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

[Trigger13]

Laird does this ridiculous thing where he takes a mark, then stands and "threatens" to give off a handball that is never on offer, then 3 seconds go past then he jogs back from the mark and kicks it down the line, meanwhile all the defenders have positioned themselves behind the ball and any opportunity to open up the ground is lost. Every time. Take the mark, get back off the mark and release the ball.

I think he's become a net liability - certainly from a rebound POV, although maybe he does good spread and defensive actions I don't notice.

Amazing that a random Saints supporter can see this (just like the rest of us), but our coach doesn’t.

Plot twist: Nicks sees it. But ignores it because he doesn’t have the balls to drop his little Scotch College protege. Sickening.

 

[Bearded Clam]

... and last year, when he finished 4th in the B'n'F and won the Sando Medal "...for his professionalism and preparation to play at the highest level" (AFC website).

I never understood why the Clam was so vitriolic in his attacks on Keays, by whom I was frustrated because of his lack of a R-foot kick, but his elite two-way running was invaluable to us. For sure, Keays has found his niche up forward and set up 3 goals in the second half vs the Pies. Keays has even learned to look for a teammate in a better poz than him (well, except before he kicked that very good checkside goal in the last ).

Do you mean Keays? I can't see Nicks dropping Keays at all, let alone for Draper.
At this stage of their careers, Keays > Draper.

Come on.. the bloke was a ****ing horrible midfielder and still is. Our midfield is still not AFL finals standard but it has improved tenfold since Keays and Laird have been removed from it.

I am much happier with Ben in the forward line and he seems to have found himself a niche position there that he has made his own.. but he still does some dumb things and some incredibly selfish acts.

His skill and talent level is still poor and he still goes missing in games.

But like I said.. happy to see him selected over Pedlar and a couple of others… but geez.. I’d love another mercurial wizard type indigenous small forward to come in and replace him..

It would free up Rankine and rachele to play more midfield.

 

[flashcrow]

i would really like to be able to overlay the AO dimensions over the MCG dimensions, but with the two tethered not at the centre bounce point like in the diagram above but tethered at the exact centre wing point on the boundary line because that boundary line is the frame of reference players have for their ground positioning as they run down the wing. I think this then would show that for a player running down the wing any kick to a player inside the 50m line on the boundary needs to be something like 5 metres closer to the middle of the ground than expected on the MCG vs on AO.

Here you go:

 

[Ian Dunross]

Come on.. the bloke was a ****ing horrible midfielder and still is. Our midfield is still not AFL finals standard but it has improved tenfold since Keays and Laird have been removed from it.

I am much happier with Ben in the forward line and he seems to have found himself a niche position there that he has made his own.. but he still does some dumb things and some incredibly selfish acts.

His skill and talent level is still poor and he still goes missing in games.

But like I said.. happy to see him selected over Pedlar and a couple of others… but geez.. I’d love another mercurial wizard type indigenous small forward to come in and replace him..

It would free up Rankine and rachele to play more midfield.

Keays can frustrate but he's one of those teammates most footballers want in their team - maximum effort all the time, big heart, gets around the boys, does bob up for a goal most games. Even if Crows had a Kozi Pickett and a Tom Papley on their list, I reckon he'd still get a spot on the bench.

 

[jirkago1975]

Laird does this ridiculous thing where he takes a mark, then stands and "threatens" to give off a handball that is never on offer, then 3 seconds go past then he jogs back from the mark and kicks it down the line, meanwhile all the defenders have positioned themselves behind the ball and any opportunity to open up the ground is lost. Every time. Take the mark, get back off the mark and release the ball.

I think he's become a net liability - certainly from a rebound POV, although maybe he does good spread and defensive actions I don't notice.

He just needs to not call for the ball! We should only pass sideways when the play has room ahead of him to run forward.

I think that the end of the second qtr has been trained into them an it’s a way to slow the game down and hold on when we don’t have momentum. Wonder is we see it in the future.

Laird has been poor for a few years now with his kicking and overall play. Surprised that they extended his contract so early. Must be an Adelaide thing as they did to Nicks last year too

 

[Thunderstruck]

Good win against that mob, always nice to do it and no better than round 1 at the MCG.

Really impressed with McAndrew in the ruck but was not surprised, that's the standard he's been showing all of last year. Great ability to flick or over his head to a running mid, an old school tap ruckman, we might have finally found our first since Matthew Clarke.

Cook finally is showing what he is capable of. This has been brewing for years but he just couldn't find the pill nor a role that suited. Has speed, size, kicking and endurance and now improved footy IQ and is simply owning the wing region. His attack on the footy was first class, throwing his body on the line and 10 contested possessions showed just that, he wanted it and couldn't be more pleased to see a 6ft3 bloke moving and playing like that in open space. Please, please keep it up.

