Review R1: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly vs. Collingwood

[Mutineer]

Must be minor, no mention of it on the report.

Did you read the SANFL report?

I must have been watching a different game to Matthew Wright. I thought the only real positive was Sid Draper looked good until his injury and Ludowyke showed a bit for the future, basically the SANFL team played like a rabble.

 

[SugarShane]

Just got out of bed and haven't checked the news. Did any of our players say anything racist or homophobic or am I good to keep enjoying a Collingwood win?

 

[Geoffa32]

I was really impressed with MacAndrew.

More agile than I thought. His handball to Keays a key moment.

Plus his actual tapwork was very good. Soft hands and hit around the clock.


He wasnt doing that as much in the scratch matches. But really stepped up last night and actually dominated Ruck. Not with statitics, but impact.

 

[Cromulant]

Did you read the SANFL report?

I must have been watching a different game to Matthew Wright. I thought the only real positive was Sid Draper looked good until his injury and Ludowyke showed a bit for the future, basically the SANFL team played like a rabble.

Yeah but hes not going to say that is he.

 

[Cromulant]

Don’t see the point not playing Soligo. If we played him off the back of his preseason, surely you play him off it plus 1 game. And he was pretty good in his 60%. Dialling him up at AFL level is surely better than cruising around in an SANFL trial. Had Pedlar been good, maybe there’s an argument.

Yeah thats my thoughts as well, depending on how he pulls up.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

I haven't watched any footy this year and I'm watching the Pies game now. This thing where players can just run past the man on the mark and he has to just stand there is hilarious.

 

[NSolis]

Literally none of that is actually true.

Without the ruck rule changes, ROB is still our #1 ruckman - and McAndrew is a beanpole who gets pushed aside at ruck contests by stronger (but shorter) rucks. With the rule changes, ROB isn't allowed to use his strength, while McAndrew's height and leap suddenly become massive assets at centre throw-ups.

The ruck rule changes have been catastrophic for some players - with ROB one of the worst affected. Conversely, they've been an absolute blessing for some other players - with McAndrew one of the biggest beneficiaries. We're fortunate that the impact on ROB has been balanced (maybe even more than balanced) by the impact they've had on McAndrew.

Had they known the rule change was coming, then I have no doubt the AFC would have had second thoughts about offering ROB such a long contract. But they didn't know. Based on what was known at the time, and ROB's known form and fitness, there was no problem with offering him a 3-year contract when they did. Based on what we know now, with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight and knowledge of the AFL's ruck rule changes, ROB's contract is a millstone hanging around our necks.

My memory is that it was also pretty clear the club didn't want to give him 3 years. The talk beforehand was about 2 years and negotiations dragging on, but ROB had a pretty good negotiating position as the uncontested #1 ruck. The ruck rule change has probably ended his career, unless we decided to play two ruckmen or McAndrew has issues going forward. Plus the additional bench position has made it more reasonable to play a support ruck if we want to, which partially nullifies another strength of ROB's, which is his running capacity.

Basically all the things that made ROB a reasonable AFL-quality player have changed.

 

[1970crow]

Why don’t you just say, “I hate him” and be done with it instead of inventing a bullshit reason that just shows you have zero idea what you are talking about.

Pedlar played his role last night and kicked a very important goal at a key time.

Leave your personal bias at the front door.

Do you think someone else is going to play that role if Rankine replaces him?

 

[Daniel6]

Do you think someone else is going to play that role if Rankine replaces him.

Rankine will move into the midfield.

 

[cmndstab]

Well apparently we can and still win against a top 4 team.

Who's to say we wouldn't have won by five goals with a different option on the bench?

No different to last year and an added player is always going to be a diminishing returns kind of deal.

Last year teams were forced to do it, though. We've got an extra bench position that can be used for the whole game now, is robbing ourselves of the option to use it a good idea?

That was just Murray the Younger's first game though...

He was only in the team to give McAndrew a break, we don't want to put TT in the ruck anymore so we need another option that can come on for short bursts. With McAndrew playing so well last night, it is understandable that we wanted to keep him in there as much as possible.

Im happy to give Murray a few more games to see if he can get more involved, but he won't be getting a huge amount of time on ground with our current set up. If he does come out, we would likely need to pur TT back in as the relief ruck option.

I don't think his low game time was a function of this being his debut. I think the plan going forward is to not use him very much. He's McAndrew's relief ruckman and seemingly nothing else.

If I'm right about that, then I think the question has to be asked, did he really provide enough value during his short time on ground to be worth it? Did he provide anything that couldn't be provided by any other tall, be it Maley, or even ROB? I understand the desire to keep Thilthorpe out of the ruck, but I don't think that torching a bench position to do it makes sense.

On the other hand, if there is a plan to get him more involved in the game, I'm still yet to see where he plays. We're already tall enough up forward, and he's not needed down back. I guess he's injury cover if we lose a tall mid-match?

