Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Round 5 Review, Round 6 Preview

G’day to all. Another close loss; that’s three in a row. But this one was different. Rounds 3 and 4 we were in a winning position late in each game and could have won; I think we were lucky to be that close against Brisbane. But more on that below.

 

Round 5

 

Brisbane 15.8.98 defeated Collingwood 14.7.91

 

 

A couple of general comments first:

 

Application was great but we weren’t on our own. In a measure based on contested possessions plus tackles we were 192/203; a minor difference. Good work.

Our defence let us down. On too many occasions our one on one defence was outsmarted by Brisbane’s teamwork.

The speed of the drive out of the centre or turn-around out of the backline is fantastic. All we need now are the alternatives to receive the ball inside the 50.

 

Game Timeline: Have a look at the timeline at www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3845#timeline. It shows that period in the second when Brisbane scored six unanswered goals.

 

The game, goals scored by quarter:

Q1 5 (us) 3 (them). A good start. Then…
Q2 2/6
Q3 2/3
Q4 5/3. A bit of a fightback, but too late

Total 14/15. And we lost, with the scoring shot differential – 21 (Us)/23 (Them).

 

Summary from the AFL website: The Lions’ win was set up in the second term with six consecutive goals to start the quarter. The milestone man Lachie Neale, in his 200th career match, was influential in the term with 14 disposals and 260 metres gained. Across the whole match, Dayne Zorko was critical in moving the ball forward with 605 metres gained and 78% kicking efficiency from his 23 kicks. The work was finished off by Joe Daniher and Zac Bailey who combined for seven goals including three in the defining second term.

 

Match Report: www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3845#match-report.

 

Coach’s Comments: www.afl.com.au/news/741170/-work-to-do-mcrae-bowed-but-not-beaten-after-pushing-lions.

 

Statistics & Lessons:

 

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

 

Hit Outs 39 (us)/25 (them). To restate this, this reflects a significant advantage to us

 

Clearances 38/41. The next step. We have lost any advantage we had from the HO dominance and then some

 

Centre 15/16. We were being ‘sharked’ by Brisbane’s midfield at centre bounces

 

Stoppages 23/25. As above. We’ve lost any flow-on effect of the HO dominance

 

Disposal Efficiency 72%/72%. Across the whole game, but specifically relating to Inside 50

 

Inside 50s 62/54, plus, in relation to getting into the 50 and then scoring effectively

 

Disposal Efficiency I50 33.9%/50.0%. Our advantage in Inside 50 numbers is lost through our inaccuracy

 

Marks I50 8/13. This difference provides the basis of our poor scoring

 

Scoring Shots 21/23. Then the goals? Get it to a better placed player and try to avoid having to rely on marks like Mihocek’s two screamers the week before.

 

Goals scored 14/15. And the game was lost.

 

 

So? Again our midfield is not dominating as we might desire, but in this case we could have lived with that except for the huge wastage of our entries into the 50. Compared with Brisbane, the DE% inside the 50 and the marks inside 50 were the fundamental difference between the teams’ scoring. As above, I think our one-on-one defence was frequently found wanting and contributed to Brisbane’s Inside 50 DE%. It needs work. We must arrange for our forwards to be giving the deliverers of the ball alternatives; and these alternatives need to be well inside the 50 from where a goal can be scored. Our defence needs to always consider the spoil rather than the contested mark. For a man who takes such a great mark, Howe’s performances are magnificent, particularly when he decides to punch defensively.

 

 

Players: We have some concerns regarding some of our players. Cox, very clearly, did not have a great day at the office. Grundy (go to www.afl.com.au/video/743640/-warning-signs-on-pie-s-mega-deal-this-classy-core-can-win-it-all?videoId=743640&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1650148200001) also has not really dominated as he has in the past. A comment in this website places Witts above him amongst the competition rucks. An interesting criticism of the selections for this game.

 

 

Best: Listed bests were: Crisp, De Goey, Maynard, Howe, House, J.Daicos and Pendles. Don’t have anything to add.

 

Ground Reporting: I would love some more ‘ground reporting’ from others please?

 

 

Round 6

 

Essendon v Collingwood

 

Monday, April 25 2022 (ANZAC Day) at the MCG; bounce at 3:20PM

 

Essendon currently 16th on the ladder with a percentage of 73.9% compared with our eighth place and 106.0%. But it is early in the season and these places depend very much on which teams they have faced. More, as we get into the season.

