Autopsy So so so close (Please read OP)

[Countrypie]

Why wasn't that Grundy mark paid in the third? No way it was play on.

Did he elect to play on?

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

Again and while I agree with everything here, to simplify there are two sides to the ledger on the big dance - the fave and the underdog and it seems whichever we are we lose em more often than not. I know there's an explanation(s) for every one of those GF losses.

Dogs 16 - underdogs win
tigs 17- underdogs win
Pies 18 - underdogs lose

We only win one in every three why play, why does that always go that way? Why does it have to be us?

I know mate, it's shit.
In context of the last three years, I hate to say it but when the game was in the balance, we just didn't have a Dustin Martin, Tom Boyd or Liam Picken to provide those moments that kill an opposition.

 

[neilk]

Did he elect to play on?

I thought he did watching at the game.

 

[lethalburns]

I think this young side has a lot of potential but we are 2-3 hardened leaders short of being very successful for a sustained period of time.

Even though it could have easily gone our way yesterday I do believe you need multiple high quality leaders blended in with the right amount of talent to have sustained tilts at a flag.

If we can get May you'd like to think he will bring a level of leadership and hardness but we need more either through internal development or acquisition.

 

[Soups]

I thought he did watching at the game.

He played on. Was silly at the time but trying to take the game on is ok with me.

 

[Ant85]

Wow. That was hard to read.

I'd finally started to stop replaying key "what if?" moments like those in my head constantly, and this just brought them roaring back... another sleepless night awaits...

WCE would have had just as many "what ifs" if we were able to hang on for another 2 minutes. They committed a crap load of mistakes under heat too, but it's only the losing side that counts their mistakes. Errors happen when the pressure is that intense, and it was for 3 quarters.

We didn't lose from one mistake here, or a missed free kick there. We lost because WCE were able to impose their game on us for 3 quarters, and we were playing with a defensive mindset after quarter time.

Just like the first game at the MCG earlier in the year. We kicked the first three goals, they adapted to our pressure, lifted a notch, took control of the midfield, strangled the game, and we couldn't shake it.

It was an almost exact replay of that game, except for the fact that we were able to weather their pressure a bit longer this time - almost enough, to be exact!

 

[loki04]

Agreed. Few dodgy calls at crucial moments didn't help but I cannot count how many times we kicked it out in the 2nd half only to have it rebound back inside their 50.

We need to improve so as to take the umps out of it, but none the less that was a game we lost by a kick which was heavily influenced by umpiring.

 

[Seedsfan]

We need to improve so as to take the umps out of it, but none the less that was a game we lost by a kick which was heavily influenced by umpiring.

Exactly right

 

[loki04]

Ok, I got up the courage to watch the Sheed mark. Umpire got it right. It was a legal shepherd and he didnt play on. 45 seconds of replay is enough for me.

It was an illegal shepherd (clearly impeded maynards ability to get to the contest off the ball).

Anyway that was one of about 10 head scratchers.

 

[LordLucifer]

Commiserations Pies fans.

I didn't get to see the game as I had to work the whole weekend at a festival up on the NSW mid-coast. However, I was periodically checking the scores on the AFL app.

Clearly your lads were well in it for the greater part of the match, maybe it was all down to a touch of fatigue from playing four finals, who knows ??

I think the greater football world will always wholeheartedly thank-you for knocking the Tigers out of the premiership race, that alone was sheer gold.

I spoke to a Collingwood supporting friend on the phone afterwards who was at the game and he was of the opinion that given the small margin, it was just a couple of 50/50 things that went the Eagles way that got them over the line. He said they kicked a couple of "arsey" goals from nowhere which didn't help either.

Overall, whilst it is disappointing to lose a GF, the Pies 2018 season was excellent and as supporters, you got full value out of your ride once you bought your ticket.

Now, just have to get my Blues back up there to have some more old-school epic battles.

 

[loki04]

I guess you just don’t see it - his amazing courage and strength.

Oh well, we all see things differently.

To me it’s a pity you don’t see it. As you’re missing some great plays.

I love pendles but there is no doubt that he doesn't crack in with intent. He likes to hold his feet and reach in rather then bullock his big frame in and hit bodies hard which was required in the GF. He's 191cm and 90 plus kg he has the frame but not intent.

I think someone called it correctly in that we need to get him outside the contest onto a wing and maybe use him in the Phillips role where we can utilise his kicking skills.

 

[jathanas]

But we didn't. When we had to stand up we couldn't. That's football though.

I'm still feeling a little flat but boy what a season. Proud of the boys for what they did, and sometimes you need a grand final loss. It kills me type that as a Collingwood tragic as I know we have had our fair share of losses, but seeing Taylor Adams after the game giving an interview made me think this could be the making of our group.

I don't expect us to fall away next year, I expect us to grow. We should be there again, we deserve to be there again! If we can just keep the cattle out on the field their is absolutely no reason why we can't. After that finals campaign there is no team I fear. We should finish top 4. Everything was against us this season, and we got within minutes of a flag. I love this club. This season was a beautiful reflection of our history and what we stand for.

That's my view on it too Duck.

