Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2026: Round 15 Review / Round 16 Preview

June 22, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Good afternoon, all.

 

Firstly, a very warm welcome to Gerard and his family. We ran into them on the train from Albury to Melbourne the afternoon of the game, to which they and we were headed. Didn’t run into them amongst the disappointing 40,000 crowd but were seated next to each other on the return Melbourne to Albury train. Had a great post-match discussion, mostly focussing on the second half. Mate, this is just a bit of fun within our collective Pies’ family. I look forward to you contributing to our discussions and, hopefully, catching up at future games.

 

Okay, our season is not dead. I have every confidence (hence, the serial optimist) we’ll get into the eight with a few wins under our belt. I’m especially looking forward it.

 

Go Pies

 

Round 15 Result:

 

Collingwood 11.12.78 defeated Port Adelaide 6.16.52

 

Scoring shots – 23 (us) / 22 (them).

 

Goals scored:

  • Q1 2 (us) / 2 (them). A great start with the first two goals. Their reply established the broad equivalence by the end of the Quarter. Check the Timeline and scores at www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/8163#timeline to see the flow of the game. Deficit margin at Quarter time – 3 points;
  • Q2 4 / 4. 5 unanswered goals over QT established a deficit for us early in Q2 of 19 Points – getting concerned. However, the 4 goals to 2 goals before HT reduced the deficit margin, again. The broad play looked promising from a Pies’ perspective. Deficit margin at HT reduced to – 1 Point;
  • Q3 5 / 0. Unanswered dominance – We scored 5.2 to their 0.3. The scoring across HT established this majority – 6 goals to 1. Key injuries to their defenders late in Q3. Margin expanded at the final break + 28 Points;
  • Q4 0 / 0. Scored 0.4 to 0.6. Both sides wasted scoring opportunities. Statistically they Won this Quarter. Final Winning margin + 26 Points; and
  • Total 11.12 / 6.16. We Won.

 

Game Report – www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/8163

 

Coach’s Report – www.afl.com.au/video/1545100/full-post-match-r15-magpies?videoId=1545100&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1781963081001&references=AFL_MATCH:8163. He acknowledged Port’s dominance in the 1st half, but when you got to the breaks, how close the score was. He noted that the scores did not reflect this dominance. He identified that there was “not much in it” when looking at the Ladder. He also highlighted the importance of leadership on the field, particularly when key leaders are absent. He noted that, for some reason, Collingwood’s list is a subject of great interest to journalists. Go to www.afl.com.au/news/1545106/we-get-clicks-craig-mcrae-bemused-by-collingwood-magpies-list-talk. Worth a watch / read.

 

Game Statistics

 

Numbers sourced from the AFL website.

 

Statistic Us / Them Remarks
Disposals 396 / 361 Includes handball numbers – 182 / 122. Included just to highlight the difference in ball-possession in our favour.
Hit Outs 13 / 37 Not a factual statistic. Needs ‘HO to advantage’, but is indicative of their dominance in the ball-up, which (see Clearances, below) required our Midfield to counter.
Clearances 31 / 31 More important and surprising, given their HO dominance.

Includes 10 / 10 Centre clearances and 21 / 21 stoppage clearances.

Reflects substantial dominance by our Midfield to turn the significant HO deficiency into this equivalence. Well done.
Inside 50s 47 / 55 Should be a logical flow-on from the above but it isn’t. Their dominance here is a key statistic. Should lead to increased scoring – more goals, but  it doesn’t.
Goals scored 11 / 6 The end result.

Looked at as a combination of the Inside 50s statistics, above, adjusted by the Disposal Efficiency inside 50’s, below.
Disposal Efficiency 76.0% / 68.7% Not too different, but not particularly important. Across the entire game.
Individual DE > 80% 11 / 7 Representing disposal accuracy and inaccuracy across the game.
Individual DE < 60% 3 / 6
Disposal Efficiency Inside 50 53.2% / 43.6% The other Key statistic.

