Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life – Round 16: That was not enjoyable! – Round 17 preview

True Believers, that was not enjoyable.

 

I watched half the game in a sports bar at Surfers before adjourning to the Hotel. Very noisy; lots of people who don’t know much about AFL and competing TV coverage of other sports / games. A slightly abbreviated report today – long drive home.

 

Let me be confronting – We nearly won against a very good opponent.

 

Round 16 – Hawthorn

Hawthorn 9.13.67 defeated Collingwood 9.9.63.

 

Match Report –  https://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2019/16/haw-v-coll

 

Ground Reports  – Was anyone there? Reports pls?

 

Buck’s comments   – https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/video/2019-07-06/post-match-nathan-buckley. Worth watching.

 

The Game

 

Okay, we lost. By less than a kick. We’d even had, in a very low-scoring game, a lead of three goals in the Last Quarter. For the first time I can recall we won the Clearances, overall but particularly strongly at stoppages around the ground; our effort was reflected in us winning Contested Possessions and Tackles. Well done.

 

But they destroyed us in Inside 50 entries (35 (us) / 57 (them)). Where did the turnovers come from? “Inefficiency in transition” according to Bucks. I don’t disagree. We had three players whose collected game Disposal Efficiency was, or exceeded, 80%; they had eight. This reflects, perhaps, Buck’s view that we are not jelling as a team as well as we have in the past; that we are “not playing our best footy”and are “out of form”. Where do be go from here? Well, the only way is up.

 

Round 17 – West Coast Eagles

 

Friday, 12 July in Perth; bounce 6.10pm (AWST) (8.10pm AEST). Go to  https://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2019/17/wce-v-coll.

 

This game is between 2nd (them, now) and 3rd (us); 114.3% (them) and 118.3% (us). In reality a Win here will fix us in the Top 4; a Loss (with other results is likely to drop us out of the Top 4. The season is so even that substantial changes are probable (not just possible) – North and Essendon are only two Wins outside the Eight; even Hawthorn and Sydney are still within reach. So, it’s important.

 

Them

 

They come into this game after their destruction of Freo last weekend and preceding Wins over Hawthorn (6 points) and Essendon (solid Win) since their Bye. Before their Bye their results were varied

 

Who to watch for? Repeat performers this year make the following worth watching:

 

  • Midfield – Nic Nat (of course). I consider he and Grundy are the two ‘modern’ rucks who contribute hugely around the ground, as well as the more traditional ruck roles. Gaff (Rover), Cripps (Wing) and Shuey (Centre).
  • Forwards – Kennedy (FF; sick last week) and Darling (CHF). Remember the damage these two did at last year’s GF?
  • Backline – Sheppard (BP / CHB), McGovern (CHB) and Hurn (BP).

 

The Eagles are Premiers and aside from a bit of a hiccough earlier this year, are playing accordingly. They are a worthy opponent. Their Best lie in the Midfield and the corridor.

 

Us

 

We’ve had a few weeks we’d prefer to forget however still lie in the Top 4. We’re coming in after two Losses (Hawthorn and North) and an unconvincing close Win against the Bulldogs since our Bye. We have the talent, the application and the game plan that will allow us to reverse the GF (maybe replicate Q1?). Critical will be us winning the Midfield battle and ‘beating’ their key Forwards (Darling & Kennedy).

 

Approach?

 

  • Critical approach – same as previous weeks – Establish control of the game – play it our way; not theirs.
  • We must take advantage of Grundy’s ruck dominance, turning this into Clearances and Inside 50s.
  • Scoring Behinds? Avoid; look for the better position.
  • Crumb around the packs and watch their ‘smalls’, Forward and Back.
  • Oh yes, application. That’s fairly important.

 

Team?  Time for some changes (leading to the Finals):

 

  • Outs – Greenwood, Cox and Hoskin-Elliott. And maybe Mayne, if you need another.
  • Ins – Adams and Crocker. Plus Broomhead? Plus Lynch?

 

Weather? Clear and sunny (at least until the sun goes down).

 

TV? FTA on 7mate from 8.00pm.

 

My prediction? Pies Win by 13 points. BOG – Sier – 34 Disposals @ 78.9% Disposal Efficiency plus 2 goals. Elliott, De Goey and Crocker get three each. Broomhead gets one and is mobbed by teammates.

 

Attendance?  Janet will be there; enjoy. Others? Ground Reports pls?

 

Future. The challenges continue and in the current competition no team can be ignored or considered an ‘easy beat’:

 

  • Round 18 – GWS in Sydney. They’ll be a bit touchy after their Brisbane Lions experience (thanks, Linda).
  • R19 – Richmond at the G. Always a critical competition.
  • R20 – Gold Coast at the G. C’mon, they don’t like the cold.
  • R21 – Melbourne at the G. Again; getting tiresome.
  • R22 – Adelaide in Adelaide.
  • R23 – Essendon at the G. Anyone writing off Essendon now?

 

Many are already writing the Pies off this year – go to https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-07-07/barrett-weight-of-expectation-could-crush-pies-dreams.

 

  • Then, Finals. And as we all know, Finals Footy is different to H&A footy.

 

Keep the faith.

 

Other:

 

  • Eddie Watch. Quiet; a good thing.
  • Hawthorn’s Howe fined $2000 for kneeing Pendles in the head.

 

Go Pies.

 

Cam

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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