AFL Round 18 Collingwood V Brisbane Lions Official Thread

[The Flying Belgian]

No, it showed we are a side making up the 16 like about 10 others who, if we make the finals, will be just making up the top 8 and giving the boys 1 match to get finals experience.

Where are we on the ladder Tim? How many games have we won? This is about where we're at and pretty much where I expected to be so far. And for you to passing comment on a game you haven't even seen is a tad rich IMO

We're a young team who shows promise, but relies too much on our top 6-8 players. We have an overall average second tier and a group of young kids who undoubtedly show promise but are still very obviously very green.

And why are you mad about getting the kids a taste of finals? God forbid they might actually enjoy the expereince and want to taste it more.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Tonights loss lay fair & square in the coaching box; it's that simple. Now i am not advocating we dump Voss, but it is time to off load some of the imbeciles that share the air in the coaching box with him & let Gubby go while we're at it. Assistants that do not know what to do when opposition sides play 4 blokes on Browny are WORTHLESS to the club & no more than paracites in my opinion. Directors of football that keep assistants like that are soft. The Lions need to recruit a) a mentor for Vossy b) some full time TACTITIONS & c) a new Director of Football, some one who can be a real bastard & make ruthless decisions: a job for Lethal maybe??
We were so powerfully outcoached from midway through the second quarter that the players lost ALL confidence in each other. Their lack of direction & cohesion made them look far worse than they really are; and boy o' didn't they look terrible. One can only imagine the confusion that must have been going on "in the box".

 

[jackess]

Maybe it was Eddies pathetic comments on the footy show on Thursday night (man is he a professional grudge holder!) but losing to the Pies is awful hard to take.... especially when we lay down like we did.

Eddie is all for the salary cap being equal for all clubs. But I wonder if he would be all for a cap on coaching salary and off-field spending like on training facilities.

 

[Rush Stand]

I thought Brisbane had a mental stranglehold over the Pies according to genius Voss in an article in The Age last year!

What the genius failed to write in that article was simple. Brisbane was simply just a better side from about 2000 to a couple of years ago. The Pies have overtaken them now and he just needs to eat humble pie and come up with a better coaching plan because Brisbane cannot beat Collingwood now with the personnel the two sides have.

 

[Tim the Toolman]

...And for you to passing comment on a game you haven't even seen is a tad rich IMO...QUOTE]

Ummm....35 scoring shots to 15....doesn't really need to be watched to know we must've been pretty shite Belgian?

 

[Grimreepah]

I thought Brisbane had a mental stranglehold over the Pies according to genius Voss in an article in The Age last year!

The strange thing with Voss is that he has beaten the sides that had a stranglehold over us and lost to the sides who we had a stranglehold over.

 

[Trjn]

BTW, did any wrestling fans notice the DDT on Sheldon (I think) early on? I'm still working out how you can do that without being pinged for high contact.

 

[whatboutbob]

Somehow the boys have to learn to shake off a team. When things start to spiral its like it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy... they haven't figured out how to reset and get things back on their terms, how to stop the slide. Vossy talks a lot about the team not individuals... and somehow they need to be able to look a team in the eye and say nope it aint gonna happen. Right now if they start slipping it inevitably becomes a landslide.

I think you're overstating this. Countless times this year we've sucked for periods of a game then "reset" and gotten up. The hawks game was probably most notable for this.

However I wouldn't argue if you were to say that it takes too long to "reset".

As many have said, we've got a young team. Bad losses will happen. It is just a damn shame that it had to happen against the Pies after we were up at half-time.

The most telling thing will be how the boys respond to it.

 

[BigCat2]

Got to beat Bombers next week for best chance of finishing 5th or 6th, and an outside show for 4th.

 

[whizkizz]

Never judge players on their best games, never judge them on their worst games.

Is that a good or a bad thing for Brennan?

 

[Dylan12]

It pains me to say it as hes one of my favourite players (hell I've got worn guernseys on the wall) but Luke has really lost the plot this year. 4 goals last night were directly attributed to clangers he made. 4. Not 1... 4. And hes done this all year... turned over the ball like a rookie. I dont know what it is but its like hes just lost his way some how.

I just don't think Lukey is a back pocket player; he looks out of depth being totally accountable. If he is not in the middle, I would like him to revert to the forward pocket ala 1999-2000, where he has goal scoring nous and I think would know how to crumb off Browny. We are still lacking that Craig McRae forward, especially since Hooper's omission.

Does anyone think that maybe Vossy sees more value in a 5th placing than a 4th placing? Call me a crazy man, but in all honesty as much as a loss to Pies bites deep, other than bragging rights a 5th placed finish might just be a better tonic for the team than a 4th placed finish.

For mine, I would prefer to finish 6th anyway. I don't think we will make the four anyway and if the very dangerous Hawks sneak into the 8th, I would prefer say a Carlton to visit us at the Gabba for some payback. I have witnessed first hand both our losses to them this year and they don't impress me, so I would prefer to face them and provided we win, get a game in Melbourne against one of the top 4. Even if we lose that game, the experience alone for many of our first time final players will be invaluable.

