Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2025: Round 8 Review / Round 9 Preview

 

Hi True Believers.

 

Losing at any time is challenging, but have a little sympathy for some of us, maybe those who have three brothers and a sister and their families’ who are ardent Cats’ fans. Have I received any phone calls? No, but then I didn’t call after their Carlton debacle a week earlier. My guess – I suspect we just saw this year’s Grand Final, hopefully with a different outcome; none of the other ‘pretenders’ really worry me as much as Geelong.

Your views?

 

 

 

Round 8

 

Collingwood 12.15.87 were defeated by Geelong 13.12.90.

 

Scoring shots – 27 (us; again – same as last week) / 25 (them). The 3 Point Winning margin reflected a very close game described by some commentators as a “modern-day classic”. I don’t disagree, even given that decision to penalise Hill and Crisp’s final kick.

 

Match Report – www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/7030.

 

Coach’s comments – www.afl.com.au/video/1313770/mcrae-post-match-r8-we-made-a-few-errors-and-good-teams-make-you-pay?videoId=1313770&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1746282741001&references=AFL_MATCH:7030. Always worth listening / watching, especially his varied definitions of winners and losers and his emphasis upon the Collingwood Club “character and culture” – more on that below.

 

Goals scored:

Q1       4 (us) / 4 (them). After an early 3-goal start by them, it was slowly recovered; surplus at the First Break – 3 Points;

Q2       3 / 2. Early control, then steady. Surplus at Half Time – 7 Points;

Q3       3 / 3. Overlapping second half of Q3 and the first half of Q4, we scored a solitary goal to their 7 goals. Surplus at the Final Change was unchanged at 7 Points;

Q4       2 / 4. As above re the first half of Q4, then the recovery which went very close. As above, the decision on Hill’s tackle and the outcome of Crisp’s kick were game-deciding incidents. See below against the Free Kicks; and

Total:   12 / 13. The result – a Win for Geelong.

 

Statistics

 

Some numbers to seek to identify where there was a substantial difference and how this impacted on the game:

 

Statistic	Numbers (us / them)	Comment
Hit Outs (HO)	51 / 32	A particularly not-useful number decided by whichever ruck touches the ball first. A better assessment is ‘HO to advantage’. And a much better measure is under Clearances, below. This number surprised me. I had thought it was fairly even.
Clearances	37 / 36	Centre clearance – 16 / 10; and Stoppage clearance – 21 / 26. Fortunately, a much better measure indicating we had a substantial advantage in each category. While the HO difference is not reflected in the Clearance differential, we maintained the advantage going the next step. Clearly our Midfield dominated.
Inside 50s	53 / 47	The next step in the heading to Goal, broadly reflecting the Clearances. The gap here is substantial, reflecting the success of our Backline defence and the drive forward.
Disposal Efficiency (DE)	74.7% / 73.7%	A minor advantage overall. See next.
DE Inside 50	56.6% / 48.9%	The difference here is absolutely critical but needs to be considered together with the Inside 50 numbers rather than a stand-alone comparison.  In this game our advantage in both Inside 50 numbers and DE Inside 50 should have reflected a game Winning achievement.
Goals scored	12 / 13	But it didn’t.
Player numbers with DE > 80%	8 / 8	No apparent consequences. I think these numbers also reflect risk-taking in the game, something strongly encouraged by the coaches.
Free Kicks	14 / 21	The inequity of the Frees amazed me, though these numbers seem to accurately reflect that. The Frees, particularly in Q4, appeared extraordinary – Geelong received 14 of the last 18 Free Kicks in Q4, a situation including the extraordinary Hill “tackle of the year” contender decision. David King, well qualified commentator, stated “umpiring (of this game) had a massive impact on tonight’s game”. I couldn’t have said it better. Inconsistencies still exist – incorrect disposal, caught with the ball, etc.
Contested Possession (CP)	117 / 130	Combined, the difference in the two measures usually reflects the team style of play. The winning of the CP is less significant than control of the ball through UCP domination. Our team, led by the domination of UCP, sought to hold onto the ball, but included periods when Geelong controlled the game – 2nd half of Q3 to 1st half Q4. We were successful for periods when the ball was locked in our attacking half.
Uncontested Possession (UCP)	226 / 196
Turn-overs (TO)	55 / 60	I think the willingness to take risks, encouraged, is also part of this, as identified above.
Possession	46% / 37%	Across the game. Last 10 minutes: 55% / 15% and it felt that way.
Disposals	352 / 334	Not usually recorded by me. Included here to give a perspective for the next – our use of handball.
Handballs	154 / 133	A substantial difference identified during the game – fantastic, fast, close, ball movement, frequently by hand. It was breathtaking.
Marks	108 / 78	Marks inside 50 – 18 / 9; and Contested marks – 11 / 12. Our domination of the Marks inside 50 was substantial and should have contributed to scoring. The total Marks advantage, appears based on the style of our play – we used short passes direct within the corridor within the context of greater Possession, particularly UCP, numbers. The contested mark difference was minor. There was no real evidence of total dominance during the game, though the Geelong backs were, at times, dominant.
Tackles	64 / 56	Tackles inside 50 – 14 / 13. Reflects application. The multiple tacklers were impressive, again.
1%’ers	36 / 44	Spoils and defensive actions. I haven’t gone back to add up the numbers, but this difference is a bit surprising. It usually reflects a domination of our effort; in this case some domination by Geelong..

