- Mar 16, 2014
- 8,524
- 8,666
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
Back in the dark days when I could make it to live games every week, when I was fresh-faced and the world was young, we had one great opponent – the Brisbane Lions. They were led by a group of out-of-control pitbulls who needed to be put down: Lethal Leigh Matthews as the coach, who was forgiven because of 1990; Michael “I smashed Alan Richardson into the shadow realm and deserve to be Dennis Banksed” Voss; Jason “most annoying man in the world” Akermanis; Mal “I should have tried when I was at Collingwood” Michael; and many more. They pipped us in 2002. They smashed us in 2003. I thought I’d never forgive them. But 20 years of disappointment and I’ve forgiven the club. The players? Not so much. Voss still needs to be Dennis Banksed, metaphorically at least.
But my relationship to them this week is pragmatic. I actually think we would be better off with them finishing second. They then get two games at the Gabba and take out whoever is sent up there in the first week and the prelim. We then get them in the GF and they show again that they can’t play in Melbourne.
Well, the same goes for Port. They could finish second too and the same goes for their path.
At the same time, I want to make sure the Blues don’t finish top 4. They have to take the long way home and with any luck the attrition drives them into the ground. I hate the fact they’ve turned it around. They’re like the Nazis who escaped to Argentina after World War Two. There is no justice in this world. How dare they escape?!
What that means for us this week is simple though: we’re relying on the other teams to do their jobs properly and help us keep first spot and keep Carlton down. For us: we should aim to win, but we don’t need to be obsessed about winning. That is, if Sidebottom, De Goey, Noble are all sore, there’s no need to play them. Bring them back a week later.
Brisbane will be desperate to win though, and they throw a lot of challenges at us: the elite small forwards, their interceptor Andrews, their mobile tall forwards working way up the ground. There are plenty of challenges.
My take on selection, which is very unlikely given out coaches:
Out: Moore (inj), DeGoey (managed), Noble (managed),
In: Cox, Carmichael or Macrae, Bianco.
Frampton will play permanent back, Cox will help with the ruck since Cameron has been overall disappointing, Carmichael or Macrae to take DeGoey’s place, Bianco to play as the sub and come in on the wing or half-back.
What is likely is that DeGoey and Noble and Sidebottom will play, even with niggles. But that’s just judging on our coaches previous selection policy, which reminds me of the Matilda’s coach, Tony Gustavsonn – is he on the selection committee? Because he clearly believes in driving the best players into the ground. Don’t get me started on that Nigeria game.
Anyway, the Lions will be desperate, we will be a bit beaten up. We’re playing at Marvel so that’s an extra 3 goals to us.
The Washup
The Pies by 3 points as we just scrape over the line and the Lions stumble. We'll put them down like the rabid dogs they used to be, by the skin of our teeth.
But my relationship to them this week is pragmatic. I actually think we would be better off with them finishing second. They then get two games at the Gabba and take out whoever is sent up there in the first week and the prelim. We then get them in the GF and they show again that they can’t play in Melbourne.
Well, the same goes for Port. They could finish second too and the same goes for their path.
At the same time, I want to make sure the Blues don’t finish top 4. They have to take the long way home and with any luck the attrition drives them into the ground. I hate the fact they’ve turned it around. They’re like the Nazis who escaped to Argentina after World War Two. There is no justice in this world. How dare they escape?!
What that means for us this week is simple though: we’re relying on the other teams to do their jobs properly and help us keep first spot and keep Carlton down. For us: we should aim to win, but we don’t need to be obsessed about winning. That is, if Sidebottom, De Goey, Noble are all sore, there’s no need to play them. Bring them back a week later.
Brisbane will be desperate to win though, and they throw a lot of challenges at us: the elite small forwards, their interceptor Andrews, their mobile tall forwards working way up the ground. There are plenty of challenges.
My take on selection, which is very unlikely given out coaches:
Out: Moore (inj), DeGoey (managed), Noble (managed),
In: Cox, Carmichael or Macrae, Bianco.
Frampton will play permanent back, Cox will help with the ruck since Cameron has been overall disappointing, Carmichael or Macrae to take DeGoey’s place, Bianco to play as the sub and come in on the wing or half-back.
What is likely is that DeGoey and Noble and Sidebottom will play, even with niggles. But that’s just judging on our coaches previous selection policy, which reminds me of the Matilda’s coach, Tony Gustavsonn – is he on the selection committee? Because he clearly believes in driving the best players into the ground. Don’t get me started on that Nigeria game.
Anyway, the Lions will be desperate, we will be a bit beaten up. We’re playing at Marvel so that’s an extra 3 goals to us.
The Washup
The Pies by 3 points as we just scrape over the line and the Lions stumble. We'll put them down like the rabid dogs they used to be, by the skin of our teeth.
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