Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Round 3 Review, Round 4 Preview

G’day all. True Believers still, and always.

 

Well that was a surprise. Disappointing after a fantastic third term, recovering from a deficit from the second and establishing a great lead. Pretty positive at that stage. Then? Not sure what happened.

 

Have you noticed the number of Carlton supporters wearing what look like brand new shirts (or maybe they’ve just been put away for a few years)? We wear our shirts regardless, and they look it. We know how to lose and stay committed to the Pies. No running for cover after a loss.

 

Round 3

 

Collingwood 13.13.91 were defeated by Geelong 16.8.104

 

The positives first.

 

This was not a major win by Geelong or a massive loss for us; somewhere in-between.

The application was terrific. More on that below. It also gets a mention by the coach in his media interview. And if he’s happy…

The teamwork and short passing during the third quarter was sometimes breathtaking. It is worth watching again, and again, and again…

 

Geelong recovered from a 30 point deficit at the last change to win by 13. Have a look at the timeline at www.afl.com.au/matches/3833#timeline.

 

The game, goals scored by quarter:

Q1 3 (us)/2 (them)

Q2 1/4

Q3 9/3

Q4 0/7

 

Total 13/16. And we lost.

 

Match Report: www.afl.com.au/matches/3833#match-report

 

Some keys:

Did I, or did I not, say last week ‘tag Selwood’? I clearly remember just how well Levi Greenwood did on him in the past; I probably got close to naming him BOG for the job he did shutting Selwood down. I consider this a critical game plan omission. He was hugely damaging, particularly in the last. So was Jeremy Cameron, of course, but in my view the problem for us in that last term was the domination of the midfield, the delivery into the 50 to Cameron and Hawkins was secondary.

Application was fantastic. In terms of contested possessions plus tackles we were 214/195

Umpiring decisions. I do try to avoid whinging about the umpiring, though there are occasions when I just don’t get it. I can’t work out what the free in the second quarter (2:10 before the end) was given for, or the following 50m penalty. Do you know? I do applaud the umpires decision to give Ginnivan that kick at goal immediately after Henry’s in the third term (13:00 before the end). Free count? We received two more than Geelong, but it is always when and where that is critical.

 

 

Coach’s Comments: www.afl.com.au/video/733943/-what-we-are-doing-is-right-just-have-to-do-it-for-longer-mcrae?videoId=733943&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1648903667001. Worth a listen. McRae argued that Collingwood were a side in development; to Round 3, they’d demonstrated the ability to compete with ‘mature opponents’, but needed to learn to press for longer. He reinforced that the team were ‘finding out about themselves’, but they trusted the game plan system they had adopted. Again, a pretty gentle media conference.

 

Statistics & Lessons:

 

Team statistics (identifying only those numbers where there was a significant difference):

 

Hit Outs: 34 (us, 24 to Grundy)/31 (them). Of course I expect more from an All Australian ruck though he did produce eight clearances and eight tackles.

 

Clearances: 41/37. The next step. This number largely reflects the above HOs.

 

Centre: 15/15. OK, this shows the closeness at the centre bounces. Not great, but reasonably expected with midfields of similar quality. Is that the case? I see our midfield as a major strength who seriously produced against a very good Geelong midfield.

 

Stoppages: 26/22. Better than previous weeks. It looks like we were the ones ‘sharking’ the clearances.

 

Inside 50s: 59/47. Yes, it reflects the clearance numbers; what it doesn’t reflect is the subsequent scoring.

 

Scoring Shots: 26/24. Then?

 

Goals scored: 13/16. And the game was lost.

 

 

Disposal Efficiency: We had five players with individual Disposal Efficiency over 80%; Geelong had eight. A critical difference when you looked at the transfer of possession, particularly in the last. I’d love to see some of these numbers by quarter. Your thoughts?

 

Best: Listed bests were: Elliott, Adams, N. Daicos, Crisp and Quaynor. Again, I’d add a couple – Sidebottom (metres gained in excess of 400m (along with Crisp and Quaynor) and Grundy (eight Clearances – along with Adams and N. Daicos a few behind – and eight tackles), and maybe De Goey (10 score involvement, 345m gained and four clearances; but 45.0% DE – not good).

 

I still haven’t heard from any of our members who managed to get to a game. I would love some ‘ground reporting’ please.

 

Well played guys; a great game.

 

 

Round 4

 

Collingwood v West Coast

Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Marvel Stadium; bounce at 4:35pm.