Milera just first class - has always had that knack of slipping through traffic and evading players that many could not but to get that much pill and use it like he did was sensational and a big reason why we kept driving forward.

Berry, just please do NOT drop this bloke or I'll lose my mind. Tough as nails and sets the standard of HOW to attack a football, no pussy footing around, just hard and tough, body on the line. I wish more of our players had his fearless approach. I feel at ease when he is in the middle because he always creates a chance, or half chance from his pressure, his strength and his clearance ability plus his tackling was much better. Has further improved his speed and kicking as well and if only he finished off that goal. Very solid game, he must start in the middle every single week.

Cumming, much much better almost felt like it was the Cumming we all saw at the Giants, more of the ball, run and carry aplenty. If we can have Cook on one wing and Cumming on the other playing like they did each week we will win far more than we lose. Metres gained footballer, really hope the new rules bring his strengths to the forefront each week.

Worrell, brilliant as always, where would we be without him down back

T. Murray, certainly struggled and would want to show improved nous from here on in but athletically is there.

 

[Coopers]

He just needs to not call for the ball! We should only pass sideways when the play has room ahead of him to run forward.

I think that the end of the second qtr has been trained into them an it’s a way to slow the game down and hold on when we don’t have momentum. Wonder is we see it in the future.

Laird has been poor for a few years now with his kicking and overall play. Surprised that they extended his contract so early. Must be an Adelaide thing as they did to Nicks last year too

He gets it a TON in the defensive pocket, close to the boundary.

It cannot be happening that much if it isn't part of the plan. If he's not supposed to be doing that, then why is it happening 15 times a game?
There must be an instruction to take the safe kick to that position if there's nothing better on.

So he's just doing his job...

 

[DangerSloane]

I watched the replay late last night and was surprised to see afterwards that Laird had a team-high 11 marks.
I can't remember a single one of them; certainly not a contested mark.

It probably means that people who complain about Laird demanding the ball when clear (but not in great position to affect the game) to pad his stats might be right.
I dunno . At least he gets clear but, jeez, he's a momentum-killer. Before he played as a mid he was a zippy, line-breaking HB flanker, which Milera did beautifully on Saturday night. I remember Pyke saying (stupidly) that if he was an oppo Coach, he'd tag Laird. Those days are long gone.

Also, Bond's poor disposals that led to direct turnovers to grateful Pies players are a concern.

Laird spreads really well and thats a positive element of his game.
The problem is he gets it and immediately stops and kills any sort of momentum.

Not willing to take on any form of difficult kick or run with the ball.

 

[DangerSloane]

All I can say is if we dont plan for Bont we will get murdered.

If we let him run around like a loose dog like we did with Naicos he will hurt us a lot more than Nick did.

 

[FR0GGY]

Amazing that a random Saints supporter can see this (just like the rest of us), but our coach doesn’t.

Plot twist: Nicks sees it. But ignores it because he doesn’t have the balls to drop his little Scotch College protege. Sickening.

I think Ian has said crows are his second team, so he’s a bit more than a random supporter.
He also regularly pops in with decent viewpoints.

 

[jenny61_99]

Reckon it would be seen as a harsh call by some on here. Berry hasn't been bad but we know what his ceiling is.

Then there is the anti-Peatling crew which is basically just Mutineer.

I wouldn't be dropping either of them. Berry was very, very good in an under on Friday night. Some of his kicking was dreadful. Some was very good. But unless Rankine can offer that level of service? Berry stays for mine.

 

[jenny61_99]

Bond is a kid in his 13th game against Collingwood at the G. FFS, he was pretty bloody good (with three glaring exceptions). Same as Berry. His finishing isn't great, but his in and under grunt is very good and he works really well with McAndrew. You all carry on when Nicks won't play the kids, and when he does, you carry on because they make mistakes. You can't have it both ways. IMO you don't drop Berry for Rankine. Pedlar was very quiet with the exception of one very good goal. He'd be the one to make way for mine.

 

[jenny61_99]

Toby is a Key Forward/Chop out ruck and ideal for giving McAndrew a rest at times, generally when the oppo's ruck is also having a rest on the bench. I think ROB only plays now if McAndrew gets injured or loses form or perhaps needs a rest. Murray is way more dangerous up forward than ROB if one of our KPF's gets an injury.

OR we are up against a very good tandem pair of rucks (maybe Freo?)

 

[thephenom3165]

The best thing about Saturday was Lachlan McAndrew by far. We have been, for years, saying our midfield was just not good enough, too slow, no breakway speed. That looked completey different on the weekend with hitouts to actual real advantage. McAndrew put it into the path of our mids, something O'Brien rarely did. Yes ROB could win 50 hitouts a game but the majority of them fell 1 metre to his left or right, not a tap into space where our mids could run onto them.

So now, our whole midfield dynamic has changed. Clearances look to be a strength now (off the back of 1 game i know).

