Are we Collingwood's bitch?

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Apparently we were west coast's bitches too, but look whats happening there.

West Coast had a period where they had the wood on us, but historically the win/loss ratio is 20-17 their way.

Collingwood is s diferent kettle of fish though as it's 24-11 their way since 1991

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

A good question would be WHY are we collingwood's bitch?

Why do we choke and fold against them? Why can they bitch slap us at will in final quarters?

Many clubs would have a poor record against Collingwood over the last few years.

Good players is the simple reason; Pendlebury, Swan, Thomas, Beams, Sidebottom is a ridiculous midfield (even without Ball). Good key defenders, one good key forward (current form aside).

Their ability to free up Shaw, O'Brien and/or Maxwell in the back half has been a constant source of problems (not just for us).

Also the confidence they have gained from past wins. You get a few good results for whatever reason, this confidence bleeds into future matches. It works the other way too. Collingwood kick two goals in a row and we get a case of the uh-ohs.

 

[spenze]

Not sure we can read much into our loss against them earlier this year, it was obvious where the ascendancy was for them in that game yet Sando refused to put a man on their loose man. Pretty sure we'd go in with a diferent game plan next time

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Not sure we can read much into our loss against them earlier this year, it was obvious where the ascendancy was for them in that game yet Sando refused to put a man on their loose man. Pretty sure we'd go in with a diferent game plan next time

The Pies do the loose man thing differently to other clubs.

They don't set up with 7 men in their backline, so it isn't just a matter of us swinging our spare man forward. Their back six all start with direct opponents.

But during play they manage to drop off their man. They basically let their opponents push up the ground, particularly to stoppages, and they are prepared to concede some possessions in this way or cop a numerical disadvantage.

They back themselves to do more damage in this way by limiting our attacks and setting up their own rebounds from defence. I would really like to see Vince, Porps, Douglas, Hendo... whoever, our forwards and half forwards make their opponents accountable and not get sucked up to the stoppages. We've been so good at clearances this year it is in our interests to have less congestion around the stoppages anyway. It's just more room for Jacobs, Thompson and Dangerfield to work their moves.

 

[Vivcrows22]

If they knock us out this year itll be four times within 10 years. A remarkable record.

Yes, well let's just hope we don't have to face them...

 

[rayven]

I can see Collingwood finnishing fifth and playing Geelong first up in spring (especialy if west coast bounce back)

Thats not good (for them) cause they'll be going interstate if they win or playing hawthorn on the rebound.

 

[Vivcrows22]

I can see Collingwood finnishing fifth and playing Geelong first up in spring (especialy if west coast bounce back)

Thats not good (for them) cause they'll be going interstate if they win or playing hawthorn on the rebound.

Geelong Eighth? Who's going to be Seventh then? St Kilda?

 

[rayven]

Geelong Eighth? Who's going to be Seventh then? St Kilda?

You'd rekon nth or Essendon.

 

[earlsta]

We need to play Hawthorn or Collingwood in the first week of finals, we need the experience for the long haul.
Look at what Sydney did to Geelong in 06, something clicked after that and we all saw what happened.
We need experience against the big teams in the finals because there is no big stage like it, I'm hoping we play the Pies Rd1 at AAMI.

 

[Vivcrows22]

You'd rekon nth or Essendon.[/quote

Fair enough, considering Geelong's draw actually.

 

[Moonwatcher]

I love the thought of Adelaide v Hawthorn/Collingwood finals this year. If we win 20 years of dominance means nothing (even in the years they knocked us out of finals we weren't contenders). The slight worry with Sydney would be that our 10 years of dominance would mean nothing if they beat us.

Two finals against quality opposition this year would set us up nicely for 2013, but I am daring to dream of 2012.

Ps Yes we are Collingwood's bitch and this needs to change.

 

[PCORF]

We could finish 1st and Collingwood 4th. They are far more experienced in games that matter the most .... surely we will be underdogs in any final vs the Pies this year.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Yes we are, we've been in control of so many games against them and can't put them away. We are their bitches.

