I'm excited about our genuine readiness to topple them, and I get the feeling the fellas are primed for this one. Part of the excitement is having Williams and Gavin brown in the dugout; would love to be a fly on the wall and listen to what they can offer about collingwood.

On another matter it is my suspicion that collingwood have a reliance on pendlebury now similar to our past reliance on judd...?

Except for 5 minutes in the 3rd qtr, they didn't impress me much. Won't get a better chance to knock them off than now.

_________________
WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

Collingwood & West Coast play a similar style of game with the forward push, half ground zone/flood.
Beat that and you win the game. Last year we managed to do well in patches but couldn't complete the task for 4 quarters.
The question is have we learnt / practised to get over it during summer? I think we will prove once and for all that we have and that only Hawthorn's chip game is going to be in our way in 2012, until we play them as well.
Go Baggers ... this is going to be a navy blue year ... believe because we know you want it.

Friday the 13th can't come around quick enough. Lets pour some heebee jeebees into the toothless brigade. I'm pumped for the lads.

Loving the discussion on player ins/outs and matchups etc. Maybe we should dump the MC and just go with a TC-based voting system for selection! lol

For me, Jamison needs to be back in the team ASAP, but I don't think it's necessarily a good thing to have him in this week. The reason I say this is because so far (albeit against two ordinary teams) our defence has looked solid and performed well with a good mix of size and speed. Jamo will certainly bring in experience and the ability to take on a big man, but he hasn't yet played an AFL game this season. Bearing in mind that the next 'hard' team we play after Collingwood isnt until round 11 vs Geelong, it might be best to leave the defence as-is for now.

Between Collingwood and Geelong we play (in order): Essendon*, Freo, GWS, Saints, Crows, Melb and Port. Now, with the exception of maybe Freo (WA) and Adelaide (Melb) the rest of the games should be forgone conclusions. Those two will be tougher but of course we can win them. Based on this, maybe it would be best to make changes to the team AFTER the Pies match? I'm not sure.

As far as this match goes, if Bower and Henderson can do a good job restricting the influence of Daws and Cloke to maybe only 6-7 goals between them, I would count that as a win. Then, it is up to our midfielders and forwards to bang home enough to win! Very simplified view of things I know, but that's what it comes down to I reckon!

_________________
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

Jamo in for Russell, no other changes, Duigan will have to fight for his spot in the team.

Hotcox told me only change is Jamo for Russell

_________________
dane's trolling again

Paid airfare last night for me and the gang.

Gonna be HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

_________________
I hope Essendon* folds.

WA REPRESENT AGAIN !

_________________
*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

OK, so it's Easter Sunday and I have some time on my hands. Let's do an exercise on how to beat the Pies.
I'll give my thoughts (hopefully not too long winded) and I'll be interested to read the views of others.

How to beat the Pies-

I have a view that predictability can be a strong ally if used correctly. Look at the Kangaroos. Everyone knew they'd bomb it long to Carey but they were so bloody good at it that it won them premierships.
Collingwood are similar. In that their strength is their structures and how well their players fit into it.

Midfield.
The midfield is their biggest asset but it has the ability to be their biggest weakness. Everyone talks about their willingness to go around the boundary but the Pies understand that it plays the percentages in their favour. Most coaches will tell you they do it because its safer to turn it over out wide than in the corridor but there's more to it than that.
The reality is Collingwood are a fantastic contested ball side so they'll back themselves in to win the majority of boundary throw ins. In other words, they're happier to to have a throw in or ball up instead of a 50/50 marking contest.

The predictability of their stoppages is their key. Imagine a boundary throw in and Darren Jolly is facing the boundary umpire. Draw a 2 metre diameter circle immediately in front of his feet. That is the hit zone for 99% of his taps.
The Pies dominate that area. Pendlebury works into that zone better than anyone and his ability to get a constructive disposal out of that area is sublime.
If they can keep that area open, Dane Swan will swoop in at pace and hack the ball out.

Ball ups are a similar structure. The difference is in their forward 50. They are very disciplined and keep that area unmanned by dragging their opponents away and bodying up on them. In this instance, they prefer to use a Blair or Swan to hit the fall of ball at pace and use Pendlebury etc as blocks/decoys.