 

Essendon: Focussing on this year and identifying their best each week

 

Community Series: St Kilda defeated Essendon by 11 points. Best – Perkins (HF), Parish (RR), Caldwell (Off bench), McGrath (HB), Wright (FF) and Ridley (CHB)

Round 1: Geelong demolished Essendon by 66 points. Best – Martin (Off bench), Merrett (C), McGrath (W), Parish (RR) and Caldwell (Off bench)

Round 2: Brisbane defeated Essendon by 22 points. Best – Parish (R), Merrett (C), Wright (FF), Perkins (HF) and Ridley (HB)

Round 3: Lost to Melbourne by 29 points. Best – Shiel (Off bench), Parish (RR), Wright (FF), Ridley (HB) and Heppell (CHB)

Round 4: Win over Adelaide by four points. Best – Parish (RR), Wright (FF), McGrath (C), Hind (Off bench), Caldwell (Off bench) and Shiel (R)

Round 5: Essendon thrashed by Freo by 48 points. I hope our team were watching this? I did. Some impressive plays by Essendon (in the first half), including rapid turn-arounds and movement to leading forwards and goals. OK, second half starts – six goals to none to Freo – the lesson? Essendon are being cut apart away from their opponents from the centre and in the rebounds. Essendon haven’t managed to get hold of the ball and keep it (to do something with it). Freo in the third have total control of the game. Final term – Essendon got a few goals back giving some respectability to the score – but largely of no consequence. For a summary of Essendon’s game go to www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3852#summary. Best – Parish (RR), McGrath (C), Heppell (HB), Caldwell (Off bench) and Martin (W).

 

Injuries: Go to www.essendonfc.com.au/injury-and-performance. Check later.

 

Deductions?

Essendon also rely heavily on a relatively small number of talented individuals. If you win the midfield battle and can shut down their FF, you are well on the way to winning the game. Beat them and many of the others become irrelevant. Essendon are no ‘easy-beats’. They have run close to a number of teams well above them on the table.

 

Some things to consider:

May be worth tagging Parish (RR)
Would be worth close-defending against Wright
Seek to dominate the HO/clearances both in the centre and at stoppages
Seek to avoid their HB line by going over it.

 

Anything else, people? Your views?

 

Who to watch:

Parish (Rover/Ruck Rover)
Caldwell (CHB)
McGrath (Centre/Wing)
Wright (FF)
Heppell (HB)
Stringer (HF, if available. It would be his first match back for some time)

 

Us

 

Injuries: Cameron, replaced last match, plus some possibles back – T. Brown, Begg (great ruck performances in the VFL), Ginnivan and Noble? Can someone explain to me the ‘H&S protocols’ and how they can/do influence selections? I understand the 12 day exclusion following the replacement by the medical substitute, but I’m unsure on both the substitute’s availability the next week and what the ‘H&S protocols’ are. Can you help?

 

 

Team:

Summary from last few weeks. My recommended changes matched what happened, even to the inclusion of Cox. The objective was to bring back two of our key midfield drivers and to establish an improved marking capacity in the forward line. Did it work? Partly. The oversized forward line seemed to be missing the flexibility and speed to respond in the damp conditions. Midfield was okay, as noted above, but our back line and forward line did not produce

In: Mihocek (if available), Noble (if available), Ginnivan (if available), Bianco and Henry. Maybe consider Begg, if necessary
Out: Cox, Roughead, Cameron (medical), McInnes and Madgen

 

 

Things to do:

Focus on the ruck battle – very important for the next step – clearances, then the inside 50s
Continue to address the clearances in the centre bounces and at stoppages around the ground
Better establish forward targets – a variety would be good. Please do not take Moore out of the back six
Maintain the speed of movement; avoid stoppages or delays (particularly amongst the backs) – 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: Collingwood to win by 39 points. BOG – De Goey with 34 disposals, 11 clearances, four tackles and one goal. Mihocek to get three goals and four goal assists; Ginnivan to get three. Your thoughts?

 

Go get em, boys.

 

TV: FTA on 7mate from 3:00pm.

 

Weather: Cloudy and dry, but rain is forecast the day before. May be as slippery surface. Avoid moulded-sole boots.

 

 

Round 7

 

Sunday, May 1; bounce at 1:10pm.

Collingwood v Gold Coast

Let’s see how Witts performs against Grundy.

 

 

Other

 

VFL: Go to www.afl.com.au/news/731026/vfl-streaming-now-watch-r2-matches-live-and-free. I keep a weather eye on their performances during the season, particularly in relation to consistently good performances.

 

Eddie Watch: Want to upset half the Collingwood supporters and every other football supporter from every other club? Just mention Eddie as a potential AFL CEO appointment. Go to www.news.com.au/sport/afl/eddie-mcguire-denies-interest-in-afls-top-job-despite-bold-plan/news-story/75a19a8db2003367baefaedf38427ef1. Your thoughts?

 

Go Pies

 

Cam

 

 

 

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