Game Day Round 22 vs. Sydney, SCG, 7:40pm Friday 09/08

[Fat Jesus]

Not me

I'm with you bro.
I smile unashamedly when an opposition player goes down.
Being honest..

Still classy as ever

 

[magpies42]

I’m disappointed. We’ve lacked courage at selection. DeGoey is probably our biggest X-factor player. The guy outside the team with most X-factor is Kreuger. We should have brought him in. He would really worry the Swans defence.

And retaining all of Bytel, Long and Lipinski is so uninspired. None of them are making a meaningful contribution to team performance. And they’re all treacle-slow. I’d have gone with Parker and Harrison for pace and because they seem to make things happen.

Overall, a very underwhelming line-up in such a do-or-die match. The Swans’ players and coaches will all be happy with the side we’ve chosen.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

I’m not sure Bambi hands Kreuger will worry anybody. He plays like a pin ball. Cox is another one who cant mark, has been like that since his eye injuries…at least he can ruck effectively. Kreuger does at least apply pressure.

Grundy and Adams are of greatest concern for me. They are competitive beasts and will be eager to show their worth against us.

Our midfield is currently a bunch of second rate role players and Daicos, it will be easy for Sydney to counter this…they are very strong around the ball. Crisp has to have a great game on ball. I’d be playing Lipinski on a wing and Steele on ball as well.

 

[sr36]

Interesting i thought you would of brought Krueger in to exploit our defence.

Elliott might be 20cm shorter but even without jumping he marks it at a higher point than Krueger - who is a chest marker. And that's without jumping - Jamie can jump. Hoskin Elliott the same. Our forward line is good and will damage if given enough opportunities. Midfield is the worry.

 

[NMBB]

Here we go again - SEN "on paper"


Pies by 11 points

 

[Fruit]

Does WHE go to Blakey?

 

[No SPIN]

Does WHE go to Blakey?

Not sure he has the speed

 

[Piewithsauce13]

Not sure I've ever seen a winger get tagged but I'm all for Bytel shadowing Gulden tomorrow night

Not too familiar with Bytels best attributes, has he got the tank to go with him?

 

[No SPIN]

Not too familiar with Bytels best attributes, has he got the tank to go with him?

Yes - very good tank.

 

[Piewithsauce13]

Are swannies going to play keeping’s off tonight? Hope we don’t allow it!!

 

[FromTheBoundaryLine]

Would have preferred Sydney’s 100 point loss came this week rather than last but still think we can win. The key for me will be in their faces full on pressure from the first bounce. Early pressure and a lot of physical presence so they know they are being hunted. Obvious I know but I feel that when we match up on the Swans we let them have their own way too much which takes the physicality out of the match. Want to see them getting up off the ground regularly.
Crisp would seem a good match up for Warner. Grundy has been great for them so if Cameron and Cox can win this battle we’ll be well on our way. Winning or at least breaking even at stoppages around the ground will be key as I feel we’ve been a bit off in this area. Kick straight. Congratulations Howey.
Go get em Pies!!!!!!

 

[No SPIN]

Are swannies going to play keeping’s off tonight? Hope we don’t allow it!!

We need to have found a way to counter it, because other teams in the finals will definitely use it against us.

 

[Soaring Magpie]

Would have preferred Sydney’s 100 point loss came this week rather than last but still think we can win. The key for me will be in their faces full on pressure from the first bounce. Early pressure and a lot of physical presence so they know they are being hunted. Obvious I know but I feel that when we match up on the Swans we let them have their own way too much which takes the physicality out of the match. Want to see them getting up off the ground regularly.
Crisp would seem a good match up for Warner. Grundy has been great for them so if Cameron and Cox can win this battle we’ll be well on our way. Winning or at least breaking even at stoppages around the ground will be key as I feel we’ve been a bit off in this area. Kick straight. Congratulations Howey.
Go get em Pies!!!!!!

Geez, I can’t even remember the last time we beat a side by 100 points!

 

[Jen2310]

COLLINGWOOD​

THE TEMPLATE’S THERE

The Magpies generally like to create a chaos game, keeping the ball in motion and using their pressure to force turnover and go forward at speed into a diverse forward line.

However, don’t be surprised if they make a subtle change to their style this week.

The template that has been successful against Sydney over the past six weeks has centred on control rather than chaos.

Teams are playing a kick-mark game to defend with the footy, denying the Swans the ball and taking away their attacking weapons.

What Port Adelaide also did well defensively last week was take away Sydney’s uncontested marks.


Whenever a turnover occurred, the Power players quickly snapped into a defensive mindset and found an opponent to cover.

When a Swans’ defender or midfielder backwards-of-centre looked up, there would be one-on-one contests all over the ground which significantly disrupted the side’s ball movement.

Collingwood has often implemented a spatial defensive system, but one-on-one cover looks a better option against Sydney right now.

Regardless of the system, though, the Magpies must ensure they take time away from the likes of Heeney, Warner and Gulden when they do win the ball.

If they don’t, these three players will be all involved in score involvements or kick goals themselves.

Fleet-of-foot forwards like Bobby Hill, Beau McCreery and Jamie Elliott must also pressure and chase with intent to further disrupt the Swans’ transition game out of the back half.

SHIFT THE FOOTY

Sydney’s recent defensive woes present a huge opportunity for Collingwood.

Against Port Adelaide last week, the Swans conceded a shot on goal from 58 per cent of Port’s inside-50s.