 

[rayven]

We could finish 1st and Collingwood 4th. They are far more experienced in games that matter the most .... surely we will be underdogs in any final vs the Pies this year.

If your team has structure has monentum and is not injury ravaged, sometimes the innocence and exhuberance of a young team can be very much arrogant towards experience..

 

[ADL!]

Agree we need to face Collingwood or Hawthorn first up to see where we really stand.

 

[PCORF]

Agree we need to face Collingwood or Hawthorn first up to see where we really stand.

I prefer to face Hawthorn.

 

[A FEW GOOD MEN]

I believe the ultimate would be to beat Collingwood in a grand Final but I wouldn't be too distraught if we were playing the Swans on September 30th.

 

[Schulzycrow]

Hell yes we are and it shites me like you wouldn't believe Needed Tex earlier in the year, really think he is the key. I can see us taking the Carlton and hawks gameplan against the pies and turning it around come September. Finals wise bring on any of the top 5 on our day we can beat any of them.

 

[Cap]

honestly I can't believe people are sitting here scared of playing the Pies or the Hawks and who you would prefer.

Honestly, the team has the capacity to beat either team on their day - hence my disgust at our capitulation to the Pies earlier in the year - an over reaction? perhaps but beating the elite teams in the comp is something we need to do

 

[ronnie1234]

Yes.. yes we are their b*tches. That loss against Collingwood in 2009 (not the finals) confirmed it. Ever since that game I felt that they had the mental edge over us. Regardless of how badly we dominate them they are always hanging on until 3/4 time and then blasting us by 30-40 points in the 10 minutes of play because we repeatedly failed to put them away in the last quarter. Credit to their freakish midfield for successfully mentally scarring our supporters and team

 

[TheLeftFist8]

As has been mentioned their strengths are a deep, quality midfield and a bevy of versatile rebounding defenders.

How do we counter them, whilst not forgetting our strengths?

A level of accountability will be key. Up forward with the attacking flair of Walker, Tippett, Callinan, Porps, Vince, we can afford to have a '3rd tall' who can play accountable role (perhaps Shaw or Otten), and of course Petrenko on their key running defensive playmaker (?Shaw). It's a shame Hendo isn't fit as the role would be perfect for him. Unfortunately he won't have time to get back up to speed.

Through the middle the form of van Berlo and the emergence of Matthew Wright will be absolutely critical in attempting to nullify at least a couple of their big stars. I also like the versatility of Smith in the 22 as he can give these guys some back up throughout the game in those defensive/mid roles. We won't stop them completely but if we can limit their time and space to create havoc forward of centre including shots at goal, in conjunction with our defence doing a decent job I'm pretty confident we can beat them.

Except for sacrificing perhaps another forward to be more defensively minded and 'man on man' i don't think this changes our structure too much...we still need to go in with an attacking mindset knowing that if we play our way we can beat anyone.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

There would be no better day than beating Collingwood in a GF!

Remember they tend to choke on GF day. Only one decent effort in recent times against inferior opposition who also choke on the biggest stage.

Let's just hope with a new game plan and coach, we are no longer Craigy's Chokers.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Collingwood may think they have our measure, but there is one thing they haven't encountered in a finals series before, and they don't stand a chance:

 

[Heafy83]

Collingwood may think they have our measure, but there is one thing they haven't encountered in a finals series before, and they don't stand a chance:

WINGNUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Elder van Berlo]

Yeh, we are, but we were North Melbourne's bitch from the mid 90s to early 2000s, and I'm pretty comfortable with how that all panned out. Another thing that is up for debate is how much of Collingwood's recent dominance over us counts for now that we are pretty much a completely new team. I reckon the last quarter fadeout in round 9 was more to do with fatigue (8 v 6 day break) than any psychological advantage, and until then we stacked up pretty well.

For what it's worth (not much) my ladder predictor has us finishing top and Collingwood 4th...