Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Review Round 4 – Preview Round 5

True believers, greetings to all. It is always easier to be an active Pies’ supporter when we are winning rather than the alternative. But we have much experience in supporting our Club even when unsuccessful.

 

How do you remember how you felt / would have felt, say, following two past seasons, for example:

 

• 1966 (12 Clubs in competition). Finished the home and away season on top of the Ladder (with 15 Wins and 3 Losses and a percentage of 157.1%); defeated St Kilda in the 2^nd Semi-Final 15.9.99 to 13.11.89 (Tuddenham kicked 7) followed by our Loss to St Kilda in the GF two weeks later by 1 Point (note, no comment on the umpiring); and / or
• 1999 (16 Clubs). Finished last (16^th) on the Ladder (with 4 Wins, 18 Losses and a percentage of 84.8%). Picked up Josh Fraser as No 1 Draft Pick. Now Head of Development and VFL Coach at the Club.

 

 

The point I am trying to make is that we all have our successes and failures (even Collingwood got the Wooden Spoon), and the competition continues onward. Following each of these seasons, the Pies were headed down (1967 – 4^th; 1968 – 7^th) and up (2000 – 15^th; 2001 – 9^th), respectively. A Loss is not indicative of a Lost season.

What do some others think? Check ‘Sliding Doors’ by Damian Barrett on the AFL website at www.afl.com.au/news/896875/if-riewoldt-and-cotchin-have-been-managed-then. Go to the statement under Collingwood that starts “IF… it’s weird to say that there is nothing to worry about after a 33-point loss …”. Really worth a read; and strongly supported.

 

So? Don’t be too despondent. There are some issues to be addressed but there is a long way to go.

 

Round 4

 

Collingwood 11.17.83 were defeated by Brisbane 18.8.116

 

Goals scored by Quarter (plus, on this occasion, the Behinds scored):

 

• Q1      5 (us) / 3 (them); Behinds – 3 / 2:
• Q2      0 / 6. Behinds – 3 / 2.
• Q3      3 / 5. Behinds – 6 / 2.
• Q4      3 / 4. Behinds – 5 / 2.  ; and
• Total:  11 / 18. Behinds – 17 / 8. And they Won in spite of our Scoring Shot lead – 28 / 26.

 

Match Report: https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4812.

 

Coach’s Report:  www.afl.com.au/video/897817/full-post-match-r4-magpies?videoId=897817&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1680787108001&references=AFL_MATCH:4812. Worth watching.

 

Numbers

 

Some selected statistics with some comments:

 

• Hit Outs: 23 (us) / 47 (them).Okay, we need to address this deficiency. It is a reversal of what we’ve been used to previously, and not unexpected but, but in my view is of limited significance. It is the next step that is critical.

• Clearances:   Total – 37 / 46. The Clearance numbers show the Midfield sharking the Brisbane HO dominance. Well done. Performance by De Goey, Mitchell, Pendles and the others was just superb.

 

                                  Centre – 15 / 12. The significance of this reversal in the Centre is just magnificent; and

                                 Stoppage – 22 / 34. This last statistic is a bit disappointing.

 

• Inside 50: 57 / 54. Significant when compared with the Brisbane HO dominance and their overall Clearance lead;.

• Disposal Efficiency: Total – 72.8% / 71.2%. Not significantly different; and

 

Inside 50 – 47.4% / 53.7%. The Brisbane DE dominance Inside the 50 combined with a lead in Inside 50s is their match-winning statistic. The Marks inside 50 – 10 / 16 and Tackles inside 50 – 7 / 10 reinforce their dominance in this critical statistic. They got it there more often and used it better.

 

• Contested Possessions: 136 / 137 – no difference. Remember our CP domination has been fundamental to our Winning of games this Season. This the other part of winning – Possession wins matches representing the pressure the team is bringing to the games. Awesome.

• 1%: 47 / 46. No difference. Thank you Pat for your explanation of where to find individual 1%’er numbers.

• Frees: 22 / 19. I was surprised, again, though the award of Frees (particularly 50m penalties) to Brisbane in a scoring position annoyed me.

 

Best: The AFL website identifies N.Daicos, Quaynor, Mihocek, Maynard and Pendles. I’d be tempted (as I do having read the individual numbers) to add Noble – 19 Disposals, 2 Tackles, 498m gained, 1 GA, 6 Intercept Possessions and 4  Score Involvement. A pretty good day in the office? And, as I identified last week, our seven Back-6 members totalled 47 Intercept Possessions. A job well done, as always. And it goes without saying, without picking sides, that Rayner and Johnson both took outstanding marks warranting consideration as Mark of the Year.

 

Game. Brisbane dominated Q2 and the first half of Q3, scoring 10, unanswered, goals. It was a significant period that the team never appeared able to reverse – we were able to score goals but never back to back to retake the momentum. The rest of the game was, broadly, between equals. Brisbane established ownership of the game, particularly over the dominant period, and prevented us taking it back. While the application of the team was terrific, against an equally committed side, we were beaten.

 

Injuries – Nil new. Go to www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/1299494/injury-update-round-4.

 

Deductions / Lessons? General application was terrific, right to the end. The silly confusion in the Centre should never have happened – three free kicks given away? It is difficult to criticise any specific section of the team – the Midfield sharked back the Brisbane HO dominance leading to Inside 50 dominance. We just need to use it a bit better when we get it there – look for the better placed goal kicker. The Forwards provided multiple options however as the game wore on and players tired there was a tendency to kick to packs which were not always crumbed around. This frequently wasted the Midfield effort to get and keep possession. The Backline, at times looked disorganised though, I think, just reflected the Brisbane application. There were cases where their goals were scored against the run of the game. As both Barrett and McRae indicated, there is not much that needs to be done (maybe except the ruck situation). Your comments?