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

All I can say is if we dont plan for Bont we will get murdered.

If we let him run around like a loose dog like we did with Naicos he will hurt us a lot more than Nick did.

We did clamp down on Daicos finally

Had 22 and a goal by half time but Berry played him pretty close from then on. Only 6 touches in the 3rd and quelled his influence to a degree.

We've tended to have Dawson go head to head in the middle against the bigger A Grade mids

 

[ceebsaf]

good: mcandrew, milera, cumming, berry, cook, ANB, thilthorpe, woz

bad: media coverange - all about the 50m penalties and how the pies didnt invest in a key forward. lol

ugly: nothing ugly today lol

side note: thilthorpe streaming out of the centre clearance and almost bombing a 60m goal on the run. what a sight.

 

[beartoo]

All I can say is if we dont plan for Bont we will get murdered.

If we let him run around like a loose dog like we did with Naicos he will hurt us a lot more than Nick did.

Spot on. Stop Bont, win game.

 

[Mutineer]

Bullshit!!!

Do the crime, do the time.

Braced ny ass!!

Pies to challenge Pendlebury ban, support for 'good bloke' defence

The Match Review Officer's findings are in from Saturday's round one games

www.afl.com.au

Updated

Pies to challenge Pendlebury ban, support for 'good bloke' defence​

COLLINGWOOD champion Scott Pendlebury

10

Scott Pendlebury

Age

38

Ht

191cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.5

5star

K

13.2

5star

HB

13.3

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

4.9

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

25.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

12.9

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.3

3star

CL

3.6

4star

D

12.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.8

4star

M

5.8

5star

T

2.6

4star

intends to use his exemplary record in a bid to overturn the first suspension of his remarkable 427-game career.

The Magpies on Monday confirmed they will contest the one-match ban handed to Pendlebury for rough conduct.

The 38-year-old veteran bumped Adelaide's Josh Worrell to the head in an incident that was graded careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

 

[CrowBloke]

According to the afl site stats
laird 5 turnovers but 8 intercepts 352m gained
Bond 3 turnovers but 5 intercepts, 265m gained

OK, but I've given up on Laird. Nicks loves him, so Laird will be retained.

Rankine in probably means Pedlar out ... ? Dropping Bond for Rankine would require a restructure.
I'm a bit MEH about flagging/suggesting/wanting changes; it won't get anything done.

 

[FR0GGY]

OK, but I've given up on want Laird. Nicks loves him, so Laird will be retained.

Rankine in probably means Pedlar out ... ? Dropping Bond for Rankine would require a restructure.
I'm a bit MEH about flagging/suggesting/wanting changes; it won't get anything done.

I think pedlar is the least disruptive even if I don’t like him going out.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Real interesting selection dilemma this week.

Soligo, Peatling, Pedlar and Bond would be the leading candidates, I would include T Muzz in that list as he looked a bit out of his depth but his position is quite niche.

I personally would like to see Laird dropped in lieu of Bond but I think its unlikely, so I think it will be Bond.

 

[Peter Doherty]

I think pedlar is the least disruptive even if I don’t like him going out.

I could live with him coming out under these circumstances. Opportunities will open up at some point and he would be next in line.

I really liked seeing him pop up in the backlines to help out a couple of times, he's fit. Also that kick from the pocket, I think his skills are a little underrated.

 

[FR0GGY]

I could live with him coming out under these circumstances. Opportunities will open up at some point and he would be next in line.

I really liked seeing him pop up in the backlines to help out a couple of times, he's fit. Also that kick from the pocket, I think his skills are a little underrated.

IMO he’s like cook, has the tricks and the smarts, just needs to click.

 

[CrowBloke]

I think pedlar is the least disruptive even if I don’t like him going out.

I'm so wrong, so frequently, I think I'm better off not speculating eg
--- I had big hopes for Pedlar whom I reckon has got X factor, but he's never stamped himself on a game.
--- speaking of which, I though Cook was a dud, but I'm thinking now that playing a Forward role had restricted him and he plays much better when he has license to roam both ways off a wing. When he ran out wide to the R of the 50M arc I thought wtf ...? Then, BANG, supergoal. Cook can footy and I was badly wrong about him.
--- I wanted Milera dropped early last year, but he was probably bog on Saturday night.
--- and re: Curtin. Well, I was so wrong about him early last year I'm too embarrassed to say how/why.

--- re: Nicks, I'm still not convinced he'll Coach us to a Flag but, gee, we've got a helluva team now.
Saturday night's win was staggeringly good. Three best-23 out, underdone list and that 6-goal burst in the 3rd was as good as we've played last year, but what really impressed me was the way they absorbed the Mugpie fightback, then kicked away again to win.
The Doggies game will tell us a lot.

 

[CrowBloke]

Ugly: That's a bird wing??

Yeh.
Like the Chup-a-chup logo, designed by Salvador Dali ...