Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2026: Round 15 Preview

 

G’day to everyone.

 

Did you have a nice, relaxing weekend? No trips to Bali? Watch any of the other games, among them: Adelaide demolishing WB, GC losing hugely to Geelong at Kardinia Park, Sydney winning against Port, at AO rather than the SCG. So? Adelaide are still competitive, as are Geelong regardless of their Loss to Carlton a couple of weeks ago. And speaking of Carlton; well a Bye for them too, but they are on 4 Wins from 4 Games including Wins over Geelong, WB and Port, since Josh took over. So, maybe Carlton are competitive, being seen as such now? Can we plan to eject them from the Finals through our R19 game? Who else? NM and WCE played close to a Draw, I think based on our experience a couple of weeks ago, showing a significant improvement in WCE, and I’d write off St Kilda and GWS in spite of the Saints’ Win. WB? I note some comments critical of the Pies’ performance against the Eagles. Your thoughts?

 

Now, the Season heads to its end – what are our immediate objectives? How about, as addressed last week, from our current position sitting 12’th on the Ladder we need to Win the majority (actually, 7 Wins should be our target from those below us on the Ladder, including Carlton) plus 1 Win (maybe two) out of the 3 games against teams above us on the Ladder (GC at PFS, Adelaide at AO and Geelong at the G). Then, we are into the Finals!

 

Go Pies

 

Round 14 Result:

 

Bye. No result.

 

Club Report – There is a fantastic article on the Collingwood recruitment strategy in the June 13 -14 Weekend Australian titled “Pies are keeping their eyes on the prize …it’s the Collingwood way”, pages 44, 40 by Scott Gullan. I read it hard-copy and haven’t managed to find a free link.

 

Coach’s Report – He gets a bit of a mention in the above. Worth a read.

 

Round 15:

 

Saturday, 20 June Collingwood versus Port Adelaide at the MCG; ball-up at 7.35pm

 

This game is between us in 13^th position on the Ladder based on 5 Wins, 7 Losses and a single Draw and a percentage of 99.2%, and Port on 15^th position based on 4 Wins and 9 Losses and a percentage of 101.0%.

 

We are currently favoured to Win $1.46 / $2.75 as at 15 June.

 

Them

 

Port finished last year in 13^th place on the Ladder based on 9 Wins and 14 Losses and a 78.9% percentage. They are not doing as well this year at the half-way point though their percentage has improved.

 

Their performance this Season is:

 

Round	Win / Loss	Opponent	Margin	Location
			Points
OR	Bye
1	Loss	NM	46	Marvel
2	Win	Essendon	63	AO
3	Loss	WCE	2	AO
4	Win	Richmond	42	MCG
5	Loss	St Kilda	14	AO
6	Loss	Hawthorn	3	Marvel
7	Win	Geelong	30	AO
8	Loss	Adelaide	1	AO
9	Loss	WB	2	AO
10	Loss	GC	25	Darwin
11	Loss	Carlton	34	AO
12	Bye
13	Win	WCE	6	Perth
14	Loss	Sydney	3	AO
15	?	Collingwood	?	MCG

 

Of note are the close games against Hawthorn and Sydney, both well above both of our Ladder positions, and the Win over Geelong, which I would tend to ignore (along with our substantial Loss to Geelong a few weeks back. What these results seem to indicate is that Port are competitive with the Ladder leaders (particularly, working backwards, Sydney, Carlton (see earlier comments), WB, Geelong and Hawthorn; similar to us, actually. It is also similar that each side is coming into this game following a Bye and two close Losses.

