Johnson#26
5 Mar 2006, 11:21
All discussion in here, I guess. :)
Collingwood vs Fremantle: Match Preview
Match Preview
05 Mar 2006
Luke Mason
http://www.magpies.net/nick/article/article.php?subaction=showfull&id=1141557417&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4&
Prior to its successful clash with St.Kilda last Sunday, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse described the match as an opportunity to see where his young squad is at, in comparison with the rest of the competition. The Pies showed plenty, in knocking off the flag favourites by a point, and earned a trip to Perth to take on a Fremantle side brimming with confidence. Malthouse will gain a second insight into how his side is travelling, with the Dockers stating their intentions to blitz all comers.
Subiaco Oval has not been a happy hunting ground in recent times for the Magpies, their record at the ground since 2000 reading two wins and three losses – their latest win coming in round 19 2004, when an undermanned Collingwood shocked the Dockers.
The fact that the Magpies have struggled on the wide expanses of Subiaco has been well documented, the side suffering two of its heaviest defeats of all time in the past two seasons – a 112 point drubbing at the hands of Fremantle in 2005 the most painful.
Despite all this, Collingwood do have cause for optimism leading into a match which will be played even though temperatures are to tip the mercury at 38°.
At the selection table, the Magpies wisely opted to leave its veteran quartet of Nathan Buckley, Scott Burns, James Clement and Anthony Rocca at home – sparing them a hot autumn afternoon in Perth.
In their absence, it will be up to the experience of the super consistent midfield combination of Paul Licuria, Brodie Holland and Shane O’Bree to hold the fort.
They will look to lead the way for the youth of Dale Thomas and debutant Sam Iles – whose efforts were impressive in recent intra-club matches.
Joining them in the middle will be Alan Didak and Leon Davis. Both began their careers as opportunistic forwards, but after serving six and five respective seasons in the system, it is time they made inroads into the midfield.
The two spent the majority of Sunday’s meeting with the Saints in the engine room, where their class and leg speed were vital ingredients in matching the brilliance of the St.Kilda onballers.
The heat will make for hard work for all players – and Collingwood’s midfielders’ task will take on extra difficulty, the Dockers centreline boasting some quality footballers – with the likes of skipper Bell, Hasleby, Black, the Carr’s – Josh and Matthew – as well as its trump utility Matthew Pavlich set to cause headaches for Malthouse and his coaching panel.
It is likely that Holland will get first crack at tagging the silky skilled Heath Black, who made headlines in the off-season for the wrong reasons.
Holland will be primed to return to his old stomping ground, Subiaco Oval, where he began his league career with the Dockers back in 1998.
It will be interesting to see how the Pies cope with the strength of the Fremantle midfield – arguably one of the strongest in the competition.
An area Collingwood does have the advantage in is its forward power. Although Rocca will be absent, they still possess Chris Tarrant, Josh Fraser and Travis Cloke – all of whom alone can win a match off their own boot.
Tarrant endured a match last week which was below his lofty standards. Watch for him to step up a notch this week, as he prepares for a round one assault on Adelaide when the season proper gets underway.
Fremantle, too, possess a much vaunted forward combination. The likes of Pavlich, Justin Longmuir and Luke McPharlin are explosive in their posts as key forwards, and on their day are able to decimate the opposition defenders.
McPharlin is the wildcard of the group. Blessed with brilliant speed and amazingly strong hands, the former Hawk rarely spills a marking opportunity.
Both McPharlin and Pavlich were on hand to demolish the Maggies the last time the two sides met in Perth.
Although Justin Longmuir was sidelined with a thigh complaint, McPharlin and Pavlich combined for 11 majors between them, teaming to annihilate a limp Collingwood line-up by a massive 112 points.
At ground level, the Dockers are always a better side when its crumbers – Paul Medhurst and Jeff Farmer – lurk near goal.
Both have caused Collingwood a great deal of trouble in past encounters; not many of the Collingwood faithful have forgotten Farmer’s destruction of the Magpies defence back in 2000.
On a cool afternoon, Farmer, still in his Demon days, scored nine second half goals – ripping the heart out of Collingwood’s season.
It is likely that he and Medhurst will be heavily tagged – the reliable Tarkyn Lockyer and potentially Iles to receive early opportunities.
In the wash up, the Dockers – suited best to their home turf – should account in comfortable fashion for a Collingwood side still short of its best line up.
However, if the Magpies midfield is able to break even with its counterparts and the tall forward line of Tarrant, Fraser and Travis Cloke can fire – a victory is very much within the realism of possibility.