How do you counter it? Pendlebury is the key.
Watch Richmond and they knew how Collingwood were going to set up but they didn't have the discipline/consistency/concentration to see it through. If you take front spot on Pendlebury, he'll body you under the ball and you're out of the contest.
Play him from behind and he'll push back on you or sucker a free kick. The only way to beat him is to be in his pocket and not allow him to free his arms. You'll get called for the occasional free kick but its a price to pay.
He is a far superior ball user to any of his fellow mids and he'll do more damage per disposal. The key is to keep concentration and to keep body pressure on him as his 2nd and 3rd efforts are very good.
Swan and Thomas get plenty of kudos but the reality is, they're both average users of the pill. In fact, Thomas is less than average.
IMO, if you can limit Pendlebury, you'll severely limit the Pies.

Why will Carlton beat them? Interestingly, Carlton also fancy themselves as an excellent boundary throw in exponent. (According to our senior assistant coach)
The coaches believe we have a strong structure at boundary throw ins and back ourselves in to win more than we lose.
I agree but it will take more than talent and hope.
We need to limit the source. Body up Jolly (try 3rd man up occasionally) and stop their primary ball winner.

Midfield depth.
IMO, our midfield depth is far superior to theirs at the moment. The use of Dawes as a pinch hitting ruck is less than effective at the moment and the unavailability of Wellingham is really hurting them.
Wellingham isn't a star but he offers pace from the stoppages and reasonable ball use at pace. He also offers a bit of accountability and defensive run which the other mids struggle with.
In his role, they're currently using their offensive wingman (Thomas). Whilst he offers the defensive running of Wellingham, he doesn't have the ball winning ability, composure or foot skills. He can have bright moments where he lights it up for 5 minutes but he's just as likely to go missing for 15.

Beating the zone.
Theres only 2 ways to beat the zone. Catch them on transition (force them to cough the ball up when they're in an offensive mindset) or quick movement.
The first option is the best. The Pies are great at running forward when they control the ball but like all sides, they're vulnerable on the transition. Our pressure will need to be first rate and 1%ers like smothers and spills will be crucial.
If we can give our forwards a 1 on 1 opportunity, we'll win more contests than we lose.

Separating their backs.
Their back line work well as a team and its ultra critical for us to keep them as isolated as possible.

Changes to their game plan.
The most noticeable change in the 2 games to date is their want to go up the corridor from kick outs. Many of their kicks go to a leading player 30-40 metres out, up the middle.
Dont underestimate the value of this kick. It's much harder to zone the next kick than a kick to either side of the ground.

Why will we win?
If we can limit Pendleburys influence, our bottom 6 is far superior to theirs. Cloke is a real danger but I believe our tall backs have the capacity to limit his damage.
The only other key will be taking advantage of your opportunities. If we can get kick straight (i.e. goals from 35%+ of our forward entries), we'll be well on our way.

Too long winded? Probably. If you're like me and have a bit of spare time today. Give me your views.

_________________
Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

RESPECT.

_________________
I hope Essendon* folds.

Source.........?


kindest regards tommi

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

bbq

_________________
"He was found guilty in June 2008 of assault with intent to cause bodily harm, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years jail."
And people are making his return to footy somewhat of a fairytale?

Jamo and Duigan for Russell and Bower

Bower would be stiff, but he's behind Hendo, Laidler and Jamo. That's tough, but that's the rub in a contending team. Good players will sit.

The Malthouse vs. Buckley factor will be interesting this year. Whereas Mick was good at unifying a team (with reaching the 2002/03 Grand Finals with crap lists being prime examples), Buckley has always been seen as an individual who sees himself above others. My impression is that he's more likely to be a divisive figure; contrary to that required of a coach.

The key to success for recent Collingwood teams has been their devotion to team disciplines, but I don't see quite the same level of commitment to that ethos at the moment.

Maybe it's a slow build-up for a long season, but Buckley doesn't strike me as an inspirational leader. Even when Buckley was captain of their two losing Grand Final sides, it was Malthouse who dominated the leadership of the side.

_________________
"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

Interesting read BV.

I think how the Kreuzer/Hammer combination performs will go a long way to deciding our chances. They are working well at the moment, and if they get the better of Jolly/Dawes we should be able to limit Collingwood's clearances and goals from stop plays.

The team that sustains their composure, concentration and intensity for longer will win. In recent times, that's been Collingwood. I'm really looking forward to seeing how we go this time... ie. how far have we REALLY come?

_________________
It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

Nice analysis BV.........

Carlton starting favorites with the bookies.

Carlton - $1.85
Collingwood - $2.05

The Pies win games in 5 to 10minutes of explosive football they seem to flick a switch change their around the boundary style of game and pile on the pressure
Then they resort back to boundary hugging and most decent teams can go goal for goal with them

To beat them you have to stop this explosion when it happens and limit their scoring whilst it is on

_________________
If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws