Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Round 11 Review, Round 12 Preview

Greetings True Believers.

 

I enjoy much of the media coverage of our team, the training, even the performance. But not all. I disagree totally with some attempts to pillory some individual players’ performances, but of most significance I disagree with the expectation of the outcome. I have read multiple comments this morning of the expectation of a massive winning score. I expected us to Win and Win well but I certainly value and respect North. I guessed a winning margin of 43 Points (not too far off the 35). This year we have a very even competition. This should be valued, not decried. Enjoy it.

 

Round 11

 

Collingwood 16.9.105 defeated North Melbourne 10.10.70.

 

Goals scored by Quarter:

Q1 4 (us) / 0 (them). Giving us a substantial lead at the first change;
Q2 3 / 2;
Q3 6 / 2;
Q4 3 / 6; and
Total: 16 / 10. We Won.

 

Match Report: www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4881.

 

Coach’s Report: www.afl.com.au/video/939910/full-post-match-r11-magpies?videoId=939910&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1685263627001&references=AFL_MATCH:4881.

 

Numbers:

 

Statistic

TOTAL

REMARKS

Number

us / them

 

Hit Outs

42 / 35

A surprise. Goldstein is a recognised top-line ruck. The numbers reflect who touched the ball, not HO to advantage. So, ignore.

Clearances

33 / 35

Another surprise though I think this was accurate – I was looking for more Midfield control. North had a lot of Clearances; more than we should have allowed.

Inside 50s

53 / 43

Q1 – 17 / 9

Q2 – 11 / 12

Q3 – 4 / 4

Q4 – 21 / 18

The Q3 figure surprised me, as did Q4. I thought NM were all over us in Q4.

Scoring shots

25 / 20

Reflecting the Inside 50 numbers – a score for every two entries.

Goals Scored

16 / 10

North missed a lot of simple shots.

Disposal Efficiency

75.5% / 73.5%

 

DE Inside 50

47.2% / 51.2%

The more important figure. At the first break the DE Inside 50 were 41.2% / 22.2%. The transition from that to the end result is quite extraordinary.

Team Members with DE > 80%

8 / 11

 

Tackles Inside 50

7 / 9

 

Marks Inside 50

17 / 13

An influence, as is the figure above.

Contested Possessions

126 / 124

No difference. Two committed teams.

Free Kicks

16 / 13

Whatever.

 

Best: The AFL website identifies De Goey, J.Daicos, Mitchell and N.Daicos. Would have been tempted to add Noble (17 Disposals, 2 Tackles, 404 metres gained), Quaynor (19 D @ 84.2% DE, 11 Intercept Possessions, 4 Score Involvement and 1 Goal Assist, 12 Contested Possessions, 3 T, 1 Clearance and 317mG) and Pendles (23 D, 7 T, 1 Cl and 309mG).

 

Game. A good result against a ‘coming’ team. Did you notice that North, when they cut loose, seemed to be imitating our fast, hand-ball movement, but with less finesse? Based on their performance last week against Sydney and this week against us, I suspect they will not stay on the bottom long. I feel for the Eagles based on how North are moving and Hawthorn’s recent performances. This game was Won against a committed opponent. As I said previously, North are not ‘easy-beats’. However, the relatively easy (from the spectator’s perspective; not the players’) Win is far less stressful on the poor long-suffering supporters.

 

Injuries. Sidebottom – a few weeks. Bugger.

 

Deductions / Lessons? General application was fantastic; as was the commitment to a result during the whole game. And kicking was very good. And kicking to a better placed kicker inside the 50 was also excellent. All, well done. Your comments?

 

Round 12

 

Collingwood plays the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, 4 June; bounce at 4.35pm (AEST).

 

This game is between 1st (us) and 18th (them) on the Ladder. Betting? We are favourites, not surprisingly, betting: $1.02 c/f $15.00.

 

Them:

 

Firstly, as I said last week, we should never underestimate our opponents. WCE’s season started poorly and has gone from bad to worse. They sit at the bottom of the Table.

 

More importantly, they show no signs of any ability get off it. It’s competitors for the Wooden Spoon, Hawthorn and North, have been performing well (sort of) recently, to say nothing about the Hawk’s demolition of the Eagles in Round 10. What is the Eagles’ problem? Injuries and the age of their List, in my view. They’ve had difficulty fielding a team on occasion. As at 23 May, the Injuries to McGovern, Darling and Naitanui sit at 4-5 weeks, 3-4 weeks and 6-7 weeks before return, respectively. Naitanui hasn’t made the team this season yet; McGovern hasn’t been seen since Round 3 when he was injured and Darling made it to Round 9 before dropping out of sight. In Round 3 the team suffered injuries to seven players during the game.

