We are in for a cracker next Saturday Night......boy am I looking forward to it!
Collingwood showed tonight that they could be the real deal this year. The way they applied themselves against arguably the best team in the AFL was nothing short of fantastic.
I have noticed that their ball use is substantially better than last year, which is obviously going to be the case if the team is playing better. Their forwards are functioning well too, so alot of repsonsibility will go to our defenders. Egan will have another big learning experience next week. With Harley still slightly underdone, Egan will have to stand up again, and although he has been a little quiet as of late, he is capable of nullifying one of Collingwood's forwards, whether it be rotating on Tarrant/Rocca or taking the resting ruckman (eg. Fraser). Scarlo and his defensive team have proved time and time again that we are the best defensive unit in the AFL, so I am confident we can hold them to a score we can defeat.
The midfield will also be quite a battle. In terms of the stoppages and centre clearnaces from the Saints game, if we can play near that, we will beat Collingwood. We dominated St Kilda out of the middle last week and alot of that credit should go to the duo of Ottens and King. Both King and Ottens have received their share of criticism at times, but they were simply brilliant on Friday. They have a big job this week, as Fraser has just come off a 28 disposal blinder against the Eagles earlier tonight.
Ben Johnson has been a key player for the Maggies so far in 2006. Anyone who reads the Herald Sun would've read that he leads the AFL for 'ground gained' (I don't know what they call the actual statistic, but that is basically what it means). His run off half back is crucial in setting up the play, and many goal scoring opportunities result because of his work. The forwards this week, especially the smaller ones such as Ablett and Chapman (and even SJ to a broader extent), have to place an extra importance on defensive pressure this week.
I am confident we will win. Friday's win will do us the world of good, and we know that we need this game.
Geelong by 24...Go Cats!
Collingwood showed tonight that they could be the real deal this year. The way they applied themselves against arguably the best team in the AFL was nothing short of fantastic.
I have noticed that their ball use is substantially better than last year, which is obviously going to be the case if the team is playing better. Their forwards are functioning well too, so alot of repsonsibility will go to our defenders. Egan will have another big learning experience next week. With Harley still slightly underdone, Egan will have to stand up again, and although he has been a little quiet as of late, he is capable of nullifying one of Collingwood's forwards, whether it be rotating on Tarrant/Rocca or taking the resting ruckman (eg. Fraser). Scarlo and his defensive team have proved time and time again that we are the best defensive unit in the AFL, so I am confident we can hold them to a score we can defeat.
The midfield will also be quite a battle. In terms of the stoppages and centre clearnaces from the Saints game, if we can play near that, we will beat Collingwood. We dominated St Kilda out of the middle last week and alot of that credit should go to the duo of Ottens and King. Both King and Ottens have received their share of criticism at times, but they were simply brilliant on Friday. They have a big job this week, as Fraser has just come off a 28 disposal blinder against the Eagles earlier tonight.
Ben Johnson has been a key player for the Maggies so far in 2006. Anyone who reads the Herald Sun would've read that he leads the AFL for 'ground gained' (I don't know what they call the actual statistic, but that is basically what it means). His run off half back is crucial in setting up the play, and many goal scoring opportunities result because of his work. The forwards this week, especially the smaller ones such as Ablett and Chapman (and even SJ to a broader extent), have to place an extra importance on defensive pressure this week.
I am confident we will win. Friday's win will do us the world of good, and we know that we need this game.
Geelong by 24...Go Cats!
