Competitions Collingwood All Time Draft

[Pie 4 Life]

Unfortunately I’m busy that night.

Haha that's cute.

 

[South of the Yarra]

All - stay tuned into this thread over the next week or so, as from tomorrow Michael Lardieslads will be releasing his initial reviews / observations on the selected teams, before announcing a 'premier' and 'runner up'. Michael will release his reviews based on the draft order, and will post them every couple of days, but do feel free to engage in discussion with Michael and eachother through the period.

Thanks again Michael - we massively appreciate your contribution to this activity, and indulging a bunch of very passionate Collingwood supporters!

Fantastic. I look forward to it.

 

[Lardieslads]

Fantastic. I look forward to it.

Before I get into the judging thing, I just want to say again how great it is to have been asked to contribute, and what a thrill it’s been for me to see you all talking about older players and using the stuff I’ve produced to help make your decisions.

I also want to make a shoutout to my long-time sparring partner Glenn McFarlane, who has also contributed so much to the Forever website, and the cause of Collingwood history in general. He’s a beauty, is Glenn.

In assessing these teams, one thing that’s become clear to me is that I am likely to come across as unduly negative. But there’s a good reason for that: all the teams are so good, and so well put together, that looking for one or even two weaknesses is the only way to be able to distinguish between most of them!

The two big things for me in making my judgements have been (a) talent – you clearly want the best players in there as possible, and (b) structural balance/integrity. And the second point has actually become the most significant. Because the vast majority of selections have been really solid, with very few shock inclusions and very few outrageous omissions, a lot of the assessment comes down to how well those players have been used. So choosing a ruckman and sticking him on a half-back flank? Or naming a full-forward who hardly kicked any goals? Or choosing a gun centreman and playing him in a back pocket? Or choosing three big blokes across one line? All these are things that I would mark a team down for.

Anyway, here I go. I’m going to channel my inner Bruce Andrew and pretend I’m judging the Craven A ‘Champion Kick’ on World of Sport. I’ll release things progressively over the next week or so to allow some dissection/discussion as we go.

But remember: I really am nitpicking with most of these assessments. The teams are great, and you guys have done a truly awesome job of selecting them, and also providing all the support material around it. Apologies if I hurt anyone’s feelings along the way! Just remember that it’s only my opinion, and I am regularly, and frequently, wrong about many things (though I’m sure the ultimate winner here may disagree)

 

[Lardieslads]

Raymond 35
Backs: Stan Magro, Michael Christian, Peter McCormack
Half Back: Gavin Crosisca, Billy Picken, Kevin Rose
Centre: Phil Walsh, Mark Williams, Ricky Barham
Half Forward: Graeme Anderson, Leigh Brown, Craig Starcevich
Forward: James Manson, Graeme Fellowes, Tony Francis
Followers: Len Thompson, G Shephard, Lou Richards

The good: Both defensive lines are really good, even if I have to overlook Peter Mac being squeezed into a back pocket, when he was really a full-back. And the centre line is early 1980s heaven. Having our best ever ruckman as the big man helps too, and there are a couple of very handy rovers in Lou Richards and Scooter Francis.

Question marks: Most things forward of centre. Graeme Anderson is a good choice (always good to have a long-sleeved jumper in there), but Leigh Brown at centre half-forward is a gutsy call. He didn’t really play there that much with us and, while he was a great role-player in 2010, I’m not sure he was really a CHF? Ditto Graeme Fellowes as a full-forward: having a guy who kicked 22 career goals as a spearhead doesn’t fill me with great confidence. I also thought taking Charlie Manson at 88 was a bit of a stretch.

Best line: Walsh-Williams-Barham. Love it (I’m overlooking that Phil only played with us for one year). The half-back line is pretty ace too.

Weakest link: Hate to say it, but given all the great ruck-rovers/on-ballers we’ve produced over the years, Graeme Shephard’s name stands out as not quite being of the same quality. Although he was a late pick there were probably better options available.

Player quality: A bit below average (9 of the players featured in our top 125) Rating 6/10

Team balance: Reasonable 7/10

Summary: The foundations are here – a tight, tough, reliable defence highlighted by a great CHB, combined with a slashing centre line, our best ruckman and decent small men. But the forward line lets the team down – especially Fellowes at FF – and ruck-rover is a weakness.

 

[South of the Yarra]

Lardieslads
Brilliant Michael. How good is that 80s centre line? Absolute quality. Loved Willo and the Racehorse.

 

[magpies42]

Raymond 35
Backs: Stan Magro, Michael Christian, Peter McCormack
Half Back: Gavin Crosisca, Billy Picken, Kevin Rose
Centre: Phil Walsh, Mark Williams, Ricky Barham
Half Forward: Graeme Anderson, Leigh Brown, Craig Starcevich
Forward: James Manson, Graeme Fellowes, Tony Francis
Followers: Len Thompson, G Shephard, Lou Richards

The good: Both defensive lines are really good, even if I have to overlook Peter Mac being squeezed into a back pocket, when he was really a full-back. And the centre line is early 1980s heaven. Having our best ever ruckman as the big man helps too, and there are a couple of very handy rovers in Lou Richards and Scooter Francis.