Our domination here of efficiency counteracts their domination in Inside 50 numbers, resulting in the goals scored. Clearly, the DE advantage was more effective than Inside 50 numbers.
Again) Contested Possessions 110 / 114 UCP – 260 / 228. Reflects a fairly substantial ‘ownership’ of the ball through keep’ens off tactics -n passage avoiding direct competition. Across the game .
Possession 47% / 39% A key statistic. This indicates a significant domination by us, and therefore control of the game, over the whole game.
Marks 106 / 117 Includes Marks inside 50 – 17 / 13.
Tackles 40 / 44 Includes Tackles inside 50 – 11 / 8.

Reflects effort and application.
1%’ers 40 / 42 Also reflects effort, particularly by Backline.

Their Backline was very impressive, up to when injury demolished it (late Q3).
Free Kicks 8 / 14 The umpiring was a disgrace, as is shown in this statistic. This needs to be followed up.

Added to the ‘caught with the ball’ offence has to be the ‘push in the back’ offence that is illogically applied.

Usual issue relating to 50m penalties (not sure I recall any being awarded this game..

 

The Game

 

Our performance in this game was disappointing in the 1st half. PA dominated all aspects of the 1st half. What they didn’t dominate was the scoreboard. From a Pies-supporter’s perspective it was incongruous that at QT and HT we were under a kick down.

 

In the 1st half scoring was 8.8 to 8.12. The wasted opportunities in their scoreline are obvious.

 

But it gets worse. The scoring in the 2nd half was 5.6 to 0.9. The difference in ‘scoring shot’ numbers of 11 / 9 is, again, obvious.

 

This was not an easy win. Port were highly competitive for most of the game. Our close hand-ball passage of the ball was, at times, breathtaking and some of the marks (Howe old isn’t the issue) were worth going to see. It was a pleasure to watch.

 

And the performance by the ‘Swaddling-supporters group’, sitting about 10m away from us in the stand, was also breathtaking.

 

Crowd. 40,860. Were any of you there?

 

Best: AFL website reporting identified the Best as:

  • De Goey;
  • NickD;
  • Howe;
  • JoshD;
  • Membrey; and
  • Schultz.

 

Coaches’ Votes: At www.afl.com.au/news/1536394/coaches-votes-r13-seven-perfect-10s-as-big-names-luke-jackson-and-isaac-heeney-make-a-move. Votes to Pies’ players were:

  • De Goey – 9 votes;
  • NickD – 9 votes; and
  • Howe – 6 votes.

 

I don’t really have any issues with the Best selections, particularly the top four, though would have considered the inclusion of Sidebottom (25D @ 84%, 7 M, 3 T, 3 Clr, 4 IP, 6 SI, 5 CP and 338 mG), Quaynor (7 IP, 2 SI, 5 CP and 407 mG) and Frampton (6 IP, 4 SI, 119 mG) for insertion below JoshD on the list; maybe even Allan ((20d @85% DE, 1 T, 2 Clr, 205mG) achieved against Butters, who contributed to his team but not to the degree he might have expected.

 

VFL. Worth looking at the performances of players in the VFL competition Go to www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2050109/vfl-match-report-west-stars-as-pies-pipped-at-the-siren, identifying a number of players verging on future inclusion including Sullivan, West up forward, Parker in defence and Coe in the ruck. See below.

 

Round 16:

 

Saturday, 27 June Collingwood versus Richmond at the MCG; ball-up at 4.15pm.

 

This game is between us in 11th position on the Ladder based on 6 Wins, 7 Losses and a single Draw and a percentage of 101.5% (happy we’re over 100%, again) and Richmond in 17th position based on 2 Wins and 12 Losses with a percentage of 61.3%.

 

We are currently favoured to Win $1.13 / $6.05 as at 19 June, unchanged 21 June and today.

 

The Season? Go to the Ladder and pick which teams will win this coming weekend. Give the Winners the 4 Points and look at the order. Work from the bottom up – from Carlton. There’s a few Byes so their numbers stay unchanged. Which game is significant this Round? Adelaide / Port Adelaide. Now open the AFL Matches / Fixtures to do the week after. Illuminating. Our Season is not over – Serial optimist.

