That’s great insight.West Coast's strengths counter every one of our strengths and that's why we're 0/4 in the last 15 or 20 games against you. We've very good in the air across the ground, but West Coast are better in the air. We play slow, patient footy and wait out our opposition, but West Coast close space and apply the pressure needed to force a turn over. Our forwards are potent in one-on-one contests, but West Coast's defenders are the best at one-on-one contests. Like Geelong, West Coast just strangle us by closing in on space whenever Collingwood have the footy. What we're better at than West Coast is running and quick transition, but if the Eagles close out our space going forward, we're forced to resort to kick to kick where the Eagles dominate aerially. Simply put if Collingwood are to put in a bid for the premiership, they're going to have to waddle around West Coast because I can't see things changing.
There's no getting around that back line. I don't know how Brisbane did it but I bet if the two sides played again, they wouldn't go that well next time around.
I consider West Coast's forward line not vulnerable, but beatable. Our defenders let Kennedy, Darling and Allen kick a combined five goals, and the resting Hickey slotted one too. It was Cripps and Sheed who murdered us. Cripps took Maynard, who has uncharacteristically struggled to contain his man this season, to the cleaners and Sheed's influence up forward was a result of our midfielders being lazy and refusing to get back and man up.
The midfields probably had an even battle last night. Collingwood's midfielders need to learn to get their hands dirty and quickly or else we're in big trouble. We're crying out for an in and under midfielder like Sier to combine with Adams and Treloar to provide the ball to Beams, Sidebottom and co. Watching so many talented midfielders concede so many centre clearances is a nightmare.
Our forwards are good in one-on-one contests but are all useless in pack situations, which Beams and a few others are yet to pick up on because frequently they kick long and high and it never gets marked. De Goey is the only forward doing what is required right now, the others are struggling with the delivery (Mihocek, Cox), with beating their men who don't give space (Elliott), or are completely lost with their changed roles (Thomas, Stephenson).