Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Round 22 Review/Round 23 Preview

G’day, True Believers.

 

Better and better, I hear you say? Even though the final margin was only 8 Points we never had the feeling that we were under any real threat after Q1. If you remove two of the umpires’ significant number of errors you get to an easy margin of 20 Points – a fairer representation of the game and our dominance; could be even more – check the Frees comparison, below.

 

Our experience? The atmosphere was electric. It seemed like many more than half the 78,749 spectators were Pies’ supporters. You get a better view of the game on TV; what you don’t get is the atmosphere. Well, my thanks again to my brother, David, as we accompanied him as MCC Members’ guests, especially notable given he is a Cats’ supporter. Dining before the game and watching from the Members’ is a wonderful experience that happens all too rarely. I’m not sure what the waiting list period for MCC Membership is nowadays but it is certainly too extreme for me at my age (maybe I’d get to a game when I turned 100). And the view? See the attachment.

 

Where are we now? We still have our two-game margin, plus percentage. Without a disastrous game loss at probably both of our final two games we are set at the top of the table. Who comes 4^th is the next issue. Keep an eye each week on the results of games involving Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Carlton. What’s your opinion?

 

Go Pies.

 

Round 22

 

Collingwood 16.13.109 defeated Geelong 15.11.101

 

Goals scored:

Q1: 3 (us) / 6 (them) giving them a very handy lead;

Q2: 4 / 2, which we largely recovered leading to a 1 Point deficit at HT;

Q3: 6 / 2, giving us a final change advantage of 26 Points;

Q4: 3 / 5, which we relaxed a bit (were seriously screwed by the Umpires – see below) leading to an 8 Point winning margin; and

Total: 16 / 15. We Won.

 

Match Report: www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4969#match-report. Worth having a look at the Match Timeline atwww.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4969#summary to see the critical points in the game – from their perspective mid-Q1 and early and late Q4; from our perspective Q2, Q3 and mid Q4 prevailed.

 

Coach’s Report: www.afl.com.au/video/1005262/full-post-match-r22-magpies?videoId=1005262&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1691761674001&references=AFL_MATCH:4969. He emphasised that the Pies are amongst the best pressure sides in the competition and when this is linked with the ball movement, exciting things happen. He reinforced the energy Ginnivan (with 3 GA) brings to the game and acknowledged the pressure he was under from Pies’ supporters to bring Jack back. Worth watching.

 

Numbers:

Measure	Statistics	Remarks
Disposals	378 / 349	As I said last week, I usually don’t usually rate this number. What it shows, however, with a reasonably similar Contested Possessions statistic between the teams, is that we played ‘keep’ens off’ football – we dictated how the game would be played.
Hit Outs	46 / 47	Not happy with this. Cox is a better ruck than Cameron. Cameron is a better Forward Target. Others?
Clearances	36 / 44	This statistic is a surprise. Watching, it seemed we dominated the Clearances. Obviously not. Our Midfield needs to lift.
from Centre	11 / 15
from Stoppages	25 / 29
Inside 50s	45 / 51	Again, a bit of a surprise. What does this show? They got the ball into the 50 more frequently than we did. See below regarding how they used it.
Goals scored	16 / 15	Follows on from Clearances and Inside 50s.
Scoring Shots	29 / 26	We did move the ball within the 50 occasionally – notably Ginnivan – great play. Geelong did this more often. We can do more to set the scoring shot from the best position.
Disposal Efficiency	72.8% / 70.8%	Many of my criticisms from last week were gone. Thankfully.
DE Inside 50	66.7% / 51.0%	Okay – they got the ball inside the 50 more frequently than us, but they didn’t use it as well. The balance of the two statistics left us winning.
Marks	111 / 91	Relates to the whole Disposal control statistic by us – ‘keep’ens off’.
Marks Inside 50	18 / 15	Significant in support of DE inside 50s to our benefit.
Tackles Inside 50	12 / 4	Significant in support of DE inside 50s to our significant benefit, also.
Players with DE > 80 %	7 / 5	Little difference.
Tackles	76 / 66	Combined, this would indicate the pressure was very similar by both teams. This was not the view I had watching. My impression was that our pressure dominated and we decided how the game would be played. Well done to all.
Contested Possessions	130 / 137
1 %’ers	36 / 44
Uncontested Possessions	242 / 201	Relates to the whole Disposal control statistic – ‘keep’ens off’.
Free Kicks	10 / 17	Whatever, even Kane Cornes statement “Collingwood getting crucified again” is recognising this. It seems as though the umpires have decided some individual players can do no wrong. In general, the umpiring was awful. One comment I saw suggested a 5th umpire because the current four are missing so much. Go to www.afl.com.au/news/1007855/league-admits-umpire-error-in-crucial-cameron-call.

 

Best: The AFL website identifies our Best as J.Daicos, Mihocek, Lipinski, Maynard, Crisp, Hill and Mitchell. Not going to challenge. Everyone had their moment.

 

Game / Deductions / Lessons. A big improvement over last week. We took control of the game and Won.

