What's the bet Hewett and Williams and Cerra all play?
Unlikely but what a story that would be.

Collingwood run out games better than any side in the comp - no way we take underdone players into this game - let them run around in the 2's (who also need to win to make finals).

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I'm shocked to be sitting here

Pitto was useless outside of the ruck contests, but we won centre clearances (10-9) and stoppage clearances (37-35) against arguably the best followers in the league. I don't think that's entirely down to the taggers or Doc, and I can't see those numbers happening with TDK. Would be great to see the clearance figures with Pitto vs SOS... Jack rarely wins the tap but his ground work often helps win the clearance. I will assume though that our clearance figures were as good or better with Pitto. So as much as he annoyed me on Saturday with his brontosaurus gait, I would stick with him next Sunday.

Yup that’s one of my main concerns , otherwise we shape up ok given team’s current positive momentum its a huge psychological lift , it’s great & refreshing.

My other is can the boys conjure & apply same determination & effort as last week ?

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Go Blue Boys

Disaster story I'd fear

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░L░I░N░K░I░N░B░I░O ░

I had a look at them train this morning for an hour or so. Whilst I didn't have the binoculars out, I can confirm that both Hewett and Williams trained with the main group. Williams looked to be moving very freely and smoothly to my eye, and whilst Hewett was participating fully, moving around, running etc, he looked a little rigid through his body (almost like he was wearing a brace, no idea if he was). Cerra was walking/jogging laps away from the main group and appeared to be having a bit of fun with the crowd (as was Charlie). I didn't see any of Weiters, Saad, Doch or Marchbank while I was there.

You really have spooked yourself bm.
During the year you were thrilled and optimistic with the Blues chances this year.
I totally get you are bereft of confidence in the Blues with all their injuries, disruptions, umpires...etc

Williams came back in great shape after a great preseason.
He didn't when he arrived at the club.
Point is he did a Preseason which is very important to build a base.

We dont want to throw him into a high stakes game. The MC are putting his name up for selection, not us.
The MC and Russell will decide if he's up to it, not us. We haven't got a clue. The MC have.
Williams has been running since the week of the Saints game, which will be 8 weeks of running, after being rested to recover for 6 weeks.
Surely he has some fitness base if the MC select him to play.

You're right Stocker has his own fitness and endurance issues, and you say without confidence " he may have a break out game".
Stocker is playing because Newman and Boyd are out...maybe because of Williams being out too.
Based on that, I can't see Stocker offering more than Williams.
I'd put money on Williams over Stocker in a sprint and endurance run. But we're all guessing.

We have to assume that whoever is selected this week is up for it to play our way.

Go Blues

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Yes.

His nO 1 role for the team, like Kreuzer was to contest the ruck.

Did Pitto do well in the ruck against Gawn? 27-36 HO's?

How did TDK and SOS go against Cameron and Cox the last time we played Pies.

Is Pitto the best ruck we have available to play against Cox and Cameron?

The last question is the most important for the MC to answer. What's are your thoughts on the last Q?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

if we go the long bomb into our F50 ,coll defenders will just bring ball down and run it out with speed ,GAME OVER. i would like to see our players do some hard team defensive running into coll F50,and fill all the spaces ,so Jamie,Ash and milochek have no space to lead.

Of course, we did run them down last time and only just fell short, after losing arguably our most important structural player (Weitering) early in the match...
I trust the MC to make the call - they have all the information and are at least as aware as we are of what is at stake.

I say Pitto plays ONLY bec Voss needs to stop chopping and changing.

Regarding our ruckmen, agree with bb , Pittonet is our one and only combative, hard at it work horse, Both Pies rucks are giants over 2M & 100kgs nothing dainty about them.
Also Pitto can inspire with his courage, steady work rate, so he many not top shelve but serviceable at worst.
Reckon TDK although blessed with much more footy finesse would not do so well solid against their combo.

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Go Blue Boys

Bit harsh to accuse Voss of chopping and changing. Pitto was first ruck, got injured, came back as first ruck, caught the flu, came back as first ruck.

Was it flu? I didn't know that.

Well we will see tmrw night. I expect Pitto to be named. Though, he hasn't set the world on fire yet. Rucking is not ALL about hit outs and contest. Gawn murdered him around the ground last weekend. Gawn was in the top handful of players. Pitto was closer to the bottom handful.

Not including the game he got injured here are Pitto's stats this year ...

R1 13 disposals / 16 hit outs / 3 marks
R2 12 disposals / 31 hit outs / 2 marks
R3 12 disposals / 20 hit outs / 3 marks
R5 13 disposals / 27 hit outs / 0 marks

R20 8 disposals / 29 hit outs / 1 mark
R22 4 disposals / 27 hit outs / 1 mark

He is doing well at hit outs but is getting SFA of the ball outside that.

We are really struggling in the ruck and against Coll clearances will be huge.
Now would be a good time for Mark to get closer to his better form.

Don't get frustrated about our predicament. We haven't got a ruckman who can do it all.

Haven't had a ruck who could do it all since Matty Allan in 1999-2000. Kreuzer didnt do it. He was a workhorse, like Pitto, who contested hard, and bowled over players and clearing the path: You dont get stats for that. Most ruckmen can't do what Gawn does. Grundy use to do it and fell away...Geelong haven't had one since Otten, and most reports suggest they have paid for it.

Not sure your age, but to you remember/know about the Robert Klomp TV award? He played HBF in a night game, and had 1 possession. He was voted MVP and won the Rank Arena TV. Its not all about Champion data. The eye test will tell you the things players do that dont accumulate stats.

Tell us who you would pick to ruck against Cox and Cameron? Mirkov is out injured. TDK, Jack or Pitto? and Why?

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Pies 'confident' on duo's return for must-win blockbuster - https://www.afl.com.au/news/824180

Do they ever get any actual injuries?!

Others teams. Player broke their leg - will play next game. Carlton has a gash to their leg - season over.

What the actual ???????

Let them play*….!


kindest regards tommi





* needs to be said with deep “Islander accent”…!

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Bring them on! I might be in the maybe minority of our supporters when I say, I would prefer we can win regardless of who is in or who is out for either team.

At the end of the season proper, if we earn the right to play finals, then great!.

The point is IMO, I'd rather earn it than "hope" for other results to "fall" in our favor....

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Cripps is the man

I will be there cheering them on. GO BLUES!