How to beat Collingwood

[ManWithNoName]

Posted this over at Blitz, figured I'd chuck it up here too:


Put Pears on Cloke, let him run up the ground and give Pears the go ahead to run off his man. Cloke has absolutely zero confidence at the moment. He's running up the ground to try and get the ball, not realising he's completely useless up there. Plus Pears running off him gives us another option running off half back, and Pears has a pretty decent kick on him.

Don't underestimate Thomas or Wellingham These two would easily be the top two in their B&F at the moment. Wellingham's improved in leaps and bound and is easily their hardest ball winner at the moment. While he's not racking up HUGE amounts of disposals (averaging 23 per game), the quality of his possessions, and his ability to get the ball out of a hard spot to a running Didak/Swan could kill us.
Similar with Thomas. He's bulked up over the pre-season and is now a very strong overhead mark. He can drift forward and provide a marking target in the vein of Brendan Goddard (Thomas is only 7cms shorter). Good mark and a very good kick at goal. We need someone like a Welsh or a McVeigh who can go with Thomas both in the middle and when he drifts forward.

Counter attack through the corridor Blind Freddy could tell you the Pies like to hug the boundary line when they go forward, so FFS if we get the ball off them then don't try and go back the same way. Run hard through the middle and get it forward. Their opponents Inside 50s/Goals percentage seems to be pretty good, so if we can turn it over and get it forward then we can really hurt them

Have at least two players in the forward line who can take the mark at any one time Look at the blokes they've got who can spoil; Presti, O'Brien (cheat), Maxwell etc. They pride themselves on the ball rarely going into the opposition 50 without there being at least two defenders to spoil the ball. We need the two options there so the loose man (generally Maxwell) won't know who to go to

Flood back QUICKLY if we turn it over Of their 52 goals this season, 32 have come from opposition turnovers. Usually they just move it quickly and bomb it forward to Medhurst, Davis or Brown, with Thomas and Didak (Who's spending a lot more time this year forward) crumbing. They're third in the comp for marks inside 50 and blokes like Davis and Thomas are better than you'd give them credit for when it comes to taking a contested mark, so while I think we do need to attack off half back, once our defenders disposed of the ball, he needs to get back near his man quick smart, otherwise they could kill us.

Run Jolly and Fraser around the ground Their ruckmen are beyond horrible. Jollys been nothing but a liability and Frasers been...well, Josh Fraser. So if they can Hille and Ryder need to be as mobile as they can, and even push forward occasionally. Neither Jolly nor Fraser are particularly mobile/quick, and neither are particularly dangerous up forward. So this could be one area of the ground we can get a big advantage.

My expected matchups:
Presti/Hurley
O'Brien/Davey (if he plays, if not then Williams)
Maxwell/Gumby but running off him to play as the loose man
Stanton/Wellingham (make Wellingham accountable)
Watson/Swan (as above)
McVeigh/Thomas (Spike would be a huge in this week)
Welsh/Didak
Pears/Cloke
Fletcher/Medhurst
Hooker/Brown
Slattery/Davis

[Longy413]

I often wonder whether it is more important to keep Swan and Pendlebury quiet, or Medhurst, Thomas, Davis, Didak and co.

How much does the form of Swan and Pendlebury impact the others?
Can they have a big day and as long as the others are well held, Collingwood lose the game?

Or do you stop those two, to in turn stop the others?

[ManWithNoName]

Well I figure that with the likes of Pendlebury, Wellingham, even Swan occasionally, it's pretty hard to tag someone when they're at the bottom of the pack feeding the ball out. But if you can negate the players waiting to recieve the ball then that can be a big win because it can stop them moving the ball forward so easily.

So in terms of those outside mids, I'm talking Thomas, Didak and Davis if hrs on the ball, or if there's a stoppage in their forward 50.

[Slattery_20]

Quick answer, play attacking.
We're a much, much better side when we're not worrying too much about tagging X and Y.
Attack and we win. Get defensive, guys are too worried about their men, we lose.

[Knight Ryders]

It's all about attitude. Bring the right attitude and we'll be up to our neck in it. When our tackling is up like in the first half of the Geelong match, we are a good side.

[daffo]

How to beat Collingwood?
1)Stop their small forwards. Medhurst, Davis, Didak. If we can keep these three to LESS then six goals, we'll win.

[Godzke]

The statistic regarding goals from turnovers is a very pertinent point. I remember last year's ANZAC Day and how pissed off I was that Collingwood were even in the game. We had them by the balls but whenever we turned it over they counter-attacked quite effectively.

Stop Collingwood on the counter and we're a big shot.

[AxelFoley]

After the pressure they applied to Hawthorn on the weekend (tackle count etc) I am a little concerned. If we dish up a performance like last week, it could get ugly.

That being said, a rocket up our arse (similar to after the Freo game) and coming up against another 'traditional rival' (hate that term) should hopefully get us up for this game. Attacking through the middle and flooding back quickly on turnovers are imperitive to beating the pies.

[banta]

good write up mate. :thumbsu:

How to beat Collingwood?
1)Stop their small forwards. Medhurst, Davis, Didak. If we can keep these three to LESS then six goals, we'll win.

also agree with this. doesnt need to be said how dangerous these guys can be and how they can turn a game with limited opportunities. we really need to play tight and smart on them to minimize their impact.

also, i think our forward structure will be important. their backline compliments each other very well by leaving their opponent to help chop out for their team mates. as mentioned, maxwell gets free quite often, this we can't allow. i'd like to see the forward line spread, something like ryder go to the square and take presti, gumby push and lead to the wings taking maxwell away from his comfort zone down back, and hurley provided a CHF role around the 50, taking o'brein away from any support from mates. just an idea.