A couple of specific comments in addition to those included in the Table, above:

• We need to work on passing the ball within the 50 to get the ball to better-placed players. We should focus on Goal Assist (GA) statistics in preference to Goals scored;
• We kicked more to leading forwards rather than high pack-marks;
• Kick-in’s continue to be too slow and subject to interception. We badly need to fix this. There needs to be a very clear plan on how to execute this; and
• Midfield control is essential to add to our drive from the Backline, not just out of the Centre. Our Midfield did not dominate.

 

Your views?

 

Injuries. Moore and Noble; both critical. Importantly, we have the depth to cope. Are there any others who might benefit from a rest? I think so – see below.

 

Your comments?

 

 

Round 23

 

Friday, 18^th August – Collingwood versus Brisbane at Marvel; bounce at 7.50pm.

This game is between 1^st  and 2^nd. Current betting: $1.68 / $2.20; we are Favourites, I suspect, solely because of the Ladder position.

 

Them

 

Brisbane have lost only six games this season, spread evenly throughout, none of which have been Lost in Brisbane. Indeed there are a further four games that you could define as ‘close’ also played in Brisbane. The importance of this game, and the Final round game, lies in the home final associated with the top two Ladder places. Sitting on top, we will have a home Qualifying Final in Week 1. The same applies to the second place. Followed through, it means 3^rd and 4^th places on the Ladder face a game away from their home. In Brisbane’s case (as with several others) this has a huge detrimental effect. As such, we can expect a pretty solid effort for their pursuit to maintain 2^nd place.

 

Brisbane have been the ‘quiet achiever’ this year maintaining their position with little publicity. Their Forwards (Daniher and Charlie Cameron) are notable exceptions performing very publicly. Their Midfield, based around Neale, a former Brownlow Medallist, works hard to provide the start of ball movement forward. The Midfield battle will, accordingly, be critical to the control of the game. Watch their use of the corridor.

 

I don’t recall watching a Brisbane game since the 2002 / 2003 Grand Finals. I might have; I just can’t remember it.

 

Players to Watch?

• Neale – Rover;
• Zorko – HB;
• McLuggage – Wing;
• Dunkley – RR;
• Andrews – CHB;
• Daniher – FF / CHF; and
• Cameron – HF.

 

Also keep an eye on Starcevich because of the Collingwood family connection through his uncle.

 

Roles?

• Consider tagging Neale?
• Close attention to Cameron and Daniher?
• Note the emphasis of their Best (Players to Watch, above) on the Midfield and corridor. Therefore we need to win the Midfield battle.
• Need to compete for game control through CP / tackles / 1%’ers?

 

Us:

Brisbane have beaten us repeatedly over the last several years but, importantly, each of the last three meetings has been in Brisbane at the Gabba – critically this year in Round 4, 2023 – by 33 Points and in previous years: R5, 2022 – by 7 Points and R22, 2021 – by 85 Points. A few suggested changes for us:

 

• Team? Suggest a continuing review including a few changes:
• Out:
• Moore;
• Noble (TBC);
• Mitchell (managed);and
• In:
• Ginnivan (starting line up);
• McInnes;
• Cox; and
• Sub: Markov

 

Your choices / ideas?

• Application? No change – Application for four full Quarters. Hold the tackles. Establish and maintain control of the game (Contested Possessions).
• Game Plan? No change to the current plan – Drive out of the Backline as well as the Midfield. Use varied entry to the 50 and be willing to move the ball to a better-placed goal scorer than delivering to packs. Crumb around packs. Importantly, I’d like to see the kick-in progress more smoothly out of the Backline – I think speed, planning and preparedness have a lot to do in achieving this.

 

My Picks:

Win by 23 Points. BOG – De Goey – 28 Disposals, 9 Clearances, 6 Tackles and 439 mG. Mihocek gets another 5; Elliott and Ginnivan both record 5 GA.

 

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 anyone going? Yes, I dislike Marvel too. Could you report please? And always Reply to All please?

 

Weather.  Who cares. Just shut the roof.

 

TV:      Kayo or FOXTEL – Best for every game. I prefer the commentators.

 

Free to Air TV coverage on 7mate from 7.30pm.

 

Future:

 

• Round 24 – Friday, 25 August – Essendon versus Collingwood at the MCG; bounce at 7.50pm. FTA coverage on 7mate. Our last H&A game – worth going before the Finals kick in?

 

• Then?

 

• Week off: 1 – 3 September;
• Finals: Week 1 : 7 – 10 September – Qualifying Finals & Elimination Finals;
• Finals: Week 2: 15 – 16 September – Semi-Finals;
• Finals: Week 3: 22 – 23 September – Preliminary Finals; and
• Finals: Grand Final – 30 September.

 

• The Ladder. Keep an eye on the Ladder as we approach the Finals. Have a look at recent results and moves. As above, who could have expected a Season to finish like this one? Your thoughts?

 

Other:

• VFL – The VFL side beat Geelong by 74 Points at Victoria Park last weekend lifting their Ladder position to 9^th. Their final H&A game, Round 22, is against Southport; to be held on Saturday, 19 August at the AIA Centre; bounce at 12.05. Southport are currently sitting 13^th on the Ladder. The top 10 teams go on to the Finals – not sure how they work. Anyone going?
• Anything that you would like to inform our members of, just to all or send it to me.

 

Believe always. Go Pies.

 

Cam

 

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