Strategy Changes vs Pies.

[No SPIN]

Cox is 10cm taller than defenders each week, Its a pity we dont have Lever but Omac is way more solid than last season. If youre winning it in the midfield doesnt matter who you have or dont have down back.

If you think that that you win the midfield battle, and therefore not allow us to feed our fwds - I reckon you need to reconsider.
Our midfield runs deep, has pace, and grunt and kick goals.
Underestimate them at your peril - we are more than a match for your guys.

 

[No SPIN]

They don't kick chase, they provide an outnumber on the wing to help connect the defence with attack and then out work there defenders back into the 50. Leave them alone and we will move the ball towards the 50 with ease and put your undersized defence under pressure. Cox is a very average footballer. If he is a threat then Hogan and McDonald are nuclear war. Not to mention Gawn...

I didn't say we would leave them alone - but by definition their marking on the wing (ie outside scoring distance), is far less dangerous for us.
Do you actually believe you can win the game if TMAC and Hogan are focusing on being link players rather than FWD targets?

 

[TheCount]

If you think that that you win the midfield battle, and therefore not allow us to feed our fwds - I reckon you need to reconsider.
Our midfield runs deep, has pace, and grunt and kick goals.
Underestimate them at your peril - we are more than a match for your guys.

We lead the competition in both Contested Possession and Clearances, with arguably our best in both areas in Jack Viney playing about 25% of the season ... not sure if we're the ones doing the underestimating.

 

[Sando22]

If you think that that you win the midfield battle, and therefore not allow us to feed our fwds - I reckon you need to reconsider.
Our midfield runs deep, has pace, and grunt and kick goals.
Underestimate them at your peril - we are more than a match for your guys.

Cool mate.
Cox isn't fit to carry Hogan or Tmacs bags so I couldn't care if he was 9ft tall to be honest. If they play him in the ruck on Gawn, he'll be given a lesson and our mids will get first use on a sliver platter.
Nobody is doubting the Pies depth through the middle but we've got about 10 guys who go through there so that's not a strength to you.

 

[No SPIN]

Cool mate.
Cox isn't fit to carry Hogan or Tmacs bags so I couldn't care if he was 9ft tall to be honest. If they play him in the ruck on Gawn, he'll be given a lesson and our mids will get first use on a sliver platter.
Nobody is doubting the Pies depth through the middle but we've got about 10 guys who go through there so that's not a strength to you.

YOU may not doubt our midfield strength but the poster - BG32, I was responding to did - hence the focus of my reply.

 

[LeverPuller]

I would be fine with Hogan and TMac chasing kicks up the ground - because they less of an offensive threat in those circumstances.
The obvious question for you and far more pertinent - is how will you manage Grundy and Cox up forward which you could not do in RD 23 last year.

Hogan and TMac are at most 4cm taller than our shortest defender of talls - COX is at least 10cm taller than yours.

What you are missing from that is they link-play in tandem. Hogan marks up the ground, props, and then hits runners, including TMac.

 

[BG32]

YOU may not doubt our midfield strength but the poster - BG32, I was responding to did - hence the focus of my reply.

I didn't doubt them, they're alright but ours are better.

 

[No SPIN]

We lead the competition in both Contested Possession and Clearances, with arguably our best in both areas in Jack Viney playing about 25% of the season ... not sure if we're the ones doing the underestimating.

You were playing for a spot in the final year in RD 23 - and we won, WITHOUT Pendlebury and De Goey in the midfield which was a bigger loss than you missing Viney.
So how am I 'overestimating" our midfield.

We will missing more Elliot, Moore, who were critical to our win last year - so I think our fwd line could be better, and that may be the weak link.

 

[No SPIN]

I didn't doubt them, they're alright but ours are better.

You suggested that COX would not be a problem because we would not win midfield ball to feed him - so clearly you were doubting our mids.
But am glad you have now reconsidered.

 

[No SPIN]

What you are missing from that is they link-play in tandem. Hogan marks up the ground, props, and then hits runners, including TMac.

I would be fine with that - because we don't lack running power to cover your runners (most commentators agree we have the edge in pace).
More than happy for Hogan to be marking up the ground instead of marking and shooting for goal.
Double teaming TMac would then be fairly easy, if Hogan plays the link role

 

[Topkent]

I would be fine with that - because we don't lack running power to cover your runners (most commentators agree we have the edge in pace).
More than happy for Hogan to be marking up the ground instead of marking and shooting for goal.
Double teaming TMac would then be fairly easy, if Hogan plays the link role

Your runners can't cover Hogan and Tmac in the midfield. They'll take 30 marks between them If you hand them off and we will have an easy exit from defence everytime

 

[ABray10]

Don't think Levers replacement matters too much (so long as it's not Wagner). The game will be won or lost in the middle, both teams midfields are there main strengths.