 

[ssj3Pretz]

We looked so much better replacing a senior (ROB) with a debutant. Now replace Laird with Edwards ffs.

 

[ABAB]

Pedlar out, lazy, ineffective, doesn't present enough. What does he actually do? He's been around long enough to perform at a lot higher level. I'm sick of people sticking up for him and saying he's got potential, it's rubbish, we want a consistent high level performance. I know people say he plays on a starvation H/F flank, but if he showed more endeavour he would be rewarded with better opportunities. Definitely not in my best 23. Can't wait for Rankine to replace him.

Kicked 1.2 and 7 disposals 200m gain is a reasonable game for a forward. Not sure what you mean "lazy", he flies for mark and run hard to pressure. Finally got his body right for the AFL.

 

[Cromulant]

We looked so much better replacing a senior (ROB) with a debutant. Now replace Laird with Edwards ffs.

McAndrew wasnt a debutant.

 

[UcantCme]

It was obviously a directive to put the brakes on in the first half. It was also a directive to go balls out to start the 3rd and attempt to win the game quickly. Great coaching.

Strongly disagree - 1st half directive

I’ve mentioned this a few times

Watch Collingwood games from mid last year - they play slow, it’s a clear tactic to slow the game down as they lack the leg speed to go with the best teams - the players on the ground don’t know how to counter it

The coaches needed half time with players in their groups to show vision and emphasis what needed to change

 

[UcantCme]

I was really impressed with MacAndrew.

More agile than I thought. His handball to Keays a key moment.

Plus his actual tapwork was very good. Soft hands and hit around the clock.


He wasnt doing that as much in the scratch matches. But really stepped up last night and actually dominated Ruck. Not with statitics, but impact.

That clean pick up and handball goal assist to Keays - ROB would have butchered that moment

 

[Crows I Am]

Why?

He’s arguably our 2nd or 3rd best key forward. He plays every game until someone comes along and shows they are better.

We are up to our eye balls aiming for a premiership and we must play our best 23 every week.

We should definitely be managing Tex this year to some degree, its smart list management to look after the older guys rather than running them into the ground like we have done in the past. He will need to be rested throughout the season to ensure he can be effective once finals come round.

I would be looking at least 2 scheduled breaks for him, the two Perth games would be good options to avoid the long travel.

 

[UcantCme]

Not sure they'll drop Bondy.

We tend to go like for like, therefore its probably Soligo or Pedlar.

Bond is a must for this week

WB have so much ground level threats in the inside 50

 

[BunjiMac]

Milera is a completely different specimen this season.

Tough, hard, courageous, but keeping the evasiveness and calmness and skills.

 

[Cromulant]

I reckon we spooked ourselves a bit as well.

So many times, particularly in the first quarter we were out in open play with easy kicks to hit and I reckon we missed 4 or 5 OOTF. Pulled the game back into safe mode and then rebooted at half time.

For one of those very rare times, I never actually thought we were going to lose the game at any stage. We just looked so powerful forward of the ball and our midfield looked more dynamic with a tap ruck.

 

[Cromulant]

Milera is a completely different specimen this season.

Tough, hard, courageous, but keeping the evasiveness and calmness and skills.

If he keeps that sort of form up teams will start putting a lot of time into him, he was that dominant.

 

[UcantCme]

Good
- Cook’s 3rd qtr class

First that moment on the wing, won the footy, blind turned, settled and hit the target

That goal from outside 50 on the angle

 

[Daniel6]

We should definitely be managing Tex this year to some degree, its smart list management to look after the older guys rather than running them into the ground like we have done in the past. He will need to be rested throughout the season to ensure he can be effective once finals come round.

I would be looking at least 2 scheduled breaks for him, the two Perth games would be good options to avoid the long travel.

The 2 Perth trips would be a good strategy.

Would definitely rest him in round 17 vs West Coast but would not lock the Rd 23 clash with Fremantle in. Based on how important a win is, that would be the factor between resting him and playing.

 

[wimpy]

Why don’t you just say, “I hate him” and be done with it instead of inventing a bullshit reason that just shows you have zero idea what you are talking about.

Pedlar played his role last night and kicked a very important goal at a key time.

Leave your personal bias at the front door.

The same excuses week after week, for a pick eleven he just does not deliver. I hate him as a footballer.
Also missed two reasonably easy goals which a forward should kick.

 

[Daniel6]

The same excuses week after week, for a pick eleven he just not deliver. I hate him as a footballer.

Cool.

 

[BunjiMac]

If he keeps that sort of form up teams will start putting a lot of time into him, he was that dominant.

You just felt if he was near the contest he was getting the ball and it was coming out smoothly.

Are we seeing what could have been if not for the multiple years of injury and interrupted preseason?