports Bloke
Roar Pro
haha if I was him i would be off social media to.... just basking in the happiness.
John
Well Chucka you're walking on the sunny side of the street after your win this weekend????
John
We seem cluttered and almost crossing each others' paths. We need forwards running different paths and taking defenders with them, that way one forward will get free and be the best option
John
True that tactic is good for the last 30secs. Also thought the umpire missed a holding the ball just prior to the Lions launching. Too many times the attacking player takes a defender on, is grabbed, drops the ball and isn't pinged.