Prediction: Fremantle by 24 points.
Collingwood vs Fremantle: Match Preview
Match Preview
05 Mar 2006
Luke Mason
http://www.magpies.net/nick/article/article.php?subaction=showfull&id=1141557417&archive=&start_from=&ucat=4&
Prior to its successful clash with St.Kilda last Sunday, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse described the match as an opportunity to see where his young squad is at, in comparison with the rest of the competition. The Pies showed plenty, in knocking off the flag favourites by a point, and earned a trip to Perth to take on a Fremantle side brimming with confidence. Malthouse will gain a second insight into how his side is travelling, with the Dockers stating their intentions to blitz all comers.
Subiaco Oval has not been a happy hunting ground in recent times for the Magpies, their record at the ground since 2000 reading two wins and three losses – their latest win coming in round 19 2004, when an undermanned Collingwood shocked the Dockers.
The fact that the Magpies have struggled on the wide expanses of Subiaco has been well documented, the side suffering two of its heaviest defeats of all time in the past two seasons – a 112 point drubbing at the hands of Fremantle in 2005 the most painful.
Despite all this, Collingwood do have cause for optimism leading into a match which will be played even though temperatures are to tip the mercury at 38°.
At the selection table, the Magpies wisely opted to leave its veteran quartet of Nathan Buckley, Scott Burns, James Clement and Anthony Rocca at home – sparing them a hot autumn afternoon in Perth.
In their absence, it will be up to the experience of the super consistent midfield combination of Paul Licuria, Brodie Holland and Shane O’Bree to hold the fort.
They will look to lead the way for the youth of Dale Thomas and debutant Sam Iles – whose efforts were impressive in recent intra-club matches.
Joining them in the middle will be Alan Didak and Leon Davis. Both began their careers as opportunistic forwards, but after serving six and five respective seasons in the system, it is time they made inroads into the midfield.
The two spent the majority of Sunday’s meeting with the Saints in the engine room, where their class and leg speed were vital ingredients in matching the brilliance of the St.Kilda onballers.
The heat will make for hard work for all players – and Collingwood’s midfielders’ task will take on extra difficulty, the Dockers centreline boasting some quality footballers – with the likes of skipper Bell, Hasleby, Black, the Carr’s – Josh and Matthew – as well as its trump utility Matthew Pavlich set to cause headaches for Malthouse and his coaching panel.
It is likely that Holland will get first crack at tagging the silky skilled Heath Black, who made headlines in the off-season for the wrong reasons.
Holland will be primed to return to his old stomping ground, Subiaco Oval, where he began his league career with the Dockers back in 1998.
It will be interesting to see how the Pies cope with the strength of the Fremantle midfield – arguably one of the strongest in the competition.
An area Collingwood does have the advantage in is its forward power. Although Rocca will be absent, they still possess Chris Tarrant, Josh Fraser and Travis Cloke – all of whom alone can win a match off their own boot.
Tarrant endured a match last week which was below his lofty standards. Watch for him to step up a notch this week, as he prepares for a round one assault on Adelaide when the season proper gets underway.
Fremantle, too, possess a much vaunted forward combination. The likes of Pavlich, Justin Longmuir and Luke McPharlin are explosive in their posts as key forwards, and on their day are able to decimate the opposition defenders.
McPharlin is the wildcard of the group. Blessed with brilliant speed and amazingly strong hands, the former Hawk rarely spills a marking opportunity.
Both McPharlin and Pavlich were on hand to demolish the Maggies the last time the two sides met in Perth.
Although Justin Longmuir was sidelined with a thigh complaint, McPharlin and Pavlich combined for 11 majors between them, teaming to annihilate a limp Collingwood line-up by a massive 112 points.
At ground level, the Dockers are always a better side when its crumbers – Paul Medhurst and Jeff Farmer – lurk near goal.
Both have caused Collingwood a great deal of trouble in past encounters; not many of the Collingwood faithful have forgotten Farmer’s destruction of the Magpies defence back in 2000.
On a cool afternoon, Farmer, still in his Demon days, scored nine second half goals – ripping the heart out of Collingwood’s season.
It is likely that he and Medhurst will be heavily tagged – the reliable Tarkyn Lockyer and potentially Iles to receive early opportunities.
In the wash up, the Dockers – suited best to their home turf – should account in comfortable fashion for a Collingwood side still short of its best line up.
However, if the Magpies midfield is able to break even with its counterparts and the tall forward line of Tarrant, Fraser and Travis Cloke can fire – a victory is very much within the realism of possibility.
Prediction: Fremantle by 24 points.