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

True Believers, well, it was bound to happen. We Lost. And we Lost consistently throughout the game. You could identify on the fingers of one hand the occasions when we ran through the corridor, blitzing the field, frequently then running into their solid defence. We did not play well.

 

Onward and upward. Next game – the olde enemy, Carlton at the MCG. See below.  Go Pies.

 

Round 22

 

Sydney 11.11.77 defeated Collingwood 7.8.50.

 

A comment or two:

 

  • AFL website: Competition. I’m displeased, but not surprised, at the speed with which commentators have gloried in the Pies’ death.
  • Things I liked from this game (not in any order, and not too much, actually):
  • Pendles, in charge and directing traffic from very early on;
  • A couple of drives through the Centre corridor (but not ultimately always ending with a goal);
  • Ginnivan’s Q2 Free for a head-high tackle and goal; and
  • Various contributions by everyone else.One game at a time. Start to dream

    The Finals are very different to H&A.

Go Pies.

 

Game Timeline. Have a look at the Timeline at www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3992#timeline. I think it shows, in reality, just how close the game was with extended periods without either side dominating. Unfortunately for us, their Q1 4 goals to our 2 and their Q3 4 goals to our 3 never quite allowed us to close the gap. Importantly, and rarely commented upon in the media, we managed to stay in touch. A couple of extra goals to us (or shutting down a couple of their extraordinary ones) could have had a massive impact. The Goals scored in each Quarter were:

  • Q1                   2 (us) / 4 (them);
  • Q2                   1 / 1;
  • Q3                   3 / 4;
  • Q4                   1 / 2; and
  • Total               7 / 11. And we Lost. The Scoring Shots – 15 (Us) / 22 (Them).

Match Report: www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/3992#match-report.

 

Coach’s Comments: www.collingwoodfc.com.au/video/1199695/post-match-round-22-craig-mcrae?videoId=1199695&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1660470580001. Worth watching.

Statistics & Lessons:

 

Progressive statistics by Quarter (not representing a major shift in the game (like the week before) but interesting, anyway. As touched on regarding the game Timeline, above, the extraordinary thing was that we, mostly, stayed in touch throughout. I have recorded the numbers of some categories with some comments:

 

Statistic category Q1 HT Q3 FT Comments
Hit Outs 10 (us) / 12 (them) 24 / 19 40 / 25 50 / 31 Our HO dominance was not reflected in either Clearances or Inside 50s.
Clearances 13 / 10 20 / 21 30 / 33 38 / 45

 

Progressive shift in Sydney’s favour but, interestingly, at stoppages rather than the Centre bounce.

The relative Goals scored should broadly reflect Inside 50s which should reflect the Clearance numbers differential which should reflect the HO. Our HO dominance foundation is not reflected in the subsequent statistics. We are being sharked, losing the Midfield battle.

Clearances – Centre bounce 5 / 2 7 / 2 11 / 6 13 / 7
Clearances – Stoppages 8 / 8 13 / 19 19 / 27 25 / 38
Inside 50s 10 / 17 23 / 31 30 / 46 52 / 56

 

Goals scored 2 / 4 3 / 5 6 / 9 7 / 11

 

Contested possessions 31 / 39

 

68 / 77 98 / 116 136 / 166 Application, broadly reflected in the CP and Tackles numbers (185 / 237) reflects a pretty substantial dominance by Sydney. They did well.

 

Marks, along with Disposals and UCP (which I usually don’t bother with), reflect possession dominance.

1%’ers reflecting Sydney’s defence and their dominance, particularly in our Forward line.

Tackles

 

9 / 17 19 / 38 33 / 53 49 / 71
Marks

 

13 / 35 35 / 53 53 / 73 70 / 97
1%’ers

 

7 / 11 18 / 25 34 / 38 43 / 53
Disposal effectiveness 69.7 / 75.2 67.5 / 73.9 67.4 / 71.3 66.0 / 69.0 Working broadly with an approximate 5%  deficiency compared with Sydney, but look what’s coming….
Inside 50 – DE 30.0% / 52.9% 21.7% / 48.4% 30.0% / 50.0% 30.8% / 46.4% Killer numbers. With greater Inside 50 numbers, they used the ball significantly better. This is the match Winner statistic. Marks and Tackles (ultimately close to even) provide an emphasis.
Inside 50 – Marks 1 / 3 1 / 6 3 / 9 7 / 9
Inside 50 – Tackles 2 / 7 7 / 10 8 / 13 12 / 13
Frees 5 / 2 12 / 7 15 / 14 18 / 18 Always where and when awarded.

 

The Difference in the game? Throughout the game we had substantially fewer Disposals (321 / 393), UCP (170 / 226) and Marks (70 / 97) showing that Sydney played a control game based on getting possession and keeping it. The end to end ball movement resulting in scores was very evident, frequently against the flow of the game; as was Sydney’s patience in moving the ball.

 

So, what is going on?

 

  • Good?
  • Continued great variety of entry into the 50 and varied goal-kickers, though Sydney’s defence was outstanding.
  • Interestingly, a couple of quick goals could have turned this game. A number of Sydney’s goals were quite astounding – staying in touch is critical against the better sides.
  • The players still enjoying themselves. Love the smiles and the support to teammates.
  • Bad?
  • Application was not to the standard we’ve come to expect; nor was the entry Inside the 50.
  • We need to get control of the game, and keep it.
  • Still some attempts to mark rather than punch in defensive packs, particularly by too many ‘talls’ and we had goals scored from crumbing behind packs.
  • Our failure to exploit our HO dominance into Clearances, particularly, is concerning (still), noting De Goey’s late absence.
  • Umpires protection of the players (I’m leaving this in. Do you remember when we used to say “The umps had a great game; we hardly noticed them.”).

 

Best. Listed Best were: J. Daicos, Pendles, Cameron and Maynard. No comment.

 

Ground Reporting. Who was there? I know at least two of you were there. Ground Reports please? Or I’d love to hear from those of us who simply watched it on TV;  please?

 

 

Round 23

 

Carlton versus Collingwood at the MCG.

 

Sunday, 21 August 2022; bounce at 3.20pm.

 

Carlton were the ‘great package’ this year inexorably headed towards a Finals berth. They haven’t been outside the Eight this season, so far; up to 3rd a number of times. But since their Round 12 Bye, they’ve Won four times against Essendon, Freo, WCE and GWS; with the exception of Freo, none of which are astounding results. In the same period they’ve Lost six times to Richmond, St Kilda, Geelong, Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. This list includes a number of surprise results against teams outside the Eight or, simply, below their place. They come into this game on the back of three Losses, albeit their last should not have been a Loss (watch the last few minutes if you need). So, Carlton are sitting 8th on the Ladder below our 5th place. They have 12 Wins and 9 Losses for the season compared with our 15 and 6. Their percentage is 108.8% slightly better than our 104.4%.

 

The Ladder is interesting. Above us, Sydney is likely to Win over St Kilda and only one of Melbourne or Brisbane will Win leaving us the 4th place if we Win, leaping over whichever of these teams Lose. If we Lose it gets even more complicated but we end up in the bottom half of the Eight. If Carlton Lose their 8th place may be overtaken by WB or St Kilda, given the closeness of the three teams’ percentages. Who do I want to Win?  Well firstly, and most importantly, I want us to Win giving us the double-chance in the top half of the Eight and home-ground selection(?). The rest? I don’t really care. I rate Geelong and Richmond as the major threats. We have demonstrated we can beat Melbourne and I think both Brisbane and Sydney at the MCG are beatable. Carlton?

 

But the Blues are the ‘old enemy’ and we can expect a ferocious, Finals-like game (similar to our Round 11 game this season). At that game our Best included J. Daicos, Crisp, De Goey, Lipinski, Cox, Henry, Noble and Howe. I might add that if you want to look at highlights, Adams’ tackle on Cripps in Q1 was a beauty. The Carlton Best included Walsh (CHF), Saad (HB), Docherty (Rover), Cripps (Centre), Curnow (Forward), Hewett (Rover) and Cerra (RR/Rover). I’d also include Moore in our Best as his duel with Curnow was assessed as ‘even’, and Curnow was selected in Carlton’s Best. Since their Round 12 Bye, their tactics have tended towards domination of the Midfield, through Cripps, Docherty (Rover), Hewett (also Rover), Cerra (RR) and De Koning and Pittonet (whoever is the Ruck), their Twin Tower duo – McKay and Curnow up front via Walsh (CHF) and their key defenders – Saad (CHB) and Weitering (who can also turn up in the Forward line).

 

Injuries: Curnow and Cerra may be out; await testing. Go to www.afl.com.au/matches/injury-list. Check later in week.

Deductions?

 

The Best from each game since their Bye (and their place on the AFLCA Player of the Year) gives me the list of players to watch.

 

Who to watch?

  • Cripps – Centre. Make your own mind up about his successful legal challenge. Maybe an Adams’ tag job (at least at the start)?
  • Docherty – Rover;
  • Saad – CHB;
  • Curnow – FF, if playing;
  • Weitering – BP / FP. Remember how significant his injury against us the last time was;
  • Cerra – RR, if playing;
  • Walsh – CHF; and
  • De Koning – Ruck.

Anything else, people? Your views?

 

Us

 

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

  • Out?   Ginnivan? Hoskin-Elliott? Not sure who else.
  • In?      Adams back. De Goey back. Not sure what else Madgen has to do to warrant a recall – and he can (obviously) play both ends. And remember Henry’s performance at our last meeting.

Your thoughts?

 

Team: Very hard to change a winning team except for essential changes. As above.

 

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;
  • 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;
  • Use the corridor in preference to the Wings; 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 29 Points. BOG – De Goey with 27 Disposals, 10 Clearances, 6 Tackles and 2 goals; Mihocek kicks 5. Your thoughts? 

 

Go get em, boys.

 

  1. TV. FTA coverage on 7mate. Shouldn’t let this stop you heading to the pub to watch. I do prefer the FOXTEL commentators (through Foxtel or Kayo) – Lyon, and, particularly, Bucks.

Weather. Way too much slip sliding last week. The weather forecasts a sunny day for the game, however three days of rain leading up to it. Moulded sole boots should be replaced with boots with stops.

 

Finals

 

Next? Not sure. Have to look it up.

 

Other

 

 

Believe. Go Pies

 

Cam

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

*