Preview Collingwood VFL 2013

[blaze036]

slightly off topic, who do you guys think will run with Garlett or Betts rnd 2? I am worried about the leg speed we have and Harry O has been pantsed twice this year by Betts.
would like to hear peoples thoughts on this?

Williams/toovey

 

[Knightmare]

slightly off topic, who do you guys think will run with Garlett or Betts rnd 2? I am worried about the leg speed we have and Harry O has been pantsed twice this year by Betts.
would like to hear peoples thoughts on this?

Certainly not Harry. He struggles with the agile, slippery speedsters so he is NOT a suitable matchup for Betts or Garlett.

Certainly Toovey takes one (possible Garlett) and maybe a Jordan Russell can take another if he is best 22. Marley Williams if he makes the best 22 also a possible matchup.

 

[DaVe86]

slightly off topic, who do you guys think will run with Garlett or Betts rnd 2? I am worried about the leg speed we have and Harry O has been pantsed twice this year by Betts.
would like to hear peoples thoughts on this?

Yeah I think we might see Toovey and Russell get the nod. Might be Russell's first game in Collingwood colours and would be the perfect opportunity to bring him in against his former side. At his best, he was a decent shut down defender.

I worry about his endurance and the fact he hasn't played a lot of senior footy over the past few years. A lot of Carlton people also tell me he doesn't stick to his task long enough.

THe opportunity is there however for him this pre-season if he works hard enough. He definitely has talent.

 

[forwardflanker]

Benny Johnson is the other guy who might be given a defensive job on one of them. As long as Maxwell or O'Brien don't I'm happy.

What hurts us more against Carlton is there midfield spread running into the forwardline. If you can shut that down then Carlton should be an easy win. This is probably my bias speaking but I'm still pretty sure Carlton are pretty weak running the other way. Or put in other words, they have trouble defending on the rebound because so many of their midfielders get stuck in front of the ball.

Basically if our midfielders play better defensively and make it difficult for them to move it quickly then they have no plan B.

 

[blaze036]

Apparently the VFL fixture comes up very soon, ill add it to OP when its up.

edit* ONLY ONE BYE HURRAYYY (over 19 rounds)

 

[blaze036]

Added full VFL fixture, worth noting there are a few split rounds and one full bye for us (round 11).

Between two rounds (i think rounds 12-13) there will be a WAFL V VFL match.

We have a pretty easy start to the season, with 3 of our first 4 matches against teams who finished in the bottom half of the ladder last year with the exception of weribee (round 2).

Immediately after the bye we play 4 of the top 5 teams from 2012 over 5 rounds, so that should be a very challenging period and will determine our finals aspirations.

 

[Matz]

Yeah I think we might see Toovey and Russell get the nod. Might be Russell's first game in Collingwood colours and would be the perfect opportunity to bring him in against his former side. At his best, he was a decent shut down defender.

I worry about his endurance and the fact he hasn't played a lot of senior footy over the past few years. A lot of Carlton people also tell me he doesn't stick to his task long enough.

THe opportunity is there however for him this pre-season if he works hard enough. He definitely has talent.

The question is though, do we think Tooves and Russell can keep up with them? they really cut us open with speed.

 

[DaVe86]

I think the concern was more how easy they moved it through the middle, and I think Yarran really cut us open up forward. I think we need to try a more attacking player on him like Thomas or Fasolo to try and force him to defend.

In terms of Betts and Garlett, not many can go with them for foot speed. THe key as always is to ensure we close the game up through the middle and prevent them opportunities. I am confident in Toovey shutting down his opponent, and a guy like Jonno or Russell can play a big game if called upon.

THe problem is we went head to head against too many teams in 2012. Carlton is one of the few midfields in the comp that matches us for talent and can actually beat us head to head. But I think we have stronger bodies and more depth...so we are better off playing a shut down game and wearing them down.

 

[jonbe54]

I think the concern was more how easy they moved it through the middle, and I think Yarran really cut us open up forward. I think we need to try a more attacking player on him like Thomas or Fasolo to try and force him to defend.

In terms of Betts and Garlett, not many can go with them for foot speed. THe key as always is to ensure we close the game up through the middle and prevent them opportunities. I am confident in Toovey shutting down his opponent, and a guy like Jonno or Russell can play a big game if called upon.

THe problem is we went head to head against too many teams in 2012. Carlton is one of the few midfields in the comp that matches us for talent and can actually beat us head to head. But I think we have stronger bodies and more depth...so we are better off playing a shut down game and wearing them down.

Agree with most DaVe but I would add that IMHO this Carlton team - with the exception of Judd and a few others is the epitome of front running.

Close them down, force them to scrap for the footy, niggle and nudge, make them chase defensively and you have them playing the footy they don't want to play.

 

[mattys123]

Interesting VFL draw, once again with plenty of games at Victoria Park.

There's only 3 possible double headers though it seems, and only one that has been scheduled as a deliberate double header (round 15 - VFL vs Casey at Noon, later that day we play GWS at the G at 4pm).

Anyway, we should make the finals with out squad, and that draw.

 

[blaze036]

Interesting VFL draw, once again with plenty of games at Victoria Park.

There's only 3 possible double headers though it seems, and only one that has been scheduled as a deliberate double header (round 15 - VFL vs Casey at Noon, later that day we play GWS at the G at 4pm).

Anyway, we should make the finals with out squad, and that draw.

It's a great draw for tapping, easy games to start to get some confidence and cohesion off the bat

 

[TradeDraft]

Fixture for 2013:

http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-118-0-0-0&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=21551851

 

[blaze036]

Fixture for 2013:

http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-118-0-0-0&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=21551851

anyone thoughts on the draw td

 

[Knightmare]

On Carlton I don't see them as being so one way running this year. Under Malthouse he won't allow for one way football being the defensive minded man he is.

