Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Round 10 Review and Round 11 Preview

True Believers, greetings to all. Better, but not leaving us filled with confidence.

 

Believe!

 

Round 10: Collingwood versus Sydney

 

Collingwood 6.14.50 defeated Sydney 6.5.41.

 

The Game. This was a most extraordinary game when viewed from the scoreboard. Dead level scores at the end of Q1; except we’d had a million Inside 50s and about 75% of the play in our attacking half (OK, maybe not a million Inside 50s; but a lot). My comment to a friend, with whom I exchange occasional messages during games, was “at least they are trying“. The pressure was terrific. By Half Time we were still behind though dominating the game. Bucks was asked how he felt at the HT break and said how pleased he was regarding the general play. Of course, there was scope to improve the finishing. Scores by each team, by Quarter were:

 

• Q1 – 0.6 (us) / 1.0 (them)
• Q2 – 2.4 / 4.0
• Q3 – 3.1 / 0.2
• Q4 – 1.3 / 1.3
• Total: 6.14 / 6.5

So, on the basis of these numbers we each won a quarter and drew two. No wonder I was screaming at the TV at times. Have a look at the Match Timeline at https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2830#summary In spite of our domination of the game we came very close to losing.

 

Match Report. Go to https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2830#match-report

 

 

Buck’s comments. At https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/video/790818/post-match-nathan-buckley?videoId=790818&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1596712656001. Worth listening to.

 

 

Statistics. The Match statistics for the team and individuals are at https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2830#team-stats and https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2830#player-stats. Always worth a browse.

 

 

Just looking at a few numbers:

 

• Hit Outs and Clearances – HO: 33 (us) / 24 (them) and the Clearances 34 / 24. That is a major improvement on previous weeks. Well done, Midfield.
• Inside 50s – 50 / 33. We won this, but without the effect it should have had. Our Efficiency within the 50 was 46% compared with their equivalent 45.5% – no real difference; poor by both teams. I do not have the numbers by Quarter, but we dominated this particularly in Q1 and Q2. The game should have been over by HT;
• Individual Disposal Efficiency. Example by one of our boys: Adams – 44.8% (an improvement on last week). Compare with Papley (FP – 28.6%), Parker (Centre – 33.3%) and Stephens (Off Interchange – 41.7%). Still not good enough, particularly in the Midfield – look before you pass; and
• Scoring Shots / Goals – 22 / 11 and 6 / 6. The transition of Scoring Shots to Goals simply does not compute.

 

And Free Kicks – 23 / 11. Looks reasonable to me, except when ‘diving’ is rewarded right in front of goal.

 

Having a look at a couple of things:

• Our pressure was outstanding with a couple of lapses. Contested Possessions across the game – 134 / 108 is a big win. This was the major positive that I saw in the game. Well done to all;
• Extraordinary 1st Half. As per last week, I think there is just a touch of selfishness apparent amongst our Forwards – players blazing away on difficult angles or far-distant shots, rather than sharing. I think more highly of Goal Assists (GA) than actual Goals. “Great shot by Daicos” I hear you say? Were there better placed players like in Sidebottom’s delivery to Adams?
• Basic Mistakes. Way too many intercepted balls and Turnovers leading to changed Possession; and

 

Best: The AFL website identified Adams, Maynard, Daicos, Treloar, Sier and Grundy as Best. Again (as per previous weeks) I’m not sure of a couple of those, but I’d probably add Elliott and Noble. Your thoughts?

 

 

The Future (after this week):

• 15 August – Melbourne at the Gabba; and
• 24 August – North also at the Gabba.

  

Round 11: Collingwood versus Adelaide

 

Tuesday, 11 August in Adelaide; bounce at 6.35pm (AEST).

 

Them

 

Adelaide is having the Season from Hell. They have Lost every game, so far, with an average margin just under 40 Points. They are, potentially, heading towards a nil-Win season; the first for many years by any club. They did, however, Lose to Sydney (Round 1) and Essendon (Round 8) by only 3 Points. That said, in front of a (smaller) home crowd, we should expect them to fight hard.

 

Who to watch for?

 

• Crouch – variously Centre, Rover or off Interchange;
• Laird – BP / FP;
• Doedee – CHB;
• Lynch – HF;
• Smith – Wing; and
• Crouch (varied positions same as his brother, above).

Also, for old-times’ sake, keep an eye on Seedsman (Wing) and Crocker (Forward). And keep an eye on Tex; he can be a handful.

 

Us

 

Okay, the same as every week. To do list:

 

• Control the game. We need to be the team winning the Midfield battle and then driving forward, keeping control of the ball until, really importantly, we have an easy kick at Goal;
• Get control of the Clearances; and
• Speed and variety of entry to the goal-kicking position. Stop the ‘up and under’ big kick into the 50.

Team:

 

• Ins: Cameron, Cox, Varcoe and Mayne; and
• Outs: Treloar, Hoskin-Elliott, Quaynor (all injured) and Mihocek. Your thoughts?

 

Pre-game Brief? Go to https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2836 (eventually).

 

Weather. Forecast dry on Tuesday but following significant rain today and over the weekend.

 

1. TV. No Free to Air coverage. Head off to the pub (unless you are a Victorian) or find a friend with Fox.

 

Anyone Going? Anyone in Adelaide? I’d still really like to hear others’ views before, during and after the game?

 

Expert Predictions? Look around here at http://whotippedwhat.com/.

 

My Picks

 

• Pies to Win by 17 Points. BOG – Grundy (21 Disposals @ 81.6% DE; 6 Clearances and 1 goal). Stephenson and Reid each kick three. Your prediction and selections?

 

Other

 

• Eddie Watch. Quiet for him; been a little vocal about different clubs demanding more and more from the AFL supporting the hubs.
• Injuries. As might have been expected, the Injury Lists for Clubs have been rising with the increase frequency of games. Have a look at https://www.afl.com.au/matches/injury-list?nav.
• Footy Almanac. Keep a watch on Footy Almanac at https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/.

 

This is our year, people. C’mon, let’s hear your views?

 

 

Go Pies.

 

Cam

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