Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life 2026: Round 7 Review / Round 8 Preview

Greetings True Believers.

 

A great game. While it was a fantastic result, it was the way in which the team implemented their Game Plan that was the highlight. Simply put, we established control of the game in the opening minutes (thank you, Steele) and kept it until the final siren.

 

And our aging superstar, Pendles, showed everyone how to play ‘footy’. His 43 Disposals was a career high. His 19 Goal Assists was the fifth highest by any player since 2010. It was a master class in the game. I have strongly reinforced in most emails how important he is to manage the Midfield. Proven so.

 

Game:

Collingwood 20.17.137 defeated Essendon 9.6.60.

 

Scoring shots: 37 (us) / 15 (them). Pretty sure this matches the result, given that the game was sitting broadly even at Half Time. More on this below.

 

Goals scored:

Q1  4 (us) / 2 (them). 2 early goals and 2 later ones set the scene.  Margin + 9 Points;

Q2   1 / 1. A battle in which we scored 1 goal and 6 Behinds. Margin could have been much further extended + 14 Points;

Q3  6 / 2. Steene moved to take Centre ‘ball-ups’. Dominated. Scored 6 goals, 4 early, and 7 Behinds. Margin at the final break increased to + 43 Points;

Q4  9 / 4. Scored 9 goals and 4 Behinds against Essendon’s 4 goals. Final margin + 77 Points; and

Total 20 / 12. We Won.

 

Match Report – www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/8098.

 

Coach’s Report –  www.afl.com.au/video/1505814/full-post-match-r7-magpies?videoId=1505814&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1777113818001. With Pendles. Emphasised Pendles’ ongoing contribution to the game and the Club. The attack reflected Goldsack’s influence as an Assistant Coach; interestingly, discussion of the Backline “not really missing Moore”. Worth watching.

 

Game Statistics

 

Numbers sourced from the AFL website. As I was in Victoria for family reasons I missed the game. My thanks for the update messages throughout. I did however take the opportunity to buy and scan the reporting in the Herald / Sun. Most of the Deductions are mine, but the paper reporting was excellent (hard to get inter-state papers in deepest / darkest rural NSW).

 

Statistic	Us / Them	Remarks
Disposals	458 / 365	Included just to highlight the substantial difference in ball-possession in our favour. Note that the game was broadly even to Half Time.
Hit Outs	29 / 19	Remember – Not a factual statistic. Needs HO to advantage, but Steene was impressive post Half Time; Cameron impressive as a forward target and intercepting defender at different times (of course).
Clearances	29 / 28	Includes 20 / 9 Centre clearances and 9 / 19 stoppage clearances. Worth looking at the stoppage clearances, but many of our goals in Q4 seemed to be direct from the Centre and avoided stoppages. Way to go.
Inside 50s	62 / 34	Key statistic.
Goals scored	20 / 9	Reflects the Inside 50s statistic, above.
Disposal Efficiency	77.3% / 79.2%	Not too different. Across the entire game.
Disposal Efficiency Inside 50	62.9% / 44.1%	The other Key statistic. Our domination here added to the Inside 50s domination.
Contested Possessions	141 / 108	UCP – 311 / 244. Reflecting our pursuit of ownership of the ball, and the game.
Possession	49% / 40%	Our game, especially noting the broad equivalence to Half Time.
Marks	134 / 89	Includes Marks inside 50 – 18 / 10. Reflected our Game Plan controlling the ball.
Tackles	38 / 42	Includes Tackles inside 50 – 6 / 4. Not a huge difference.
1%’ers	27 / 31	Not a substantial difference.
Individual DE > 80%	8 / 11	Not too different.
Free Kicks	20 / 14	No category for 50m penalties which are significant, frequently a certain goal.

 

The Game

 

My more general criticism of our Game Plan in the past that we seem to routinely play at the standard of our opponent, rather than at a standard we set ourselves, was very addressed. It was ‘our game’ and we dominated it throughout. The absence of the scoreboard reflecting this domination was really our early kicking; not any domination of the game by Essendon.

 

The game was always under our control. In Q2 and Q3 we kicked 1.6 and 6.7 respectively; the number of Behinds, perhaps, excessive, though the total Behinds kicked was recovered in Q4.

 

The move by McRae of Steene into the primary ruck role freed Cameron to move into the Forward line – discussed by Lloyd at www.afl.com.au/video/1507872/the-pies-power-move-against-dons-which-changed-the-game?videoId=1507872&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1777320000001. Worth watching.

 

It was an enjoyable game to watch, particularly Q3 and Q4.

 

Crowd. 92, 231.

 

Best: AFL website reporting identified the Best as:

 

• Pendles – controlled the game, particularly the Centre and contributed movement forward (and scoring);
• De Goey – influential particularly up forward;
• NickD – Closely tagged by McGrath (I think), he still contributed out of the Centre; and
• Howe, Houston, Crisp and JoshD – collective defence by the Backline dominated Essendon’s attack, turning defence into the drive forward.

 

Coaches’ Votes: Coaches’ votes were:

 

• Pendles – 10 votes;
• NickD – 8;
• De Goey – 4;
• JoshD – 3;
• Houston & Crisp – 2; and
• Steele 1.