 

Round 5

 

Collingwood plays St Kilda at Adelaide Oval as part of Gather Round on Sunday, 16^th April; bounce at 4.50pm.

 

Again interestingly, for what it’s worth after only four games, this is a battle between 1st place on the Ladder (with a percentage of 160.4%) versus us at 3rd place (with a percentage of 122.3%) or 4^th place or 5th place, depending on whether Essendon defeat GWS and / or Melbourne beat the WCE. But the betting makes us the favourite with $1.38 compared with St Kilda with $3.05. Go figure? And while I’ve heard wonderful things about Adelaide Oval, our game will be the seventh AFL game on the ground in four days. I’m not sure what that and a bit of rain forecast during the week leading to the game might do to the surface. See Weather, below.

 

Them:

 

St Kilda have been sitting near the top of the Ladder since the start of the Season. They have Won their first four games of the Season against Freo, WB, Essendon and the GC by a total margin of 137 Points noting, of course, that none of their opponents sit towards the top of the Ladder (or where they should sit (Geelong and Richmond, for example)). My suggestion is that they’ve had an easy start, so far. This game will be a telling point in their season (and ours).

 

Game Plan? I’ve only watched one of their games – their game against the GC, noting their ruck Witts dropped out just before the game. The game was fundamentally boring but I suspect this was more due to GC than by St Kilda’s design. Q1 and Q4 were essentially even; St Kilda cut loose in Q2 and Q3 scoring 10 goals to 2 against flimsy defence. Their Intercept Possessions, reflecting application and endeavour, totalled 74 measured against a competition average of 48. The GC should be embarrassed. St Kilda Forwards Owens and Higgins were outstanding. The Midfield was broadly even however the step between the Clearances and Inside 50s is interesting: HO – 37 (St Kilda) / 46 (GC; even without Witts), Clearances – 35 / 45, Inside 50s – 64 / 51, Disposal Efficiency – 73.9% / 66.6% and Goals scored – 17 / 8. GC defence was pretty ordinary. While I usually don’t consider it of much relevance St Kilda’s total Disposals dominance, illustrating which side was managing the game, is extraordinary – 467 / 347.

 

Significance / Players to Watch? St Kilda has not really been tested this Season, yet. Based on their games this Season the following have performed:

 

• Crouch – RR;
• Sinclair – CHB;
• Wood – Wing;
• Wilkie – BP;
• Marshall – Ruck;
• Higgins – HF; and
• Owens – HF / FP.

 

Also watch Wanganeen-Milera – HB, he has the genes of a superstar.

 

Roles?

 

• Tag Crouch? Maybe Adams;
• Ruck duel – Now that’s a challenge. Marshall has figured amongst their Best on three of their four matches; and
• Close defence on Higgins and Owens, speedy enough to counter them.

 

Us:

 

As per the opening comments, apart from the ruck situation, I’m not sure much else needs to change.

 

• Team? Minimal change. Steene in? Maybe Ginnivan in? Who to rest / replace – McInnes? Markov – Sub out?

• Application? No change. Application for four full Quarters. Hold the tackles.

• Game Plan? No change to the current plan.

 

My Picks: Collingwood to Win by 17 Points. BOG – De Goey with 24 Disposals, 9 Clearances, 4 Tackles and 2 Goals. Elliott, Mihocek & Hill each get two goals; McCreery & Johnson each record 4 GA.

 

Ground Reports. Do we have anyone who lives in Adelaide or is travelling to watch the game? Ground Reports please? Plus from those of us stuck on our couches watching – turn off the commentator if you don’t like his (or her) commentary?

 

Weather. Weather forecast is mostly sunny but with rain forecast the day before and on days earlier in the week. The ground and ball will be slippery. Pull out the boots with stops. Stop the slip/sliding.

 

TV:     Kayo or FOXTEL best for every game.

 

No free to air TV.

 

Future:

 

• Round 6 – Tuesday, 25 April (Anzac Day) at the MCG – Collingwood vs Essendon; and
• Round 7 – Sunday, 30 April at Adelaide Oval – Adelaide vs Collingwood.

 

Other:

 

• Did you notice our coach’s face on the front of the Brisbane players’ jumpers? He is the guy holding up three fingers representing their ‘threepeat’ Premiership Wins in 2001, 02 and 03.
• VFL – After a not so terrific result last weekend against Brisbane (including a 1 / 6 goals scored in Q4), Collingwood’s VFL side take on Hawthorn on Sunday, 16 April at Box Hill City Oval. Any locals avoiding the drive to Adelaide, who might attend? I’d welcome a view on how Steene is performing?
• Eddie Watch – https://au.sports.yahoo.com/eddie-mcguire-rips-smart-alec-politician-as-afl-faces-gambling-probe-031946764.html. More significantly, Eddie was President when Collingwood walked away from the use of poker machines in their Club Hotels.
• Remember you can see our past Reports (for a few years) on Footy Almanac at www.footyalmanac.com.au/?s=Hooke. The group emails started a few years before the FA records. Does anyone’s records show when we started?
• Anything that you would like to inform our members of, just Reply to all or send it to me.

 

Hope you had a great Easter.

 

Believe always. Go Pies.

 

Cam

 

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