Question marks: Most things forward of centre. Graeme Anderson is a good choice (always good to have a long-sleeved jumper in there), but Leigh Brown at centre half-forward is a gutsy call. He didn’t really play there that much with us and, while he was a great role-player in 2010, I’m not sure he was really a CHF? Ditto Graeme Fellowes as a full-forward: having a guy who kicked 22 career goals as a spearhead doesn’t fill me with great confidence. I also thought taking Charlie Manson at 88 was a bit of a stretch.

Best line: Walsh-Williams-Barham. Love it (I’m overlooking that Phil only played with us for one year). The half-back line is pretty ace too.

Weakest link: Hate to say it, but given all the great ruck-rovers/on-ballers we’ve produced over the years, Graeme Shephard’s name stands out as not quite being of the same quality. Although he was a late pick there were probably better options available.

Player quality: A bit below average (9 of the players featured in our top 125) Rating 6/10

Team balance: Reasonable 7/10

Summary: The foundations are here – a tight, tough, reliable defence highlighted by a great CHB, combined with a slashing centre line, our best ruckman and decent small men. But the forward line lets the team down – especially Fellowes at FF – and ruck-rover is a weakness.

Exactly what we are after thanks!

 

[iGNITER]

That's great Lardieslads awesome work.

 

[Trickster]

Absolutely love the review rationale! Though am nervous about the comment 'Or choosing a gun centreman and playing him in a back pocket'.

If it's Percy Bowyer, can I say he played in that position when he started out

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Absolutely love the review rationale! Though am nervous about the comment 'Or choosing a gun centreman and playing him in a back pocket'.

If it's Percy Bowyer, can I say he played in that position when he started out

All of a sudden I’m much happier McCarthy went before I could pigeonhole him into centre half back. Although I still don’t think it’s that unreasonable for me to have given his profile acknowledges he started as a defender

 

[Trickster]

All of a sudden I’m much happier McCarthy went before I could pigeonhole him into centre half back. Although I still don’t think it’s that unreasonable for me to have given his profile acknowledges he started as a defender

Can we attribute it to the website

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Can we attribute it to the website

Absolutely.

“What do you mean Adam Treloar didn’t play full back? I was relying on the profiles ”

 

[gouki88]

Awesome stuff Lardieslads! The anticipation for my review coming at the very end might kill me, but that's ok

 

[Trickster]

Awesome stuff Lardieslads! The anticipation for my review coming at the very end might kill me, but that's ok

Haha yeah double blow. Not only did you have to wait to end of R1 for a pick, you also have to wait to the end for the review!

 

[Lardieslads]

Absolutely love the review rationale! Though am nervous about the comment 'Or choosing a gun centreman and playing him in a back pocket'.

If it's Percy Bowyer, can I say he played in that position when he started out

Fair to say you'd be safe with Percy in a back pocket (at least in my eyes). If you'd stuck him at full-forward, however ...

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Anyone else start profusely sweating?

 

[half_back_flank]

All of a sudden I’m much happier McCarthy went before I could pigeonhole him into centre half back. Although I still don’t think it’s that unreasonable for me to have given his profile acknowledges he started as a defender

Yep and I put him a Forward ******* Pocket....

He's just the resting ruckman, I swear.

 

[Tarkyn_24]

Anyone else start profusely sweating?

Dude are you sweating from your eyes? I am

 

[76woodenspooners]

Didn’t think it would be possible …

..: but this thread just got even more awesomely awesome!

 

[35Daicos]

Absolutely love the review rationale! Though am nervous about the comment 'Or choosing a gun centreman and playing him in a back pocket'.

If it's Percy Bowyer, can I say he played in that position when he started out

Just guessing, but I suspect that is much more likely to refer to Bill Strickland. We'll find out soon enough!

 

[South of the Yarra]

Sweating madly here. Keep going over my team thinking about where the holes are.

 

[South of the Yarra]

This thread is GOLD

 

[35Daicos]

Sweating madly here. Keep going over my team thinking about where the holes are.

You picked a superb team. I did like the fact that everyone in your side had at least 50 games for the club. It would take a harsh critic to find any real holes in it!

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Sweating madly here. Keep going over my team thinking about where the holes are.

I’m just now wondering whether I should have put Syd Coventry in the ruck based on the first team’s feedback

 

[Tarkyn_24]

I’m just now wondering whether I should have put Syd Coventry in the ruck based on the first team’s feedback

I also expect you to cop copious stick for throwing back pocket specialist Tarkyn Lockyer to a half forward flank. Completely irresponsible

 

[Trickster]

I’m just now wondering whether I should have put Syd Coventry in the ruck based on the first team’s feedback

Can you swing a late change? Your #1 ruck has come down with general soreness in the warm up so needs resting up forward. Pretty courageous for him to front up with no bench or reserves