 

[Sando22]

I would be fine with that - because we don't lack running power to cover your runners (most commentators agree we have the edge in pace).
More than happy for Hogan to be marking up the ground instead of marking and shooting for goal.
Double teaming TMac would then be fairly easy, if Hogan plays the link role

Nobody here is discounting Collingwoods strengths mate yet you seem to want to argue every point being made regarding Melbourne so either you have very little idea about football or you are guessing. If Hogan takes a mark up the ground, he turns and hits Tmac and vice versa.
In my opinion, our midfields are evenly matched. Ours is tougher, yours slightly quicker. Our backline is better and so are our forwards.
I think it'll be a close game that we SHOULD win but won't be surprised if the Pies get up

 

[TheCount]

You were playing for a spot in the final year in RD 23 - and we won, WITHOUT Pendlebury and De Goey in the midfield which was a bigger loss than you missing Viney.
So how am I 'overestimating" our midfield.

We will missing more Elliot, Moore, who were critical to our win last year - so I think our fwd line could be better, and that may be the weak link.

I think you'll be hard pressed to find many people that would suggest that Melbourne are currently playing anything like we were in the latter part of last season.

I didn't say you were overestimating your midfield, I said you were underestimating ours. Pretty much every comment you've made in this thread shows that you've not watched us play a great deal of late.

 

[Tempy Tiger]

You were playing for a spot in the final year in RD 23 - and we won, WITHOUT Pendlebury and De Goey in the midfield which was a bigger loss than you missing Viney.
So how am I 'overestimating" our midfield.

We will missing more Elliot, Moore, who were critical to our win last year - so I think our fwd line could be better, and that may be the weak link.

This is our board. **** off.

 

[No SPIN]

This is our board. **** off.

I have not been abusive or rude.
However if offering another perspective on some of your opinions, is problematic, and you only wish this forum to be an echo chamber that's your right.

I dont' have any reason to leave this thread based on my conduct todate.

 

[No SPIN]

Your runners can't cover Hogan and Tmac in the midfield. They'll take 30 marks between them If you hand them off and we will have an easy exit from defence everytime

The point was made that Hogan will hand off to your players running forward - I simply was suggesting that you don't have the advantage in running power to suggest we would not be able to control these runners.
Yes both Hogan and TMac will out run of backs - but this is less of a strength up the ground as I have outlined above.

 

[Tempy Tiger]

Who are these vaunted mids No SPINE? Btw that’s a very apt username for a Pies supporter, kudos.

 

[Tempy Tiger]

Pendlebury has been a gun but is in decline. Side bottom is a good player. Adams is a solid B grade citizen. Wells is a fat, lazy, injury prone old man. Treloar is the clanger king of the AFL.

You are going to see what a strong onball brigade looks like this Monday. We owe you from around 23 and I’m tipping it’s going to get ugly for the Pies. 60 point plus loss incoming for you guys and a big reality check.

 

[No SPIN]

Nobody here is discounting Collingwoods strengths mate yet you seem to want to argue every point being made regarding Melbourne so either you have very little idea about football or you are guessing. If Hogan takes a mark up the ground, he turns and hits Tmac and vice versa.
In my opinion, our midfields are evenly matched. Ours is tougher, yours slightly quicker. Our backline is better and so are our forwards.
I think it'll be a close game that we SHOULD win but won't be surprised if the Pies get up

I am sorry if I've hit a nerve.

I am looking to a great game and hope they raise a record amount of money for MND - its just a very sobering reminder that football is not the most important part of life.

 

[Sando22]

The point was made that Hogan will hand off to your players running forward - I simply was suggesting that you don't have the advantage in running power to suggest we would not be able to control these runners.
Yes both Hogan and TMac will out run of backs - but this is less of a strength up the ground as I have outlined above.

Take a look at our spread of goalkickers over the course of the year and tell me if you think them pushing up the ground and working back into the space has been an issue

 

[Sando22]

I am sorry if I've hit a nerve.

I am looking to a great game and hope they raise a record amount of money for MND - its just a very sobering reminder that football is not the most important part of life.

You've not hit a nerve mate but you've basically come here which is fine, and outlined how and why your side is better and I completely disagree with you.

 

[No SPIN]

Who are these vaunted mids No SPINE? Btw that’s a very apt username for a Pies supporter, kudos.

trying to get me upset and banned?
Nice try.

 

[No SPIN]

You've not hit a nerve mate but you've basically come here which is fine, and outlined how and why your side is better and I completely disagree with you.

All good - I like a good, civil and informative debate.

 

[No SPIN]

Take a look at our spread of goalkickers over the course of the year and tell me if you think them pushing up the ground and working back into the space has been an issue

Never said it was an issue - just that we too have been a good 2 way running side and therefore capable of matching your runners
I think you would also be surprised with our spread of goal kickers this year.