Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2024: Round 4 Review

True Believers, all. G’day.

 

If you look at the R4 results, there were no surprise Winners or Losers. What was quite extraordinary was the number of very close margins and the fact that ultimately Losers were frequently either very close or actually ahead late in the games. Following our experience at the R2 hands of St Kilda, it was notable that for half the game, Richmond were in the process of destroying them, finally Losing by 7. The West Coast team had the lead at their HT break, keeping within a couple of kicks until the final break, Losing ultimately by a bit more.  And the WB got to within 4 Points of Geelong from a Q3 deficit of about 4 goals. What this shows is that our competition is alive and well. There are no ‘easy beats’, though North need to lift their game a bit to avoid that descriptor. It means that every game, every week will be a challenge and every team can Win against every other team. Critical is how they play on the day.

 

Keep the faith.

 

Round 4

 

Collingwood 11.11.77 defeated Hawthorn 11.6.72.

 

Match Report. Go to www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/5932#match-report

 

Coach’s comments. Go to www.afl.com.au/video/1104677/full-post-match-r4-magpies?videoId=1104677&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1712486562001. Some interesting comments “Winning is important. Our target is 14 Wins (to qualify for the Finals series). We have two; there is work to do.” What do you think? 

 

Scoring:

 

• Q1       4 goals (us) / 1 goal (them). A great start;
• Q2       5 / 2. Even better. Gave us a HT lead of 38 Points. We couldn’t lose from there, could we?
• Q3       2 / 4. A reversal reducing our lead at the final change of 25 Points;
• Q4       0 / 4. Worser and worser. Hawthorn were playing magnificently. The end result: our performance in 1H was better than theirs in the 2H; and we Won with goals totalling:
• Total:   11 / 11. A Win. Like the previous week I would hope the Club is having a very close look at how and why the H1 and H2 performances were so different. I don’t have the Quarter by Quarter numbers which, in this case, would be illuminating. Your views?

 

If you’d prefer to see this graphed, rather than numbers, go to the Match Timeline atwww.afl.com.au/afl/matches/5932#summary. Very clear.

 

Umpiring

 

I’m going to continue this focus on the umpiring. Yes, the head-high tackle free for Jack G was inevitable; as was the goal he scored from that. An improvement by the Umpires, yes, but the missed Frees are still a concern. This specific offence of “caught with the ball” / “incorrect disposal” really needs to be tightened up. An apparent failure to apply the rules impartially to both sides is wrecking the game. What are your views?

 

Numbers:

 

Category	Statistics (us / them)	Comments
Disposals (D)	363 / 342	I usually don’t include this. In this case, however, there is a pretty substantial difference here particularly relating to handballs – 171 / 147 showing a difference in the teams’ approach to the game. On this occasion the Marks inside 50 and Tackles inside 50 were not substantially different highlighting.
Hit Outs (HO)	51 / 34	As I’ve said previously, this is not a particularly useful comparison. ‘Hit Out to advantage’ would be better. But it does set a starting point in the link between HO / Clearance / Inside 50 / Goal. The comparison starting with a small deficiency is further emphasised by their dominance reflected in Clearance, Inside 50s and should have given us a substantial advantage in scoring.
Clearances (Cl)	38 / 39	A Loss overall, in no way reflecting our HO advantage. Centre – 12 / 9 – Win for us. Stoppages – 26 / 30 – Loss for us. This must be seen as their Midfield dominating. Clearance numbers identify an advantage here to give a start on winning the Inside 50 numbers, and scoring.
Inside 50s (I50)	47 / 53	Key. This reflects their dominance, however look at the DEi50, below.
Disposal Efficiency (DE)	70.5% / 70.2%	For the whole game. A marginal difference.
Player numbers with DE equal / over 80%	5 / 5
Disposal Efficiency inside 50 (DEi50)	53.2% / 34.0%	This is absolutely critical. The difference is huge. So, they got the ball i50 marginally more frequently than us but used it far less effectively. Combined together, their marginal Inside 50 numbers advantage is significantly outweighed by our Inside 50 DE advantage.
Contested Possessions (CP)	141 / 150	A fair reflection of effort. Not too dissimilar.
Turnovers	79 / 79	I haven’t used this statistic too often. I don’t think it shows anything useful. It needs to be used on a case by case basis – how frequently the turnover resulted in a score.
Marks (M)	78 / 80	Not significant.
Marks inside 50 (Mi50)	10 / 10	Also not significant.
Tackles (T)	74 / 58	Huge. As a key component of pressure, this was evident, particularly in the 1H; less so in the 2H.
Tackles inside 50 (Ti50)	6 / 7	As above re Marks.
Goals scored	11 / 11	The result. Scoring shots – 22 / 17. This is a telling distinction. Think of where the numbers might have been if they’d got that final goal in the dying seconds?
1%’ers	55 / 29	This figure identifies the level of effort going into the team’s defence. Our backline (the strength of our team last year) had a much improved day last week; less son in the 2H this week.
Free Kicks	19 / 21	Where and when rather, than simple numbers, with a focus on not missing decisions.

