Cam Hooke’s Collingwood Life: Semi-final review and Preliminary Final preview

 

 

 

 

Hi True Believers.

 

A great result never in any real doubt from the start but satisfying anyway.

 

Onward and upward. Next game – Sydney, at the SCG. See below.  Go Pies.

 

Semi-Final Review

 

Collingwood 11.13.79 defeated Fremantle 9.5.59.

 

A starting comment:

 

Sydney in Sydney are a big ask. That said, our Loss in Round 22 was without our full side. Can we do better? Check my Round 22 emails (before and after).

 

From the AFL website:

 

“In the end it was a comfortable victory for the Magpies who book a preliminary final date with the Swans. They won the inside 50 count by 13 and enjoyed 58 per cent time in forward half, outscoring the Dockers 6.8.44 to 2.4.16 from forward half chains.”

 

One game at a time. Dream.

 

Go Pies.

 

Game Timeline. Have a look at the Timeline at www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4760#timeline. The Goals scored in each Quarter were:

 

Q1                   4 (us) / 0 (them);

Q2                   2 / 2;

Q3                   2 / 2;

Q4                   3 / 5; and

Total               11 / 9. And we Won. The Scoring Shots – 24 (Us) / 14 (Them) is probably a more accurate reflection of the game. I thought we relaxed a bit in Q4, because we could.

 

Match Report:  www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4760#match-report

 

Coach’s Comments: www.afl.com.au/video/840990/full-post-match-r23-magpies?videoId=840990&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1662816134001. Worth watching. McRae: “the Best is in front of us”.

 

Statistics & Lessons:

 

Statistics across the game. Look at the numbers, below, with some comments:

 

Statistic category		Comments
Hit Outs	33 (us) / 42 (them)	Their HO dominance was not reflected in either Clearances or Inside 50s.
Clearances	33 / 33	The Clearance numbers have levelled off, reflecting our Midfield dominance. The next step – our Inside 50 numbers give us an advantage; as have the Goals scored.
Clearances – Centre bounce	10 / 9
Clearances – Stoppages	23 / 24
Inside 50s	56 / 43
Goals scored	11 / 9
Contested possessions	142 / 151
Tackles	58 / 64
Marks	87 / 81
1%’ers	50 / 38
Disposal effectiveness	72.2% / 73.1%	A Freo marginal lead, but look what’s coming….
Inside 50 – DE	46.4% / 44.2%	This is critical. With a dominant Inside 50s number the follow-on advantage here demonstrated we used the ball more effectively Inside 50. This is the match Winner statistic.
Inside 50 – Marks	13 / 6
Inside 50 – Tackles	14 / 9
Frees	19 / 24	Always where and when awarded. See comments, below.

 

The Difference in the game? See highlighted sections. Over the course of the game the principal areas of difference were our Inside 50 numbers and our better use of the ball there (assisted by our marks and tackles there). It Won us the game.

 

So, what is going on?

 

Good?

 

Continued great variety of entry into the 50 and varied goal-kickers, but need to ‘slow-down’ sometimes to look for a better placed kicker. It is surprising how frequently the kicker has more time than they thought.

Application was great.

Great intercept work, particularly in the Backline and punching in packs, with an exception or two.

Great passages of the ball through the corridor – the reason we watch this great game.

The players still enjoying themselves. Love the smiles and the support to teammates.

 

Bad?

 

We need to get control of the game, and keep control, for four Quarters.

Need to continue to emphasis punching in defensive packs and avoiding too many ‘talls’ and make sure we crumb behind packs.

Sydney will tag Nick Daicos – need to do something about that.

Umpires protection of the players?

 

Best. Listed Best were: Crisp, Moore, Pendles, De Goey, J. Daicos, Sidebottom, Crisp and Noble. No comment – a team effort throughout.

 

Ground Reporting. Who was there? Ground Reports please? Or I’d love to hear from those who simply watched it on TV;  please?

 

 

 

 

Now…

 

 

Preliminary Final

 

Sydney versus Collingwood at the SCG.

Saturday, 17 September 2022; bounce at 4.45pm.

 

Tickets were sold out yesterday and the Ticketek system was not helpful, crashing occasionally. Note that excess tickets allocated to Clubs and not used and returned will be available from 10.00am, Thursday, 15 September – same process.

 

Betting? Not that I support such recreational activities, however it does give an indication. Sydney are favourites $1.40 to $2.96. Before Round 22 Sydney were favourites $1.45 / $2.76.

 

Injuries: Go to www.afl.com.au/matches/injury-list. Check later in week.

 

Deductions?

 

Check my before and after emails relating to our Round 22 game in Sydney, which Sydney Won by 27 Points. The Best from their games against us plus their game two weeks ago (and the place on the AFLCA Player of the Year) gives me the list of players to watch.

 

Who to watch?

 

Mills – Wing;

Warner – RR;

Rowbottom – Centre;

Fox – CHB;

1. McCartin – BP;

Parker – Rover;

Franklin – FF; and

Heeney – Forward.

 

Anything else, people? Your views?

 

Us

 

Injuries: Go to www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/1220300/injury-report-finals-week-3. De Goey and Moore are okay. NTR?

 

Your thoughts?

 

Team: Very hard to change a successful team. No change?

 

Things to do – mostly (not entirely), the same as previous weeks:

Focus on the Ruck battle. Critical 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;

Continue to better establish Forward targets – a variety is essential – take time to decide;

Maintain the speed of movement; avoid stoppages or delays (particularly amongst the Backline) – open the game up;

Use the centre corridor;

Continue to enjoy your footy; and

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 17 Points. BOG – De Goey with 23 Disposals, 11 Clearances, 6 Tackles and 1 goal;  Mihocek kicks 5; Jack gets 3. Your thoughts?

 

Go get em, boys.

 

1. Bound to be FTA TV.

 

Weather. There is a low likelihood of light rain on the day. Regardless, molded sole boots should be replaced with boots with stops – stop the slip sliding. How many goals have we seen scored in the last few games when the Pies’ player carrying the ball has slipped and possession changed.

 

Next?

 

A Win over Sydney sends us to the Grannie (another meeting with Geelong? Who do you think will win the other PF?).

 

Other

 

Footy Almanac. Go to www.footyalmanac.com.au. More specifically go to www.footyalmanac.com.au/?s=Hooke for the history. Readers can make comments at the end – interesting reading. Highly recommended.

 

Believe. Go Pies

 

Cam

 

 

PS You might enjoy E.Regnans on the Pies-Dockers game. Read it HERE.

 

 

 

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