 

Them

 

Richmond finished last year in 17th place on the Ladder based on 5 Wins and 18 Losses and a 66.0% percentage. Their Wins last year were against Carlton, the GC, WCE (twice) and Essendon. They are not doing well this year.

 

Their performance this Season is:

 

Round Win / Loss Opponent Margin Location
Points
OR Bye
1 Loss Carlton 4 MCG
2 Loss GC 68 MCG
3 Loss Freo 60 Perth
4 Loss PA 42 MCG
5 Loss GWS 56 Adel
6 Loss NM 75 Marvel
7 Loss Melbourne 54 MCG
8 Win WCE 11 Perth
9 Loss Adelaide 37 MCG
10 Loss St Kilda 36 Marvel
11 Win Essendon 18 MCG
12 Loss Sydney 114 SCG
13 Bye
14 Loss BL 35 Hobart
15 Loss NM 25 MCG

 

Of note are the close game against Carlton, though on R1 a very long time ago with, obviously, a very different Carlton team, and wins over Essendon and the WCE, though of these, the Eagles have shown significant improvement in the last few weeks. Given the weekly margins there is no way you could suggest a win by Richmond against a team six places above it in the Ladder, is likely (see Prediction, below). Thoughts?

 

The predominance of the midfield plus CHF and CHB, listed below, is evidence of the Richmond focus on the few. Accordingly, scope exists to make greater use of the wings avoiding the direct corridor. That said, dominance in the midfield leads to: ‘Win the midfield battle, win the war’.

 

Kate, I’d be happy if yours truly wished to comment on behalf of Richmond?

 

Players to watch?

 

  • Taranto – Centre / Rover;
  • Prestia – CHF / Centre / RR;
  • Ross – CHF / RR;
  • Short – CHB / HB; and
  • Lalor – RR.

 

Us

 

Team. There are a number of unresolved manning issues:

 

Ins:      Moore – Backline (Fitness?)

            Maynard – Backline (Fitness?)

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; and

Lipinski.

 

Game Plan.

 

Not much to change. A couple of suggestions:

 

  • Games go for four quarters; not one or two. While the performance in the 2nd half was acknowledged, as was the defence in the 1st half, take the pressure off the Pies’ Army – establish a good lead early and keep it;
  • The kick-in is still not working reliably – plan and execute. This is critical. This provides the transition of the ‘ownership of the ball’ and, accordingly, ‘management of the game’ and should be seen as such;
  • Again, there were way too many opponents loose (like previous games) allowing rapid ball movement by them frequently against the run of the game;
  • The execution of both the kick-ins and particularly the inside 50 attacks are happening way too slowly; opponents are being given time to pick-up our players and our free players are no longer free;
  • Cover needs to be in place in all areas around packs to prevent crumbing. We were caught out with them scoring with the ball off the back of a pack. Of course, we also benefitted;
  • Again, avoid the ‘impossible’ kicks at goal. Be willing to pass to a better position. Really important. Speed will improve access to free players (as above). Importantly, GA should be seen as more important to the team than the scoring; and
  • Way too often passes seem to ignore the fact that opponents can, and do, move (and intercept the pass).

 

Your thoughts?

 

Weather? Weather forecasting is predicting a dry, cloudy game day. They are also predicting very light rain each day in the week leading to the game. So, expect a slippery ball and surface. Get rid of the plastic boots.

 

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

 

Prediction? Collingwood to Win by 47 Points. NickD BOG with 48 Disposals @ 93.6% DE, 7 Tackles and 504 metres Gained. Goal kickers – Cameron – 4 goals.

 

Next:

 

We’ve got a few serious challenges coming up:

 

  • R17     Saturday, 4 July versus the GC at their home ground in Queensland;
  • R18     Friday, 10 July versus North at Marvel; and
  • R19     Saturday, 18 July versus the Auld Enemy at the G.

 

Attendance. Our next attendance is the Carlton game. Others going? 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:

  • Any explanations as to why Carlton are winning now? Welcome your views?
  • Any feedback? Anything else?
  • I would be interested in hearing how our other Mid-Season draftees are going at training noting their recognised performances at VFL level? Any comments?

 

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

 

Cam

 

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