- Mar 16, 2014
- 8,524
- 8,666
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Oh what a glorious time to be a Magpie fan. Even if we don't hold the cup up at the end of the year, there's so much joy in the process. Have I ever enjoyed the football as much? Well yes, in 1990. But that's a distant memory.
And don't I love beating Richmond now. I won't rake over the ashes of the Richmond fire. It's out. There's nothing but cold ashes. Richmond are done. Let's move on to Brisbane.
THE MAGPIES
Well, we have a ruck crisis. Three rucks down for the foreseeable future. We're going to have to get creative says McRae. Ain't that the truth. There isn't a great solution but I think this is the most likely scenario: McStay plays in the ruck, helped by Johnson, while Mihocek goes back to being our key forward supported by a group of smaller types: Johnson when he's not rucking, McInnis and/or Wilson as tallish flankers, and maybe De Goey pinch-hitting if required. It's cobbled together, but it will still be dynamic and destructive. A month of that and with any luck we'll have a ruckman to come back and fill the hole -- Begg or Cox most likely.
The Lions
I used to hate this crew, as the memory of 2002/2003 lingered. Back in 2003 - from memory -- we played them in an earlier final. I watched Didak kick close to the winning goal. The cheers went up! I looked across the crowd to see a blonde girl looking back. Five minutes later she came over and asked me out. A couple of weeks later we were smashed in the grand final. I never called the girl back. Lost opportunities.
But 20 years of mediocrity has made me soften toward the Lions. Half our coaches come from that cohort of Lions, so now I just hate Voss. And I always will. The current team are talented and fragile as a flower. At the Gabba they're dangerous. Elsewhere they're flaky. Their key forwards don't impose, their backline is leaky, their midfield overrated. The problem is they're a bit like a power switch - either on or off. What will we get this week?
The Washup
I rate this as a danger game. With our ruck problems, our structure is going to be thrown out. The Lions are at home, where they are 50% better than away. It'll be close. We might struggle to put them away, but even with our issues, we're the best team in the land at the moment.
Pies by 5 points!
And don't I love beating Richmond now. I won't rake over the ashes of the Richmond fire. It's out. There's nothing but cold ashes. Richmond are done. Let's move on to Brisbane.
THE MAGPIES
Well, we have a ruck crisis. Three rucks down for the foreseeable future. We're going to have to get creative says McRae. Ain't that the truth. There isn't a great solution but I think this is the most likely scenario: McStay plays in the ruck, helped by Johnson, while Mihocek goes back to being our key forward supported by a group of smaller types: Johnson when he's not rucking, McInnis and/or Wilson as tallish flankers, and maybe De Goey pinch-hitting if required. It's cobbled together, but it will still be dynamic and destructive. A month of that and with any luck we'll have a ruckman to come back and fill the hole -- Begg or Cox most likely.
The Lions
I used to hate this crew, as the memory of 2002/2003 lingered. Back in 2003 - from memory -- we played them in an earlier final. I watched Didak kick close to the winning goal. The cheers went up! I looked across the crowd to see a blonde girl looking back. Five minutes later she came over and asked me out. A couple of weeks later we were smashed in the grand final. I never called the girl back. Lost opportunities.
But 20 years of mediocrity has made me soften toward the Lions. Half our coaches come from that cohort of Lions, so now I just hate Voss. And I always will. The current team are talented and fragile as a flower. At the Gabba they're dangerous. Elsewhere they're flaky. Their key forwards don't impose, their backline is leaky, their midfield overrated. The problem is they're a bit like a power switch - either on or off. What will we get this week?
The Washup
I rate this as a danger game. With our ruck problems, our structure is going to be thrown out. The Lions are at home, where they are 50% better than away. It'll be close. We might struggle to put them away, but even with our issues, we're the best team in the land at the moment.
Pies by 5 points!
