Unofficial Preview Changes & Pre-match Discussion - Qualifying Final vs. Geelong, Sat 03/09, 4:35pm MCG

[DinoSoar]

Anything to Naicos and Howe’s training absences? A few media outlets doing their darndest to turn it into something.

Ch9 running with something jiggy going on but Pies just saying it’s load management. Given McRae has said earlier back that they were considering giving Naicos a bit of a rest however his form has been too good to sit him out, I’m inclined to believe the club.

 

[Scodog10]

Ch9 running with something jiggy going on but Pies just saying it’s load management. Given McRae has said earlier back that they were considering giving Naicos a bit of a rest however his form has been too good to sit him out, I’m inclined to believe the club.

It’s in the detail for me. Apparently it’s the second consecutive session they’ve both sat out which puts it on my radar, but with the main session Thursday it’s only a watch.

 

[Pistol Night]

Anything to Naicos and Howe’s training absences? A few media outlets doing their darndest to turn it into something.

Standard stuff. Crapping on about all the ins for other clubs and trying to manufacture some outs for us

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

COLLINGWOOD​

Dig deep into the contest numbers for the qualifying final and it isn’t pleasant reading because Geelong’s onball brigade is miles ahead. The Cats rank fifth for points from stoppages (34.2), fourth for contested ball differential (+5.1) and clearance differential (+2) compared Collingwood’s 28.1 points from stoppages (15th), -9.1 contested ball (17th) and clearance differential -5.2 (17th). That should translate into territory dominance for Geelong. But there are two countering arguments that can keep the Magpies alive. The first is that their ball movement from the defensive half has improved out of sight, so even if they lose the territory battle they are capable of winning it back and transitioning the ground. In the first 17 rounds they averaged 29.6 points from defensive half (ranked 10th), but since then it’s risen to 38.2 points (ranked 3rd). The second is that stats mean bugger all when looking at the magical Maggies. They are calm in the crunch and can never be killed. Coach Craig McRae

Craig Mcrae

Age

51

Ht

176cm

Wt

73kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.9

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.2

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.2

3star

G

1.4

5star

conceded the statistics they were posting in these miraculous wins weren’t sustainable. But if they can just pull three more rabbits out of the hat they will have a premiership cup for all their tricks. It’s almost within touching distance, and it’s being powered by the professional kids. Ask anyone at Collingwood about Nick Daicos’s diet or Beau McReery’s tackling technique or Brayden Maynard

4

Brayden Maynard

Age

28

Ht

189cm

Wt

93kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

11.6

4star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.6

5star

MG

327.8

4star

D

20.7

5star

K

14.0

5star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

3.0

4star

MG

417.4

5star

D

13.8

4star

K

8.6

4star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.6

5star

MG

205.8

4star

’s infectious energy, and they will smile proudly. From straight-line kicking and slow play under Nathan Buckley to a chaotic style fuelled by spirit and belief. If it gets tight on Saturday the Magpies will know the Cats have played just two thrillers this season whereas they have experienced a lifetime’s amount, and won them all.

X-FACTOR: JAMIE ELLIOTT

Robbie Gray

9

Robbie Gray

Age

36

Ht

183cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.9

5star

K

9.8

4star

HB

10.1

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.4

5star

D

13.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

4star

D

10.4

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

has retired and the AFL has a new clutch king in Jamie Elliott. In final quarters since round 17 this bloke has 8.0 – he doesn't miss when it matters most – and he is the game’s No. 2 forward-half pressure player among all small forwards. Elliott didn't play a single game in 2016 or 2018 but is fast making up for that. He has broken Essendon and Carlton’s hearts and forever endeared himself to the Western Bulldogs for granting their September dream.

Jamie Elliott has been the AFL’s clutch player of 2022. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

 

[Countrypie]

You forgot the stat that shows Hawkins is number one for score involvements
and number 2 for goal assists, 1 behind Petracca. The only other key forward
in the top 20, is Cameron. Hawkins is the most unselfish full forward to have
ever played the game, he doesn’t care who kicks the goals as long as he helps
the team. When he won the Coleman he was also number one in the AFL for
goal assists, have a look to see if that stat has ever been duplicated.
Anyway, good luck, if we can’t win it I hope you guys go well.

Hawkins makes everybody around him better - no doubt. We don't have an effective match up for him. Cuttng supply would appear to be the only way to keep him quiet. Expect Moore to run off him when he can - which is a high risk strategy. Cameron is an interestng study - Maynard might be the best match up. Your contribution was relevant, respectful and intelligent - much appreciated

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Hawkins makes everybody around him better - no doubt. We don't have an effective match up for him. Cuttng supply would appear to be the only way to keep him quiet. Expect Moore to run off him when he can - which is a high risk strategy. Cameron is an interestng study - Maynard might be the best match up. Your contribution was relevant, respectful and intelligent - much appreciated

The article on Murphy is more than suggesting that he not Moore will be Hawkin's opponent, leaving Moore or Howe to play on Cameron and the other to play an intercept role. Maynard on Cameron, for several reasons, seems the more logical opponent.

