Roar Rookie
Joined January 2014
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Sports tragic and armchair aficionado.
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While the race for the finals is a marathon, not a sprint, it is important to get out to a good start. Having gone…
While it's important to peak in the lead up to the finals, the way your team starts the season can make or break their…
We're all dreamers in the weeks leading up to the AFL season. We fantasise this year could really be the year – the young…
The 2014 AFL season is fast approaching and there is a lot of new talent entering the system. Most fans might know who their…
Despite playing finals footy for the last eight years and winning the flag in 2010, Collingwood's forward line has always been weak – until…
At the heart of any AFL club is its fans. Without a dedicated and devoted supporter base a club has no purpose and no…
The appointment of Scott Pendlebury as Collingwood's new skipper was about as inevitable as Eddie McGuire's face turning 50 shades of purple this season.…
Do you think Dawes provided enough of a contrast to Cloke?
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward
Tim I mentioned in the article that Collingwood has relied on a contribution from our goal kicking mids for a long time. It definitely has been a huge part of Collingwood’s success to date.
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward
Ah, there’s no better way to earn the scorn of a community of sports fans than to say something positive about Collingwood. I should have known better. 🙂
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward
You’re right. The backline of the reigning premiers would be best placed to handle the Pies forward line. I doubt they’ll find it as easy as you might think though. And they will definitely find it harder in 2014 than they have in the years gone by.
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward
Very good point on the marking contests Andy. But yes, hopefully Cloke can straighten up in front of the big sticks.
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward
We’ll see who’s laughing in a couple of months.
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward
TomC you’re right, I have made some bold predictions about how each player will take to their role and how well the three of them will work together.
The same could probably said about how well Cameron, Boyd and Patton can play together in one forward line. Or even Buddy, Tippet, Goodes and/or Sam Reid for that matter.
My point is that the structure is more dynamic and flexible than I can remember. I think it will come together for the Pies but if I’m wrong feel free to tell me so in a couple of months.
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward
I like Dawes but he wasn’t going to be the player Collingwood needed him to be. He couldn’t pinch-hit in the ruck and there wasn’t enough contrast between him and Cloke.
But I wish him all the best at Melbourne. He’s already shown signs of improvement, like trying to mark in front of his eyes instead of on his chest.
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward
Yes Gecko, you make a very good point. You don’t need a captain who is a dominant player and you certainly shouldn’t make your most dominant player your captain. For example, Dane Swan would not have been a good choice as captain.
The purpose of this piece was not to reflect on Maxwell’s time as captain but to reflect on what criteria captains should be judged. No matter what anyone says, I can’t agree that on-field performance is unimportant or that a captain isn’t more effective if he can take a game by the scruff of the neck.
But I do believe that Maxwell was a good captain because his on-field performance has always been underrated and because he would score well on the other criteria I discussed in the article.
Oh captain! Pie captain! Anointed one Pendlebury steps up
Thanks Floyd. You raise a good point. Perhaps it has a lot to do with expectations. Supporters who have come to expect their team to win (Geelong fans for example) may feel more disappointment than a supporter who has lower expectations. I know myself that losing the ones I expect us to win is always more painful.
I guess my point is that all die-hard fans feel terrible when their team isn’t playing well BUT that it doesn’t excuse turning on your team. And as you have said, supporters who have stuck by their team even when they have been in the wilderness for a generation deserve special praise.
Are you merely a fan, or a true believer?
Absolutely! Rumours of Collingwood’s demise have been very premature.
We’ve been smashed by injuries for the last 2 years. The loss of experience won’t hurt because most of them haven’t been playing anyway and we’ve got valuable time into our kids.
If we have a good run with injuries we could easily jump back into the top 4.
Season preview: Collingwood
Very good point.
I originally devoted a whole section of the article to the demands on modern captains, such as media and becoming a brand ambassador. I cut it out in order to keep the piece short but it is a very important part of this discussion.
Oh captain! Pie captain! Anointed one Pendlebury steps up
Thanks Atawhai – I’m glad the reference wasn’t too obscure.
Oh captain! Pie captain! Anointed one Pendlebury steps up
Thanks Tom.
It’s my first post here so it’s really good to get positive feedback.
Oh captain! Pie captain! Anointed one Pendlebury steps up
I have to admit HB that I worry about Collingwood’s backline too. I think we have better small backs than we used to but I’m hoping that Keefe and Frost will both step up.
Collingwood is finally finding its way forward