 

The team, however, has played some good footy. Unfortunately for them, rarely for more than a Quarter or two and never, so far this season, for a whole game. Their performance in Q2 of Round 2, scoring eight goals to two, Won them the game when the rest was basically even. Round 3 was nearly level for all but Q4 where six goals were scored against their solitary single. Round 4 saw the Eagles maintain an even game except for Q3 – 6 / 2. In Rounds 5 and 6, the Eagles were broadly even for all but Q3 of each. In Q3, they were heavily scored against – 6 / 2 and 10 / 1, respectively. In Q3 of Round 8 they were scored against 9 / 2. Round 9 saw the Eagles maintain an equivalence across the game except for Q2 and Q4, where they were scored against 8 / 1 and 5 / 1 respectively. So? The Eagles have shown the ability to maintain a degree of equivalence during the games. They have even showed periods of dominance in some games but have not demonstrated the application of this across an entire game. And they have shown they can be dominated. We need to be cautious that we do not revert to playing their game.

 

Statistics are wonderful things. A comparison with us, up to the conclusion of Round 10, shows the following:

Clearances: 36.4 (us) / 34.4 (WCE);
Inside 50s: 56.7 / 43.4;
Disposal Efficiency: 73.0% / 73.1%;
Contested Possessions: 139.2 / 123.0; and
Turnovers: 69.3 / 64.5.

Our lead in most of these statistics is not surprising. What is surprising is how close the majority of the numbers are.

 

Game Plan? I have not seen an Eagles game this year so am reluctant to make comment. I think it is more reasonable to implement our plan and leave the pursuit by them up to them.

 

Significance? We need to win the Midfield battle and hold their key Forwards to account. Simple, as always.

 

Players to Watch?

 

Kelly – Centre / RR;
Duggan – HB / BP;
Allen – FF;
Ginbey – Wing;
Hurn – HB;
Barass – FB;
Yeo – RR;
Edwards – Wing; and
Hunt – W.

 

Roles?

Dominate the Midfield / watch and/or tag Kelly, if necessary;
Shut down Allen at FF; and
Watch for attempts to tag our players / implement counter-tagging plan, accepting the logic that this, generally, removes an additional effective opponent from the opposition.

 

Eagles Expert. John, as our resident Eagles’ supporter, do you wish to make comment?

 

Us:

 

Steele’s replacement? I’m not sure anything else needs to change, though opportunities arise as previously injured players becoming available:

 

Team? Change with a view towards the Melbourne game and the Finals. Anyone need resting? Your choices?

 

Application? No change. Application for four full Quarters. Hold the tackles. Crumb around packs. Establish and maintain control of the game (possessions).

 

Game Plan? No change to the current plan. Use varied entry to the 50 and be willing to move the ball to a better-placed goal scorer than delivering to packs.

 

My Picks: Collingwood to Win by 73 Points. BOG – N. Daicos – 42 Disposals, 12 Clearances, 6 Tackles, 6 Goal Assists and 1 Goal. Mihocek, Jack, Billy & Bobby get four each.

 

Ground Reports. Loved the Reports from attendees. Let’s see some reporting, please, from those who couldn’t attend but watched the game on TV – all views are welcome. Do we have any people over there? Could you report please? Thank you to those people reporting. Keep it up, please?

 

Weather. Forecast is for clear and sunny weather with the slight chance of very light rain a couple of days beforehand. Moulded sole boots okay.

 

TV: Kayo or FOXTEL – Best for every game.

No Free to Air TV.

 

Future:

Round 13 – Monday, 12 June at the MCG – Melbourne versus Collingwood; bounce at 3.20. FTA coverage of the King’s Birthday Holiday game on Channel 7;
Round 14 – Weekend 17 /18 June – Bye; and
The Ladder. Keep an eye on the Ladder as we approach the midpoint of the Season (yes, still a couple of weeks off) leading to some big moves on the Ladder. Your thoughts?

 

Other:

 

VFL – The Pies Lost to North last weekend by 39 Points. Their next game will be on Sunday, 4 June; bounce at 2.05pm: Collingwood versus Northern Bullants at Preston City Oval Melbourne. Anyone going?
Mid-Season Draft. Some differing views – have heard nothing further:

www.afl.com.au/video/928633/crazy-good-curtis-wows-crowd-with-goty-contender?videoId=928633&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1684556087001 – Key Forward; and
“That’s what I was told”: Healy’s mail on Collingwood’s mid-season draft target (sen.com.au) – Ruck. Do you think there is a need? I can’t help thinking about the importance of top-level rucks and, specifically, the influence Jolly had on his arrival and on the 2010 GF (and 2011 GF)? I value both Cameron and Cox hugely, mostly as Forward targets as neither is a top-line ruck.
For detail go to: www.sportingnews.com/au/afl/news/afl-mid-season-draft-2023/e3gwymnwaesq7vlhilhtw9va#AFL%20Mid-Season%20Draft%20Order. I would note that I don’t think we currently have a vacancy on our List and we’d have Pick 18 – a long way to go.

Anything that you would like to inform our members of, just Reply to all or send it to me.

 

Believe always. Go Pies.

 

Cam

 

 

 

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