 

Best:

 

The AFL website identifies Collingwood’s Best as:

• NickD – quiet early; exploded later in the game;
• Pendles – Commentator: “He’s too old to be doing that”, really?
• Cameron – Fantastic effort all game;
• Josh – better early on;
• Sidey – Mr Consistent; and
• Mihocek – led, marked and scored when it was needed. Could have been any one of the Forwards. They are becoming a very slick, organised group.

 

I don’t disagree with any of those identified or the order (well, not too much, anyway) but I would probably have added a few more. Both Maynard and Crisp were close to the top of the team’s list on Metres Gained – 580mG and 469 mG, respectively, demonstrating their drive. A querstion? If Crisp had successfully scored that goal, would he have automatically made the Best list? Additionally, Elliott, Hill and Long contributed hugely under the Score Involvement category (7 SI, 3 SI and 3 SI respectively) and both Elliott and Hill clearly were not Umpire favourites, in particular Hill’s game-winning tackle at the death scored against him. Each of these five contributed hugely to the team’s achievements. Your thoughts?

 

Crowd:            82,514.

 

Result: A great game unfortunately marred by lapses by us for specific periods. We need to pursue total commitment over four quarters in addition to clean ball-handling and defensive tackling. Geelong, for periods were in control of the game. Noticeable aspects:

 

• The team-performance, mentioned above. Everyone had some involvement;

• Clearance, Inside 50 numbers and DE inside 50 dominated. The scoring should have reflected the differences of these categories in our favour; and

• It was great to see Crisp break the long-term sequential game record. More significantly, as acknowledged by our coach (above), was the responsive action by his team-mates following the missed final shot. Well done to all, even the Geelong players who offered their congratulations after the siren. Further to the Frees debate, while Collingwood seemed disproportionately disadvantaged by penalties in Q4, Dangerfield had, in Q4, 13 Disposals, 10 Contested Possessions, 5 Score Involvements and 1 goal. He truly reflected his ‘star’ status. With Collingwood three goals down, with 3 minutes to play, what was the situation? ‘A star Cat versus a ‘never-say-die” attitude team. It was a near run thing.

 

In summary, the Pies Lost because we lost control of the game for specific periods, not because of any specific incidents late in the game.

 

 

Round 9

 

Thursday, 8 May 2025 Fremantle versus Collingwood in Perth; bounce at 8.10pm AEST.

 

Betting:           $1.54 (Pies’ Win) / $2.50 (Freo Win) – as at 4 May 2025 (May the fourth be with you?).

 

This is a game between 2nd and 9th, on the Ladder. We are Favourites.

 

 Them:

 

Freo finished 2024 Home & Away season in 10^th place on the Ladder with 12 Wins, 10 Losses and a Draw (notably, with us in Round 11) giving a 111.9% percentage, one place below our 9^th Ladder position. They were talked about as a potential ‘mover’ this season. But this has not happened.

 

They have flirted with the Eight this season but only managed to stay in it for a week, following Round 5. Mostly, and since Round 6, they’ve settled into 9^th place, where they are now with 4 Wins and 4 Losses and a 111.9% percentage. Their Wins and Losses have included a variety of Wins in various locations. They come into this game following their 61 Point Loss to St Kilda (and 3-Point Loss the week before to Sydney). We come into the game following our extensive list of Wins and our 3-Point Loss to Geelong. We travel well.

 

It is difficult to clearly identify their game plan because of the limited time period, so far. Certainly they miss Fyfe, out injured. See the emphasis, below, on their Midfield and key positions back and front.

