Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life – Round 17 Review, Round 18 Preview

Okay we went close to losing to the team on the bottom of the ladder. This says many things about both teams, in particular:

 

North are nowhere near as bad as their position would lead you to believe or some of their results might show (working back: Geelong loss by 112 points, Adelaide by 57, GWS by 49).

 

Our boys know how to fight to the end. More on this below.

 

 

And, as I have said a number of times, I can do without a repeat of the last two minutes of the game each week. Too much stress.

 

 

Onward and upward. Next game – Adelaide, in Adelaide. See below. Go Pies.

 

 

Round 17

 

Collingwood 13.10.88 defeated North Melbourne 12.9.81

 

Close. Sure was, again.

 

A few comments first:

 

Now, seven in a row, propelling us to fifth position on the active ladder; back to sixth after Carlton beat the Eagles.

 

Who would have thought that last year? Collingwood in the finals?

 

Finals’ potential? Go to: www.afl.com.au/news/795099/the-run-home-tigers-top-four-hopes-fade-lions-need-a-win

 

One game at a time. Be sensible, but be prepared to dream.

 

Go Pies.

 

 

Game Timeline. Have a look at the timeline at: www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3948#timeline. It shows periods of dominance by both teams.

 

The game, goals scored by quarter:

Q1 4 (us)/4 (them)
Q2 1/4
Q3 3/4
Q4 5/0

Total 13/12.

 

And we won. Note the scoring shot differential: 23 (us)/21 (them)

 

 

External Comments from AFL website:

 

Collingwood get away with a lucky win in a game they had to fight very hard to get back in front. The Magpies 5.1.31 from forward 50 chains opposed to 1.3.9 for the Kangaroos from their inside 50 chains (in the final quarter) proved the difference in a tight tussle.

 

In the final term, Collingwood were able to find a target from seven of their 13 kicks to enter their forward 50 zone, and got ten scoring shots from their 16 inside 50s. By comparison, the Kangaroos were only able to find a target inside 50 from one of their nine kicks going inside the arc and record two behinds from their nine forward 50 entries to squander their three quarter time lead.

 

 

Match Report: www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3948#match-report. Also: www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-02/afl-live-scorecentre-ess-syd-adel-melb-geel-nm-gc-coll/101190232

 

 

Coach’s Comments: www.afl.com.au/video/796137/full-post-match-r17-magpies?videoId=796137&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1657351079001&references=AFL_MATCH:3948. Worth watching.

 

 

Statistics & Lessons:

 

I have recorded the final game numbers of some categories (pity I didn’t do the quarter by quarter version this week – it would have been interesting to compare the third and final quarter numbers) with some comments.

 

 

Hit Outs: 40/37

 

This surprised me. I thought Goldstein had a ‘blinder’, arguably BOG. Actually I’d probably pick three best out of the losing side.

 

Clearances Total: 31/40

 

Both clearances and inside 50s do not reflect the HO dominance, particularly at the centre bounces. We were seriously ‘sharked’ – we lost the midfield battle. Viewing the game, we started scoring when we started getting successive clearances in the final quarter.

 

Clearances – Centre: 9/18

 

Clearances – Stoppages: 22/22

 

Inside 50s: 52/59

 

Goals scored: 13/12

 

Contested possessions: 130/140

Not significantly different over the game but North and the Pies shared the dominance for quarters one to three inclusive. Then? Us.

 

Tackles: 69/68

 

Disposal effectiveness %: 73.0/76.0

Not a significant difference. See the next numbers.

 

Inside 50 – DE%: 50.0/37.3

Key statistics, even with the reduced number of inside 50s, the Pies’ effectiveness when there was hugely more successful.

 

Game winning statistics.

 

Inside 50 – Marks: 12/8

 

Inside 50 – Tackles: 21/8

 

1%’ers: 46/44

Focus of defence effort.

 

Frees: 20/16

This also surprised me, though my surprise was mostly related to when frees were not awarded.