Against the Western Bulldogs the week before that number sat at 54 per cent and against the Brisbane Lions before that it was 55 per cent.

On the flip side, the Magpies have been incredibly efficient going inside-50.

Since round 16, they have averaged only 45.8 inside-50s per game but rank No. 3 for scores per entry at 49 per cent.

If Sydney is not better switched on defensively and Collingwood can generate enough entries, 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

’s side could dine out.

The key for the Magpies will be their ball movement from the back half.

They need to shift the footy to the open side of the ground — particularly backwards of centre — in a bid to generate speed on the game going into their attack.

If the Swans allow this to happen, the visitors could get the game on their terms with slick and fast ball movement leading to easy scores.

MICK’S TIP ​

Sydney by 15 points.

I’m expecting an immediate response from the Swans after the embarrassment of a 112-point loss to Port Adelaide last week which will have pricked their pride. I also fear the Magpies might be emotionally drained after getting themselves up for Scott Pendlebury

10

Scott Pendlebury

Age

36

Ht

191cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.5

5star

K

13.2

5star

HB

13.3

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

4.9

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

25.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

12.9

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.3

3star

CL

3.6

4star

D

12.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.8

4star

M

5.8

5star

T

2.6

4star

’s 400th game against Carlton. We’ve seen plenty of sides fall flat the week after similar emotion-charged triumphs like that before.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mick-mcguanes-sydneycollingwood-preview-magnet-moves-which-have-shaped-afl-finals-race/news-story/0ecf67fc917a9296d8365463ad5201e7

 

[No SPIN]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mick-mcguanes-sydneycollingwood-preview-magnet-moves-which-have-shaped-afl-finals-race/news-story/0ecf67fc917a9296d8365463ad5201e7

Ranked 3 for inside kicking efficiency is a huge plus, combine that with Swans conceding scores prolifically from oppo I50 is a double whammy in our favour.
How do Swans turn around this defensive frailty overnight given it’s been an issue for weeks?
Very difficult task.
I think we win.

 

[NMBB]

We need to have found a way to counter it, because other teams in the finals will definitely use it against us.

So we're definitely making finals?

 

[sr36]

Not too familiar with Bytels best attributes, has he got the tank to go with him?

No one has. You've got to rotate them on Gulden.

 

[Piewithsauce13]

Geez, I can’t even remember the last time we beat a side by 100 points!

2012 against giants I believe

 

[BuildEmUp]

Geez, I can’t even remember the last time we beat a side by 100 points!

I recall being at the G when did that to the scum in 2002 - was a joyous night

2002

R18

Collingwood

5.5

9.8

15.12

21.15

141

dftd

Carlton

1.2

1.3

2.6

4.9

33

 

[No SPIN]

So we're definitely making finals?

I’m confident.

 

[Fruit]

I hope we lift for Jezza Howe and get this done. If I was highlighting something about him pre-game I wouldn’t go to the marking. I’d go to all the spoils he does when he’s 3rd man up or busting his ass to make up ground on an opponent.
I think this part of his game is really underrated and I think his decision making in the air is as good as everyone. He makes strong decisions to either mark or spoil and rarely gets it wrong. I think he’d be rated as a great teammate internally.

 

[LuckyLee]

I’m not sure Bambi hands Kreuger will worry anybody. He plays like a pin ball. Cox is another one who cant mark, has been like that since his eye injuries…at least he can ruck effectively. Kreuger does at least apply pressure.

Grundy and Adams are of greatest concern for me. They are competitive beasts and will be eager to show their worth against us.

Our midfield is currently a bunch of second rate role players and Daicos, it will be easy for Sydney to counter this…they are very strong around the ball. Crisp has to have a great game on ball. I’d be playing Lipinski on a wing and Steele on ball as well.

That's harsh. Freddie has looked really good in most games he has played this year and has hit the scoreboard. The chaos he brings creates opportunities for the likes of Hill, Jamie and Schultz and, for a bloke of his size, Kreuger is very fast. Most defenders would feel uneasy playing on him. And the Swans' defence was in disarray last week, so I would have brought him in to try to capitalise on that.

I don't mind the selection of Richards - he's quite dynamic and good on both sides of his body - but I'd have gone all-in on X-factor and goal-scoring power by bringing in Freddie and Harrison, too - probably at the expense of Lipinski and Bytel. I'm completely off Lipinski. To my eye, he's lacks intensity, is late to every contest and virtually never stops an opponent with a one-on-one tackle.

Anyway, its done now and I hope the selectors make me look silly, with the team getting the win and Lipinski playing a blinder.

 

[manicpie]

So, are we beating these campaigners tonight. I reckon we will

 

[Deleted member 133504]

I reecall being at the G when did that to the scum sometime 12-15 years back

Nah. Would have been 2002. Even Presti kicked a goal. On Corey McKernan. I feel like it was a milestone game for Bucks? Was the night the Gold jacket bloke (deliberately not naming names) brought a big wooden spoon in. Could you imagine trying that today?

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Quietly confident we can win this. I'm hoping we've turned a corner in recent weeks and we're giving this season one last push, especially in light of Sydney's recent form slump.

We're pretty conservative with our team changes, but continuity and stability is always a good thing. I just wonder whether we should have considered Kreuger to stretch Sydney's defence.

The biggest question is how JDG's absence will affect the team. Once he sustained his hamstring injury last week, we really struggled to stop Carlton's dominance at clearance.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

2012 against giants I believe

That's the one.

As it turns out, we currently have the longest 100+ points winning margin drought in the competition.