 

Previous: Collingwood and West Coast have met on three occasions in the last couple of years with their and our best still at the clubs are identified (seeing the repeats?)

 

July 31, 2021: Win to us by 45 points.

WCE – Gaff (Wing), Sheed (Wing), Waterman (I/C) and McGovern (CHB); and
Us – Sidebottom, De Goey, Crisp, Grundy and Maynard. A lot of serious names missing?

 

April 16, 2021: Win to WCE by 27 points.

WCE – Darling (CHF), Allen (FP), Redden (Rover), Sheed (RR), McGovern (CHB), Kelly (Centre), Witherden (BP) and Gaff (Wing)
Us – Crisp, Pendles, Maynard, Grundy, Moore and Mihocek

 

October 3, 2020: Win by us by one point. That great first final.

WCE – Naitanui (Ruck), Ryan (FP), Kennedy (FF), Duggan (HB), Gaff (Wing) and Darling (CHF)
Us – Adams, Mihocek, Cox and Pendles.

 

 

West Coast:

 

Community Series: WCE lost to Fremantle by 13 points. Their best were Kelly (FF), Joyce (I/C), Ryan (FP), Naitanui (Ruck), West (Rover) and Witherden (HB).

Round 1: WCE lost to the Suns by 27; at Perth. Their best were Redden (Centre), Jones (I/C), Hurn (BP), Gaff (Rover), Barass (FP) and McGovern (CHB).

Round 2: Lost to North by 15, at Docklands. Their best on this occasion – McGovern (CHB), Rioli (HF), Shuey (Rover), Ryan (FP), Kelly (Centre) and Naish (Wing).

Round 3: Were thrashed by Freo. Best were Hurn (BP), McGovern (CHB), Gaff (Rover) and Naitanui (Ruck).

 

Injuries: The Eagles are in a world of hurt using many new players for each of the last two Rounds. They have made up numbers from the WAFL team and some have not played together. Go to www.westcoasteagles.com.au/matches/injury-list; not up to date. Check later.

 

Deductions?

WCE have a very strong corridor line that has been performing well in the games looked at. Remember them from our lost GF? Counter strongly one on one and make use of the wings
Not sure that WCE will react strongly to the hammering from Freo. Possible, but unlikely – establish the high-intensity game
As much as I don’t like Marvel, it’s better than playing in Perth. And remember percentage is important throughout the season; not just the last half dozen games.

 

Anything else, people?

 

Who to watch:

Naitanui – Ruck
McGovern – CHB
Redden – Centre
Darling – CHF
Gaff – Wing/Rover

 

Us

 

Injuries: No more have been listed. Cox and Kreuger should be available. Looks likely De Goey will have a week off – replacement?

 

Team: Cox can be a useful target for the ‘up and under’ kicks into the 50 (please not every entry, but one of the entry alternatives). He is also a better second ruck than Cameron. Kreuger has also shown what he can do. Maybe N. Daicos will be a likely midfield replacement for De Goey? His replacement – another newbie?

 

Things to do:

 

Focus on the ruck battle, very important for the next step – clearances
Continue to address the clearances at stoppages around the ground
Maintain the speed of movement; avoid stoppages
Continue to enjoy your footy
Pursue the execution of the high-intensity game plan for the entire four quarters.

 

 

Result: Collingwood to win by 49 points. BOG – Lipinski with 37 disposals, eight clearances, four tackles and one goal. Mihocek to get five goals. Your thoughts?

 

Go get em, boys.

 

TV: Go to www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership. No free to air coverage. Go to FOXTEL or Kayo or head to the pub.

 

Weather: Clear and sunny. Just shut the bloody roof, if you need. Moulded-sole boots okay.

 

Round 5

 

Thursday April 14, 2022 at the Gabba; bounce at 7:35pm.

Collingwood v Brisbane.

Home coming for the coach? Remember 2002-2003…

 

Other

 

VFL: Go to www.afl.com.au/news/731026/vfl-streaming-now-watch-r2-matches-live-and-free. And we won over Geelong. Go to www.collingwoodfc.com.au/video/1093936/vfl-full-replay-r2-collingwood-v-geelong?videoId=1093936&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1648967679001. Keep an eye on the bests as the season progresses.

 

History Watch: It’s hard to keep good men down. Firstly it was all quiet, then Eddie, again, hosting the Warnie show. Did well, in my view.

 

Go Pies

 

 

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