 

 

So, what is going on? We have some work to do. Our ‘fight’ to get out of a losing situation or to hold on to a winning position is laudable, but if we want to take on the serious teams we need to better balance our effort. We need to establish dominance across the game. Highest priority is winning the midfield battle. We need to take any dominance in HO and turn it into clearances and inside 50s. This includes De Goey and Elliott swapping, Adams and N.Daicos usually present, and Pendles occasionally there. From a player perspective, Cox has been performing well in the ruck role; Cameron has done okay but is more valuable as a tall forward. Think about where players will go when Grundy returns? Backs? We missed Moore last week, but a couple of general comments – firstly, get in front, and secondly, in marking packs, punch, and crumbers, crumb. Forwards? Good variety, good concurrent leading, good looking for a better placed goal-kicker. Jack, don’t lose your head. Notably the umps are not going to protect you – www.msn.com/en-au/sport/more-sports/umpires-don-t-know-what-to-do-with-young-magpie/ar-AAZp95C?rc=1&ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=7ea0377428f9440edb7178cf308e780d.

 

 

Best: Listed bests were: J. Daicos, Cameron, N. Daicos, Adams and Elliott. Well done. I think, sometimes, the statistics do not give a total picture. I would add Pendles and McCreery. Pendles was a stabilising force in the second half; McCreery was ferocious in his tackles, particularly in the final term, both influenced the whole game.

 

Ground Reporting: Now, did anyone go? Ground reports please? Or I’d love to hear from those of us who simply watched it on TV; please?

 

 

Round 18

 

Collingwood v Adelaide in Adelaide.

 

Saturday July 16 2022 in Adelaide; bounce at 1:45pm.

 

 

Them

 

Adelaide are sitting 15th on the ladder with five wins, 11 losses and a percentage of 83.1. Our place at sixth with 11 wins, five losses and a percentage of 106.3 gives us very firm favouritism: $1.37 v $3.11.

 

The five games they’ve won are spread throughout the season – Port by four points in Round 3, Richmond by 19 in Round 5, WB by one in Round 6, WCE by 31 in Round 12 and North by 57 in Round 15. Unfortunately for them, their losing margin over the season is greater than 30.

 

Not a happy picture. They are coming to the game following their loss to Hawthorn by 32 points. I usually expect some kick-back in response to such a loss but am not sure what will happen.

 

Injuries: A really short list. Go to: www.afc.com.au/matches/injury-list. Check later in week.

 

Deductions?

 

The best from each game gives me the deductions and the list of players to watch. This is an opportunity to play ‘our game’ and to work on our percentage.

 

Who to watch?

Keays – HF/RR
Crouch – Rover
Dawson – Wing
Laird – Centre/RR
Walker – FF
O’Brien – Ruck
Frampton – HB/BP (moved back from forwards)

 

Note Seedsman, well known to many of us, is out for the season with concussion issues.

 

Anything else, people? Your views?

 

 

Us

 

Injuries:

Out? Adams – concussion

Howe and Murphy both looked a bit sus after that collision. Wait and see.

In? Not sure. Your thoughts?

 

 

Team: Very hard to change a winning team after a few wins but I would argue there is some room for some change for the benefit of the team. How are they going in the VFL side? Have a look at www.afl.com.au/vfl/matches/4288. Note Macrae: 34 disposals, 10 clearances, nine tackles and one goal. And Bianco and Callum Brown were both close behind him. Maybe a swap for Ruscoe?

 

 

Things to do:

Same as previous weeks.

 

Focus on the ruck battle – very important for the next steps – clearances, then the inside 50s, then score
Seek to shark the clearances in the centre bounces and at stoppages around the ground
Better establish forward targets – a variety is essential
Maintain the speed of movement; avoid stoppages or delays (particularly amongst the backline) – open the game up
Continue to enjoy your footy
Pursue the execution of the high-intensity game plan for the entire four quarters.

 

 

Your thoughts would be welcomed.

 

 

Result

My Result. Collingwood to win by 27 points. BOG – De Goey with 31 disposals, eight clearances and three tackles; Ginnivan, Henry and Mihocek each get three. Your thoughts?

 

Go get em, boys.

 

 

TV: No FTA coverage. So Kayo or head to the pub to watch.

 

Weather: Mostly without rain. Moulded sole boots okay.

 

 

 

Round 19

 

Collingwood v Essendon at the MCG

 

Sunday July 24 2022; bounce at 3.20pm

 

 

Go Pies

 

Cam

 

 

 

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