 

The Game

 

At HT I was full of confidence as only a lead of more than 6 goals can inspire. The team’s performance in 1H was simply inspirational. Ballhandling was inspired, decisions were spectacularly correct, virtually every time, and whatever flaws in our system were simply not evident or, perhaps more accurately, not visible. The game was played in our attacking half. Hawthorn scoring was very limited and direct defensive pressure, largely, not required. Any failings out of the Midfield were quickly overtaken by the counter-attack from our HB line, so the number deficiencies didn’t matter. Look at the numbers above. Our handball domination came in this time when we were able to establish ball movement that was simply breathtaking. And our opponents, they were there as obstacles to be run around – sort of like a training routine.

 

Then the teams ran on for the 2H. Hawthorn had made some changes, particularly relating to establishing some targets in their Forward line; some goal-kickers. And the other shortcomings in the Midfield became significant and our Backline started to feel the pressure. Man on man defence meant that the intercept capabilities of our ‘talls’ were negated, or caught halfway in between. Our defence was run off their feet, casting some doubts about our level of fitness, particularly in some of the older players. Maybe consider new, younger players in the Midfield and in the Backline?

 

We allowed Hawthorn to dictate how the game would be played. We were lucky to get away with the Win.

 

Enjoyable moments for me:

 

 

• The 1H, passage of the ball frequently close and fast;
• Tackling by everyone throughout the game;
• Contributions by Noble and Frampton; and
• Darcy’s ejection of Jack from the huddle after Jack’s goal.

 

And a few I didn’t like:

 

 

• Kicks going directly to an opposing player;
• Same with handballs, only more so;
• Stopping the chase too early; and
• Our performances in the Midfield and on the kick-ins. Needs a serious look.

 

Any favourites moments from you?

 

Lessons

 

Enjoyment. The team need to keep their smiles there;

 

Motivation. The enthusiasm for the contest needs to continue and be there for four Quarters. Selection needs to be based on this enthusiasm, above all other things;

 

Manning selections. Hawthorn showed us what a ‘young’ team can do. While there are some of our senior players who warrant selection, there are a number who need to be “rested” or “managed”. Places for Richards and Sullivan, following their VFL performances up Forward and in the Midfield at stoppages, respectively, warrant close consideration. Begg has also done well in the ruck; should be okay following his concussion by now;

 

Game Plan. Assessed in Q2, this was fantastic – get and keep possession, through to scoring goals. Each side demonstrated the ability to dominate key periods of the game. We need to be able to do this for four Quarters; and

 

Magpie Army. Guys, maintain that support. And for the team (and coaches), maybe a recognition of the stress you put us under with the close games. We’d prefer a nice clear domination set up early and never challenged.

 

Your views?

 

The Best

 

The AFL website records our Best as De Goey, Josh D, Mitchell, Frampton and Noble. I don’t have too many problems with any of these. I’m really pleased to see Noble and Frampton doing well. I’d probably have added N. Daicos with critical statistics of 304 metres Gained, 7 Score Involvements and 4 Intercept Possessions and Schultz with 172 mG, 8 SI and 1 IP – a productive day at the office by both of them. Schultz has been the target of pretty vitriolic criticism on Facebook and other media sites. Maybe they’ll shut up now? Your views?

 

Crowd:

 

The 43,198 crowd filled the Adelaide Oval (capacity – 53,500). I asked an attendee about the supporter numbers divide. She said that in the 1H, there were far more Pies supporters, but this dominance plummeted in the 2H.

 

Ground Reports?

 

Firstly, my thanks to our roving reporter who sent us Reports at each break. Importantly, if the electrician apprenticeship doesn’t work out, there is scope for a sensible sports journalist, even if he is a Crows supporter. Were any others there? Reports please? I’d like to hear from other armchair warriors watching from afar?

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The Future

 

Round 5.        Bye.

 

Round 6.        Saturday, 20 April; bounce at 1.45 – Collingwood versus Port Adelaide at the MCG. More on this next week.

 

Other?

 

• VFL. Next R3 – Sunday, 14 April, bounce – 2.05pm against Carlton at Ikon Park. We are always interested in how individuals are going? If you can get to a match, send us a Report please.

• VFLW. After a bit of a setback against Hawthorn last game, we are returning home. So VFLW R4 – Saturday, 13 April, bounce at 12.00pm against Carlton at Victoria Park.

 

Always believe. Go Pies.

 

Cam

 

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