Life offers no guarantees and football is no different. Our ultimate destination wasn't reached in 2018; we fell short by such a narrow margin. Reflecting on the journey though, how awesome was it?

It's impossible not to love our group of players and the coach. "My heart is full" (Friday night lights)

 

[76woodenspooners]

Not a troll article, been done all season. You don’t think Eagles start and their misses in the last wouldn’t have been highlighted had we got up? Many moments in a game, to me what’s in the article were pretty big. As true as your proposed article is, The Age would want more.

Things that were within our control and mattered (players)? - sure.

Things that were outside our control? (Umpiring decisions) - that stuff just drives a stake into our heart, we don’t need to read about that.

As to it happening during the season - that’s different because during the season there’s next week to look forward to.

 

[Chameleon75]

Things that were within our control and mattered (players)? - sure.

Things that were outside our control? (Umpiring decisions) - that stuff just drives a stake into our heart, we don’t need to read about that.

As to it happening during the season - that’s different because during the season there’s next week to look forward to.

Individual moments is like clutching at straws.

For me I thought their midfield worked harder than ours and that was the game there.

 

[loki04]

Individual moments is like clutching at straws.

For me I thought their midfield worked harder than ours and that was the game there.

They were more physically aggressive ( both dirty niggly stuff and clean aggression) and also controlled both arcs.

At times in the 2nd half I made the comment that many of our players were playing "nice" footy as If worried about "next week".

 

[Roksman]

Again and while I agree with everything here, to simplify there are two sides to the ledger on the big dance - the fave and the underdog and it seems whichever we are we lose em more often than not. I know there's an explanation(s) for every one of those GF losses.

Dogs 16 - underdogs win
tigs 17- underdogs win
Pies 18 - underdogs lose

We only win one in every three why play, why does that always go that way? Why does it have to be us?

Sorry, just a correction, You weren't the underdogs - $1.60 favourites actually.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Sorry, just a correction, You weren't the underdogs - $1.60 favourites actually.

The betting odds simply reflect the betting market - and in a Collingwood GF there’d be a lot of folks betting with their heart rather than their head.

I didn’t hear many of the ‘experts’ pre-game tipping a Collingwood win.

 

[Roksman]

The betting odds simply reflect the betting market - and in a Collingwood GF there’d be a lot of folks betting with their heart rather than their head.

I didn’t hear many of the ‘experts’ pre-game tipping a Collingwood win.

Fair enough, I'm not a punter anyway.

Personally I thought you guys were favourites after you smoked us, thought you guys were flawless in the prelim and walked away thinking you smash West Coast after that performance. Can't imagine how gut wrenching Saturday was for you - I've always dreaded the thought of a close GF with my team.

Heart breaking stuff.

I know all fans love a troll here and there, and I admittedly have done so in the past 48 hours, but when the dust settles, we're all human and I would be heart broken as you all are. Chin up, and I'll see you in 2019 where the fun begins again.

 

[Carringbush2010]

Sorry, just a correction, You weren't the underdogs - $1.60 favourites actually.

According to the bookies maybe - and probably a result of the amount of pies fans havin a punt, but you and I and everyone else knows that wc were deserved favourites.

 

[spendles]

Soz. These moments have been buzzing through my head since the siren, they won’t go away. Hoping by Christmas they will subside.... Supporting the pies not for the faint hearted that’s for sure.

I think what helps me is thinking about what the eagles had to do to win.
Having already beat us 3 weeks ago at home, then having to do it again on our home ground 5 goals down early and missing their two best players.
They probably should have put us away half way through the last quarter to be fair.
Maybe we lost it at the selection table, but very few of us would have risked playing Moore say for Aish..
Look it might be a blessing in disguise, if we had of won we might have turned into the doggies. A flag from nowhere might have satisfied the group enough and we lose enough hunger to drop away...
Still hurts like hell, but if we do win one soon it'll be all that much sweeter.

 

[Magpie Ink]

Even though I'm still heartbroken that we fell agonisingly short of a fairytale win I'm extremely proud of the players and the club as a whole.

If you'd said to me in the preseason the Pies will be up to their necks in it halfway through the last quarter of a GF I would've taken that any day of the week & twice on Sundays.

I think this can be the making of this team going forward and I have no doubt we will have our day in the sun soon enough.

 

[danielnajdek]

Who was the ump who didn’t pay the block?

Wonder if the AFL will come out and say if it should’ve been a free kick or not.

 

[10571z]

Flat as today. So many what if’s. Bad to dwell but gosh I hope we fire up and get back there

 

[WillieNillie]

Going through this thread and id like to thank you all for showing such class and grace in defeat. I had a pretty bad experience with a very racist Collingwood fan near me which had me a bit one eyed and angry about your lot. This thread makes me realise that isnt what the Collingwood fan base is about however, so keep it up guys

 

[Countrypie]

Going through this thread and id like to thank you all for showing such class and grace in defeat. I had a pretty bad experience with a very racist Collingwood fan near me which had me a bit one eyed and angry about your lot. This thread makes me realise that isnt what the Collingwood fan base is about however, so keep it up guys

Thanks for taking the time to look at all of us rather than judgingus by our average oer capita dickhead quotient. I'm sorry that you had that experience.