 

[magpiemaniac44]

The nerves for this game are really starting to kick in now. Excited for Saturday

 

[Countrypie]

The article on Murphy is

?

 

[Ginnieboy]

We have an adequate choice of subs assuming adams comes back.

It should probably be a midfielder, probably Carmichael would be my choice but macrae brown and Bianco are decent options too.

Henry the other option but I think a midfielder adds more flexibility.

Good to see Kreuger back but he won’t be selected unless we suffer injuries in later finals.

I wouldn’t completely rules Madgen out especially against Geelong, they’re a tall team and if we lose a tall we’ll be up against it.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

?

I hit the wrong key or wrong spot on the page or God knows what, but I did finish the post!

 

[Countrypie]

The article on Murphy is more than suggesting that he not Moore will be Hawkin's opponent, leaving Moore or Howe to play on Cameron and the other to play an intercept role. Maynard on Cameron, for several reasons, seems the more logical opponent.

I've seen that - it's a big ask but it would free Moore up - again high risk but I kind of like that

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I've seen that - it's a big ask but it would free Moore up - again high risk but I kind of like that

And from Murphy's response, it does seem that he has been assigned the role already. Unless of course he is foxing and there is another cunning plan brewing beneath the surface.

 

[Countrypie]

And from Murphy's response, it does seem that he has been assigned the role already. Unless of course he is foxing and there is another cunning plan brewing beneath the surface.

I've wondered about that. Murphy seems way too small for Hawkins but so does everybody else

 

[whiskeytown]

I wouldn’t completely rules Madgen out especially against Geelong, they’re a tall team and if we lose a tall we’ll be up against it.

I’d give him less than a 5% chance of playing because

a) for several weeks now he has been playing his VFL footy as a forward and not as a defender

b) even when he kicked a few goals as a forward in the VFL he was not named in the emergencies for the seniors

Madge’s papers are stamped

But I like the idea of the contingent extra tall in the lineup who can play both ends… I would do this at WHE expense

This week would be the week to do it as the cats have a number of talls and most weeks an opposition tall usually kicks or threatens to kick a bag on us

However I think they will stick with Moore and undersized Murphy, Howe and Maynard for support

 

[Apex36]

He does do a lot of shoving in the back. I have to agree with Jonbe54 regarding that fact.

Does T Hawk pushing players in the back give us license to hurl abuse at posters from the Geelong board who post respectfully here?

I feel like you’ve completely missed the point on this one.

 

[unplugged]

Ch9 running with something jiggy going on but Pies just saying it’s load management. Given McRae has said earlier back that they were considering giving Naicos a bit of a rest however his form has been too good to sit him out, I’m inclined to believe the club.

I feel like Nick has missed quite a lot of Monday/Tuesday main training sessions over the last few weeks.

Per Sco I won't be concerned unless anyone is also missing on Thursday.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Does T Hawk pushing players in the back give us license to hurl abuse at posters from the Geelong board who post respectfully here?

I feel like you’ve completely missed the point on this one.

I like the input from posters from other teams, particularly at finals' time. They bring a knowledge to the forum of their players which we don't have or we ignore because we are consumed with analysing our players. It's hurtful to people who respectfully contribute to our discussion and are then summarily dismissed in the manner of the Geelong poster.

 

[Doc1763]

Yeah but Hawkins top pressure act is blatantly pushing opponents in the back and smirking when it is ignored.

PSS OFF.

Classy, as always

 

[Pie eyed]

Helmets don't help with concussion, as consussions are usually about the head suddenly changing direction - I think that's the current consensus anyway.

Brayshaw would disagree, father and son.

 

[Jim Levenstein]

Anyone think the Cats will come at our younger players like Naicos and Ginni physically?

I hope they do as focus is in wrong area. Kinda hope they Over do it in front of Bruzzy

 

[Jafo]

Brayshaw would disagree, father and son.

Burke, Dunstall, Mahoney, Caleb Daniel amongst a few others to have donned the helmet whilst playing.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

Burke, Dunstall, Mahoney, Caleb Daniel amongst a few others to have donned the helmet whilst playing.

Any idea why Dunstall chose to wear a helmet? He didn't really play a high contact position and seemed more than capable of handling the physical part of the game.

 

[Doc1763]

Any idea why Dunstall chose to wear a helmet? He didn't really play a high contact position and seemed more than capable of handling the physical part of the game.

He only wore it a couple of times after getting a fractured skull from an accidental knee.
I think it was in 1990

 

[Jim Levenstein]

Any idea why Dunstall chose to wear a helmet? He didn't really play a high contact position and seemed more than capable of handling the physical part of the game.

Only did it whilst recovering from fractured skyll

 

[Jafo]

Any idea why Dunstall chose to wear a helmet? He didn't really play a high contact position and seemed more than capable of handling the physical part of the game.

Fractured skull