Where are we on the ladder Tim? How many games have we won? This is about where we're at and pretty much where I expected to be so far. And for you to passing comment on a game you haven't even seen is a tad rich IMO

We're a young team who shows promise, but relies too much on our top 6-8 players. We have an overall average second tier and a group of young kids who undoubtedly show promise but are still very obviously very green.

And why are you mad about getting the kids a taste of finals? God forbid they might actually enjoy the expereince and want to taste it more.

I agree TFB. Tim, as I just say, it will be an invaluable experience for our first time finals players and youngsters in general and whet their appetite at the same time. I don't think any of us are expecting to win the flag this year, so there is no need to get so down on elements of the season. Sure I am as disappointed as the next Lions fan, but there have been so many positive experiences this year that will bode the squad and the club in good stead for a shot in 2010-2013. We are a young team and if anything watch the first half of last night, there is still a lot to get excited about.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Ummm....35 scoring shots to 15....doesn't really need to be watched to know we must've been pretty shite Belgian?

It shows we were beaten. Does that reflect the season as a whole? Or when we win are we just lucky? Sometimes I get the feeling you feel almost validated when we lose.

To me we're plain inconsistent and can dish up equal parts of fantastic football that matches anyone in the league and awful football worthy of a wooden spoon. That we're starting to bridge the gap between to two more often is a sign we're slightly on the better side of average. We do struggle against fully committed and disciplined sides, due to the relative youth of the team.

 

[whizkizz]

Our tackling pressure was pretty woeful last night. We had the Pies under the pump early, more because of our zoning than our pressure on the ball carrier. In the second half we really did neither. I think we really missed an in-form Rhan Hooper.

Collingwood are vitually the in form team of the competition, so facing them on their own turf was never going to be easy. I think in the run home we face 3rd, 8th, 10th and 11th. You would have to be pretty content winning 3 of those. Big test next week!

 

[Palmer Stoat]

We'll see what you say about Puckington after the game.

To be honest, I'm not sure Puckington played.

And your team certainly proved that Collingwood supporters focussing on J Brown were misguided.

You have a dazzling array of avenues to goal.

 

[weevil]

To be honest, I'm not sure Puckington played.

And your team certainly proved that Collingwood supporters focussing on J Brown were misguided.

You have a dazzling array of avenues to goal.

Easy mate, remember which board you are on.

 

[Hollow Knight]

What happened to no more warnings.

 

[weevil]

What happened to no more warnings.

That was directed at you.

 

[borrat]

i really think last night would have been a good game for johnstone to actually do something and might have actually helped around the stoppages which brisbane got slaughtered in

 

[Trjn]

i really think last night would have been a good game for johnstone to actually do something and might have actually helped around the stoppages which brisbane got slaughtered in

I really don't think he'd have helped. What we lacked last night are the exact problems that TJ has been having that caused him to be dropped. I don't think he would have added anything to the squad.

 

[king and i]

Ha ha! Touche

Actually I made the right bet knucklehead, but I still wish we had won... haha

 

[SunKing]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think Brown is now three goals clear of Fev?

Would be great to see Brown get a 2nd coleman.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think Brown is now three goals clear of Fev?

Would be great to see Brown get a 2nd coleman.

Consider yourself corrected.

Brown 68

Fev 64.

 

[Steve M]

I think it was just the inexperience of the team to maintain intensity for four quarters and the lack of avenues to goal - save Brown and Bradshaw.

The only thing that surprised me - maybe I missed it or maybe it's obvious to others - once we were struggling to kick goals why they didn't move Brown and get him into the play and just put either of Brennan, Clark even Power into the forward line to try and kick goals.

 

[kimp]

It wasn't a lack of avenues to goal - we were getting smashed in the centre - it simply wasn't getting near our 50 after half time. And even when it did get to Brown it was so far on the wing that the behinds were inevitable.

It was a case of little boys going up against seasoned campaigners. if it was anyone other than Collingwood there wouldn't be this much angst.

 

[StillWaiting5689]

Does anyone think that maybe Vossy sees more value in a 5th placing than a 4th placing?


Call me a crazy man, but in all honesty as much as a loss to Pies bites deep, other than bragging rights a 5th placed finish might just be a better tonic for the team than a 4th placed finish.

Using that logic, I think we came out and showed the Pies that they are still our bitches in the first half, and then effectively tanked the second half.

It's genius I tells ya.

I doubt it considering if you finished fourth you would get a home semi final if you lost first week and that gives you solid odds of making the prelim. I don't think its relevant though, our teams are a bit far off the top two anyway.

On last nights game I was suprised Brennan wasn't used forward, considering he always kills us and Brown was struggling against 3+ opponents on most occasions in the second half. Even keeping Merrett there but I'm guessing he got moved back to help out the defence. I don't think it would have mattered though as our midfield really got on top in the second half, though I was suprised we were as close as we were at 1/4 time and 1/2 time. Bradshaw will be a big in next week as well as some other senior players.
My tip is Brisbane finish 5th, Coll 4th and Adel 6th. Not a bad effort considering I think I had you somewhere between 7-10 before the season.