 

Players to Watch. Based on their performance this season suggests the following players of significance:

 

• Pearce – FB;
• Clark – HB;
• Brayshaw – Rover;
• Treacy – FF;
• Serong – RR; and
• O’Meara – Centre.

 

Also keep an eye on Aish – R3 sub & R6 HB, given his Collingwood background.

 

Us:

 

Changes?  

 

Minimal changes? I’d suggest a couple of changes to give some experience particularly to younger players:

• Out: Frampton (managed), Hoskin-Elliott (managed) and Lipinski (managed).

• In: Dean, De Mattia and Jiath? Howe? Your views?

 

Game Plan –No changes of substance from last week. A couple of points:

• Application. Nothing is more important. Well demonstrated in our last few games. And Attitude is King.

 

• Taggers. Tagging roles might be useful, including an occasional hard lock-down role on their FF and / or our Midfield winning the ball early?

• Midfield Management. Pendles guidance to the collective Midfield. C’mon De Goey, I acknowledge that you had some useful contributions last week, however nothing like the game-breaker you are capable of; you need to perform (I said that last week too).

• Passing. Accuracy of passes by foot and hand much better – really good last week in challenging circumstances. Critical – watch the individual DE figures.

• Drive. Drive out of the Backline is a key part of our gameplan. Be prepared to cross the field, even to kick backwards to change the direction. Kick-ins are an issue – we need a plan.

• Kicking for Goal. Ball delivery to the best goal-kicking position. Be prepared to acknowledge difficult shots on goal and be willing to pass the ball inside the 50 to a better placed teammate. See below – I value GA (goal assists mor highly than actual goals scored). This needs improvement – the question should be “Why didn’t you pass it rather than seeking to score the ‘impossible goal’?”. And, to get the best from your Forward ‘talls’, get them to lead to different parts of the 50; don’t compress into packs.   Want an example – watch Adelaide’s Forwards leading in their game a couple of weeks ago.
• Tackles. A major success but still some opponents spinning out of tackles. Love the multiple tacklers. The perennial complaint: “Hold your tackles!” and be aware of who’s beside you before you ‘play-on’; and

 

Umpires. Not sure what happened in the last week. Perhaps invite the Umpires to explain.

 

Our Aim?

 

• Be happy. Our team has been noticeably happier than most other teams (though this was not the case in Sydney). They usually smile and laugh when things work and, importantly, when they don’t. They actually look like they’re enjoying the game. We should follow their lead and enjoy the game from our perspective, even when things don’t work.

 

Summary? Again, this is our game to Win, if we decide that and implement our Game plan on the game. And it will give me great pleasure if we can do so. Any input from the Geelong supporting addressees?

 

Winning Selection. Collingwood to Win by 73 Points. BOG – De Goey with 37 touches including 13 Clearances. Goal kickers include Mihocek and Hill each with four goals. Well done.

 

TV: FTA on 7mate and 7+; also rely on the usual.

 

Weather: A dry day is forecast estimated as feeling like 29 degrees. While no rain is forecast in that period but noting the amount of slip sliding at our Geelong game, I’m tempted to recognise it is likely always to be slippery. Get rid of the plastic-soled boots.

 

Ground Reports? Reports please (after or before)? I’d especially like to hear from the armchair warriors watching from afar?

 

Other:

 

• VFL – A disappointing result last week – a Loss to Footscray by 71 Points. Footscray got away from us in Q4, kicking the last 6 goals. Next week? Round 7 – Saturday, 10 May 2025 – Northern Bullants versus Collingwood at Genis Steel Oval, Preston; bounce at 2.05pm. See the VFLW game detail, next. If you go, Reports please? I want to know how some of our potential ‘fill-ins’ to the AFL side are going? This game could be seen, from the Ladder, as between 21^st (them) place and 11^th (us) but there is a long way to go until we start ‘fixing the teams’ standards. Regardless, looking forward to a straight Win, guys;
• VFLW team also Lost to Footscray last weekend, also at Victoria Park. Their next game is Round 4 against the Darebin Falcons on Saturday, 10 May at 10.35am, also at the Genis Steel Oval. Do yourself a favour, watch both games at Preston; bit far to head over to Perth for the main event, or vice versa.
• Do you favour the return of a State of Origin series? Why?
• Anything else, everyone else?

 

Next:

 

Saturday, 17 May 2025 – Collingwood versus Adelaide at the MCG;  bounce at 1.20pmAEST.

 

This is our year. Always believe; never, ever give up! Go Pies.

 

Cam

 

 

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