[Gone Critical]

Interesting read. Couple of points

Jolly/Fraser have been terrible so far but Jolly showed a few glimpses last week and the last time we met Fraser was BOG and got 3 brownlow votes. Think Fraser may be gone though

Cloke has been terrible kicking for goal but v good otherwise. Comphrensively beat 2 young defenders in last 2 weeks , Dawson and Shoenmakers. If kicked straight would be seen in a v different light. He looks ready for a big match and if kicks straight will be your biggest danger. Has been taking contested marks in the 50. Ess shouldnt treat him lightly or look at his opponent as a prime attacking option.

[twentington]

If i see Thomas sneak behind our defense for one of those easy goals just once i'll spew up. Or any of their other frilly knicker wearing small forwards for that matter.

I want to see at least one man, possibly two (reimers and maybe windy) get loose on the other side of the ground to where collingwood are advancing at all times (assuming we can push them wide and they arent just carving us up through the middle). If when we gain possession quick long kick across the ground and hurt them using the space instead of trying to handball in traffic then I reckon thats a good way to exploit their tendencies and shield against our current weakness in that area.

Above all challenge them. Hard. Particularly their forwards don't deal with pressure well, but even their backmen if they are going to chop off a kick make them earn it. I don't mind if they get off to a good start cos they will waste energy congratulating themselves. If our young lads can hang in there and win the mental/physical battles over the ground then collingwood will go missing and we will win. Big ask on a big stage but in my view a weakness that should be exploited. If Hille, NLM, McVeigh, Hocking (though hurley has a bit of mongrel in him too) etc can assert themselves here i'll be happy.

[iGNITER]

How to beat Collingwood?
1)Stop their small forwards. Medhurst, Davis, Didak. If we can keep these three to LESS then six goals, we'll win.

They combined for only 5 goals against the Hawks and we still beat them by 11 goals.

[4#Didak#4]

Based on what I saw last week there is one thing the Bombers need to do above all else and that is hit some targets.

The Eagles applied some good pressure but not enourmous pressure. If you turnover the ball & miss as many targets as you did last Friday we will crucify you....providing we can kick a little straighter.

A lot of people criticising Gumbleton but seriously how is the guy going to get a touch when you can't hit him on the lead. If the ball gets in quick and accurately your forward line will be troublesome for us.

If you get your run & carry game going combined with some effecient disposal I am expecting a close game. Plus its ANZAC day & anything can happen!

[Tambu]

Pressure and tackle

That's how you beat the pies. They crumble. Go Dons!

[HFF_07]

RE: How to beat Collingwood


JUST KICK IT!!

[Frothies Mcveigh]

Nice write up. I agree with Tambu. Chase and tackle hard, hit targets and we'll win.

[Dkid]

RE: How to beat Collingwood


JUST KICK IT!!


Straight to an Essendon player :)

[bradrowe#32]

[list]
Put Pears on Cloke, let him run up the ground and give Pears the go ahead to run off his man. Cloke has absolutely zero confidence at the moment. He's running up the ground to try and get the ball, not realising he's completely useless up there. Plus Pears running off him gives us another option running off half back, and Pears has a pretty decent kick on him.

That's not really true. Cloke was very good against Hawthorn and St. Kilda and was decent against Melbourne and Footscray. He just has to get his kicking for goal right. I do agree that Pears is a good match-up for him for you guys.

[Call Me Cake]

If we continue to do the "handball in/across the opposition's goal square" shit again, we'll cop a belting. Collingwood will capitalise on it like a bunch of puppies on puppy chow.

That stuff isn't defensive, it's just stress inducing for the rest of the team and it's supporters. :o

[Michael_knoth]

As long as daisy has 20+ touches and 2-3 goals I'll be happy. But let's be honest essendon are gonna come to play. They're no where near as bad as they played last week. I'm sure nights will get them up for Anzac day. Expecting a close one.

Dons by 12

[FootyStar#1]

I really just hope that Essendon doesn't come out with a firing attitude, stay with Collingwood for the first quarter and a bit then get blown away. The season pretty much rests on this game and i know the media often continuously say an upcoming game makes or breaks a season. In this case, it actually does. If Essendon plays as poorly, without any pressure or speed like last week, expect Matthew Knights to be under the most pressure of any coach (bar poor old Hardwick).

anyway go dons, hope hurley hits his strides this week and kicks a bag :)

[Swooop]

Posted this over at Blitz, figured I'd chuck it up here too:

Great write up..the two areas maybe I'd not agree 100% with, would be Cloke and the rucks.

Cloke hasn't done any signif. damage on the scoreboard, but esp last week, showed he is getting back the confidence and form like when he won our B&F.

Jolly also was better last week..he's been very slow finding his feet, but last week was much better and also kicked two goals.

Fraser does look in terrible form, looks old, no confidence. Last year vs you guys, embarrassed himself on Anzac day vs Ryder, but was BOG in the follow up game. So who knows.

Pace in midfield is not our strong point and you would have a clear advantage here for sure..how much that gets exploited could decide the game.

Another point, we're not playing that boundary hugging crap as much this year...thank God!

One of Pies posters, DaVe86, has done a similar thing on our board, you guys should wander over have a read.