 

Don’t really have any issues with these selections though our goal-scorers who’ve been a bit quiet lately ( McStay & Elliott got two each) might feel a little aggrieved. Everyone contributed, on occasion. It was a great team-effort. Great contributions by Anderson and Steene at times.

 

VFL Worth a quick look-see regarding the VFL performances with a Win over Essendon from a 1-Point deficit at ¾ time. West and Buller scored well and Allan and Harrison dominated with 33 Disposals and 21 Disposals and 12 Tackles, respectively. Unfortunately McInnes has suffered a major ACL injury – future unknown.

 

Round 8:

Thursday, 30 April – Collingwood versus Hawthorn at the MCG, ball-up at 7.30pm.

 

Betting: Hawthorn are very clear Favourites with betting: $1.33 for a Hawks’ Win and $3.34 for a Pies’ Win.

 

Them

 

Hawthorn finished the H&A season 8^th last year, progressing in the Finals with a Win over GWS at Engie Stadium by 19 Points in FW1, a SF Win over Adelaide by 34 Points at AO before Losing the Preliminary Final to Geelong at the MCG by 30 Points; Season over. This year they have recovered well following a OR Loss to GWS by 27 Points. They deserve their current 3^rd place on the Ladder based on their 6 Wins and solitary Loss and 124.5% percentage, compared with our 4 Wins and 3 Losses and 110.2% percentage. Subsequent to their Loss they have Won their next 6 games, albeit a couple by narrow margins, shown below:

 

• OR       Loss by 27 Points       Opponent GWS          Location Engie Stadium
• R1       Win by 62 Points         Essendon                    MCG
• R2       Win by 17 Points         Sydney                        MCG
• R4       Win by 1 Point             Geelong                      MCG
• R5       Win by 40 Points         WB                              AO
• R6       Win by 3 Points           PA                               Marvel
• R7       Win by 49 Points         GC                              UTAS

 

Players to watch:

 

• Newcombe – RR. May justify tagging – maybe McCreery?
• Watson – HF;
• Sicily – CHB – expect his return from suspension;
• Gunston – FP. Requires close defence attention – Frampton? and
• Ginnivan – CHF / HF. Might also warrant close defence or tagging – maybe Maynard?

 

Us

 

Team. We should always pick the team that best fits our defeat of our opposition. Unfortunately, I don’t pretend to know too much about their team. I’m tempted to go with a “no change” from the last game, but if Moore or De Goey or Sidey are available their inclusion would be of benefit; not sure who to drop. We should seek to run the game we want to from the start.

 

• Out: Understand Pendles unlikely to play. Others not sure?

 

• In: Moore? From Allan, Buller and Harrison?

 

Game Plan. Same as always: No changes of substance from past. A couple of points:

 

• Application. Nothing is more important. Attitude is King. Pursuit needs to continue; not stopping when an opponent has passed.

 

• Taggers. Tagging roles might be useful, including an occasional hard lock-down role on their Forwards / Midfield? And protecting our players? That should also be key – watch and protect NickD.

 

• Midfield Management. Replacement for Pendles’ continuing guidance / on-field coaching to the collective Midfield is critical.

 

• Passing. Accuracy of passes by foot and hand is critical. Remember a misdirected pass resulting in a turnover of the ball gives possession to our opponent, immediately shifting control of the game to them.

 

• Drive. Drive out of the Backline is a key part of our game plan.

 

• Kick-ins are a continuing issue – we need to have a plan that everyone knows and is able to implement. It is critical because it is the means of maintaining control of the ball, and the game.

 

• Kicking for Goal. This has been hugely improved in recent games. Ball delivery needs to be to the best goal-kicking position. Importantly, scoring a Behind is a waste – for 1 Point you hand over ball-possession to the opposition. It’s not worth it – get the ball into a better position.

 

• Tackles. Still a failing with some opponents spinning out of tackles or brushing off the tackler. This has been one of our strengths and we need to get it back. Love the multiple tacklers.

 

Our Aim? Be happy. Worth reinforcing – our team, yes, we are part of it, everyone, players and supporters, need to get the smile back.

 

Outcome? Collingwood will Win by 11 Points. BOG – NickD with 37 Disposals @ 89.6% DE, 7 Clearances and 414 metres Gained and 1 Goal; Regular Goalkicker – Elliott – 4 goals.

 

Weather? Slight chance of very light rain is forecast on match day. Expect a slippery ball and surface. Get the old boots with stops out.

 

TV? Free to air on 7mate and 7+. As usual on Kayo, Fox Footy, et al.

 

Next. We’ve got a few serious challenges coming up:

 

• Saturday, 9 May versus Geelong at the G;
• Friday, 15 May versus Sydney at the SCG; and
• Saturday, 23 May versus WCE.

 

Most Games’ Record? I need to have another look. When does Pendles get the Most Games’ record?

 

Reporting. Now I know some of you went to the last 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. Reports?

 

Other. Any feedback? Anything else?

 

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

 

Cam

 

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