Carrazzo is in that midfield as a two way guy but Gibbs also I expect to be a full time mid and I also expect he will be more of a two way mid also which will give them that better balanced dynamic to go with the more one way guys in there.

If anything we've got the more one way midfield with no real defensive mids or types that typically run forward harder than back.

 

[Seldom Seen Kid]

Looking forward to getting to a few VFL games now that I'm living in Melbourne. Is Vic Park pretty straightforward to get to? I'm living in South Yarra at the mo but haven't really had a chance to explore that part of the city yet.

 

[Number 10]

Williams/toovey

I feel like we actually missed Marley when he was injured. I honestly thought he was the missing player in defense - the mongrel of the lot who roughs up the smalls and can keep up with them to. I think he will be very very close to best 22 even without injuries.

 

[blaze036]

I feel like we actually missed Marley when he was injured. I honestly thought he was the missing player in defense - the mongrel of the lot who roughs up the smalls and can keep up with them to. I think he will be very very close to best 22 even without injuries.

IMO i'd like to see him more developed as a midfielder, and only going small defender against teams like carlton when it's desperately needed, there is plenty to like about him. The only real concern would be his kicking, but with the penetration he gets on his kicks it shouldn't be too big an issue, i think it would hurt us coming out of defense a lot more than if he was midfield and could just boot it to 60m to cloke.

A midfield in a few years time of Grundy/witts Kennedy Williams Fasolo Pendlebury Thomas Beams Sidebottom Broomhead would be fantastic and probably close to best in the league if our young kids develop well

 

[Number 10]

IMO i'd like to see him more developed as a midfielder, and only going small defender against teams like carlton when it's desperately needed, there is plenty to like about him. The only real concern would be his kicking, but with the penetration he gets on his kicks it shouldn't be too big an issue, i think it would hurt us coming out of defense a lot more than if he was midfield and could just boot it to 60m to cloke.

A midfield in a few years time of Grundy/witts Kennedy Williams Fasolo Pendlebury Thomas Beams Sidebottom Broomhead would be fantastic and probably close to best in the league if our young kids develop well

Yeh agree about him being midfielder but for now his senior role is small back until we can fill that spot sufficiently which could be 1-2 years down the track. Yagmoor, Ramsay... Not sure but yes agreed he projects as a long term mid.

 

[blaze036]

Yeh agree about him being midfielder but for now his senior role is small back until we can fill that spot sufficiently which could be 1-2 years down the track. Yagmoor, Ramsay... Not sure but yes agreed he projects as a long term mid.

Ramsay is more an outside midfielder and yagmoor will be delisted, so we don't seem to have much there .

Really need to recruit one next draft

 

[4#Didak#4]

AFL Rankings of List quality:

COLLINGWOODDefenders 5th
Midfield / Rucks 1st
Forwards 14th
LIST QUALITY 5th

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...-are-set-to-soar/story-e6frepex-1226536434200

They have Hawks #1, WC, Syd & Freo all above us. Seems the main thing holding us back based on their ratings is the forward line.

Having our forward line ranked 14th is a bit harsh and doesn't seem right. Although I do agree we are behind others in this area.

 

[DWil6]

We really lacked crumbling forwards this year. The ball was constantly waltzed out of our forward line. Obviously Cloke is massive and Q will be an improvement on Dawes' year but crumbers like Betts we lack. Hopefully someone puts their hand up next year.

 

[DaVe86]

Our defence is a lot better than 5th.

Our defence struggled last year because the ball was getting rebounded too easily and defenders were exposed too often. Nathan Brown was coming off a knee reco, Tarrant couldn't get himself right and Reid was in and out. Maxwell also had an interrupted year, whilst Jonno missed large chunks. Heath Shaw was also always carrying something.

I still have faith in our defenders. All i would like is a bit more precision coming out of defence. Getting Keefe back may free up Reid and we can utilise his kicking more. Otherwise we could use Young a bit deeper for his run and carry.

 

[DaVe86]

We really lacked crumbling forwards this year. The ball was constantly waltzed out of our forward line. Obviously Cloke is massive and Q will be an improvement on Dawes' year but crumbers like Betts we lack. Hopefully someone puts their hand up next year.

I felt this as well.

But you have to keep in mind the following.

Our forwards in 2010 and 2011 consisted of: Sidebottom, Blair, Beams, Davis/Krakouer, Macaffer and Didak.

Last year the first 3 guys all moved into the middle, Macaffer and Krakouer did knees, Davis retired and Didak couldn't get onto the park. Leigh Brown's retirement also hurt because we lacked a bullocking buffer for Clokes and Dawes...and it meant Dawes had to play in the ruck which left Cloke as the only tall guy up forward at times.

That left us with a brand new forward line consisting of SInclair, Goldsack, Elliot and Fasolo. All good players, but lacked real scoreboard impact in the 2nd half of the year in particular.

This year, we get big Q who will fill the Leigh Brown void, and we also get Krakouer back. Didak will hopefully get fit and at least push for his spot again or be a sub. Macaffer will also fight for his spot again, but will hav stronger competition with Jackson Paine and Goldsack to play the mid-sized tall role.

The return of Ball also means SIdebottom and Blair can play more time forward which is where I'd like to see them more as they are such good crumbers and have good goal sense.

Having Krakouer, Blair and Sidebottom forward means we have 3 of the most naturally gifted crumbers in the comp all at the feet of Cloke and Q.

And we also have depth now with guys like Elliot and Sinclair proving they are of AFL quality.

 

[mattys123]

Williamstown have announced that they have signed Cam Wood.

 

[blaze036]

Williamstown have announced that they have signed Cam Wood.

Richmond furious.