 

Looking at several of their recent games is illustrative of Port tactics and style of play, and their reliance on a select number of players. Port have been seen to dominate early in games but have failed to exploit this domination. Port’s initial six scoring shots against Sydney were Behinds. Sound familiar? And they established a margin in their favour of 20 Points mid-Q2 progressively lost. The final result of the Sydney game was 13.12 (Port) / 14.9 (Sydney) giving Sydney the 3-Point Win. Scoring shots – 25 (Port) / 23 (Sydney). I haven’t gone back to look at other statistics. Port relied heavily on Butters in the Midfield and Richards (ex – Pie) linking the defence with the movement of the ball forward. Expect Richards to spend more time in their Midfield. A further criticism identified is the occasions when fellow team mates spoil each other in marking in a pack. Also identified as something our boys do, sometimes.

 

Players to watch

• Butters – RR. Requires very close management;
• Georgiades – CHF / FP / FF;
• Horne-Francis – HF / Centre;
• Aliir – CHB. I rate him very highly. Would suggest close manning and keeping the ball well away from him;
• Ratugolea – FF. Stolen from Geelong, where he didn’t star, but has the potential. Close defence;
• Sweet – Ruck. Changes into the forward line, scoring. Also needs close defence; and
• Richards.

 

Us

 

Team. There are a number of unresolved manning issues:

 

Ins:      Moore – Backline (Fitness?)

            Maynard – Backline (Fitness?)

            Sidey – Wing / Tag Butters?

            Coe – Ruck, changing with Cameron into the forward line?

            Long – fantastic performance in VFL Midfield.

 

Also consider the inclusion of Puncher into the backline, if a position is available. That would complete the selection of all three players picked at the Mid-Season Draft with the Coach’s logic being to bring in qualified players able to fit in very quickly.

 

Outs:   McStay;

            Membrey;

            Buller;

            McCreery; and

            Lipinski.

 

Game Plan.

 

Not much to change. As per last week, I identified a few things that needed to be addressed:

 

• The kick-in is still not working reliably – plan and execute;
• There were way too many opponents loose leading to very fast ball transition and scoring against the run of the game (sort of like Australia’s soccer Win);
• The execution of both the kick-ins and particularly the Inside 50 attacks are happening too slowly; opponents are being given time to pick-up our players;
• Close-defence tags are generally working but always need to cover all areas around packs to prevent crumbing. We were caught out with them scoring with the ball off the back of a pack;
• Avoid the ‘impossible’ kicks at goal. Be willing to pass to a better position. Really important. Speed will improve access to free players;
• I don’t know what happens at training (whether players are stationary or not), but the number of times the ball being passed seems to ignore the fact that opponents can, and do, move (and intercept the pass) seems extraordinary; and
• My criticism in the past of Defenders spoiling each other in packs was evident again on occasion (and as above).

 

Your thoughts?

 

Weather? Weather in Melbourne next Saturday includes the forecast of light rain. Expect a slippery ball and ground. Get the old boots with stops out.

 

TV? No FTA TV coverage. Go to Kayo or head down to the nearest pub / club.

 

Prediction? Collingwood to Win by 27 Points. Sidebottom BOG with 34 Disposals @ 87% DE, 8 Tackles and 474 metres Gained against Butters with 17 D, 1 T and 177mG. Goal kickers – Cameron – 4 goals.

 

Next:

 

We’ve got a few serious challenges coming up:

 

• R16     Saturday, 27 June versus Richmond at the MCG;
• R17     Saturday, 4 July versus the GC at their home ground in Queensland; and
• R18     Friday, 10 July versus North at Marvel.

 

Attendance. Our next attendance is this game, then Carlton. Give me a call?

 

Reporting. Now are any of the rest of you going to this game? Look forward to your reporting? Please? And Reports from TV-watchers are equally welcome? I find it useful to listen to the commentators (prefer Kayo to FTA) who (mostly) know more about the game than we, ‘mortals’ do.

 

Other:

• Very pleased Mihocek is okay’ish. Good luck for his future.
• Also very pleased Frampton decision was overturned.
• Any feedback? Anything else?
• I would be interested in hearing how our other two Mid-Season draftees are going at training? Any comments?

 

Never Lose confidence. This is our year. Go Pies.

 

Cam

 

 

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