First nine rounds

[magpie_militia]

I'd like to see what the Collingwood boys think about their own draw which looks as tough as Carlton's draw.

Here goes:

R1/Western Bulldogs - LOSS
R2/Melbourne - WIN
R3/St Kilda - 50/50
R4/Hawthorn - LOSS
R5/Essendon - WIN
R6/Carlton - WIN
R7/North Melbourne - WIN
R8/Freemantle [interstate]- WIN
R9/Geelong - LOSS

So, 5/4 or 6/3 imo.

What do you have us at?

 

[The Toad]

Here goes:

R1/Western Bulldogs - LOSS
R2/Melbourne - WIN
R3/St Kilda - LOSS
R4/Hawthorn - LOSS
R5/Essendon - WIN
R6/Carlton - LOSS
R7/North Melbourne - WIN
R8/Freemantle [interstate]- WIN
R9/Geelong - LOSS

So, 5/4 or 6/3 imo.

What do you have us at?

Only 2 I disagree with.

 

[mediumsizered]

Here goes:

R1/Western Bulldogs - LOSS
R2/Melbourne - WIN
R3/St Kilda - 50/50
R4/Hawthorn - LOSS
R5/Essendon - WIN
R6/Carlton - WIN
R7/North Melbourne - WIN
R8/Freemantle [interstate]- WIN
R9/Geelong - LOSS

So, 5/4 or 6/3 imo.

What do you have us at?

Losses against Carlton & Essendon, as occurred in the first half of last season, could see Collingwood sitting on 3-6.

 

[BlueGibbs2011]

I'm sick of these opposition supporters coming in and basically without saying they are slagging us off. They all seem to be talking as essendon are better and will make the 8 at our expense. Lloyd gone, lucas gone, mcphee, lovett gone, fletcher an old man in footy terms and an unsettled squad due to in house problems as we are led to believe. Lloyd staged and sucked in umps all the time, lovett always killed us and he was the standout who did that all the time. They will be bottom four you would say unless some other teams are even worse. The teams we play in the first nine weeks we performed admirably against and beat most of them or pushed them to a kick or so and some are dropping a bit...your cats, collingwood (nothing special anyway), and port we can beat(cant improve a list significantly in one year-but i'm sure cam cloke will rip us a beauty). Come on, get real everyone, i can understand some of your talk but you basically sound as if you are labelling us a bottom four club now. If egos dont get in the way we will have a better season than last because our team is better, fitter, stronger, more matured despite losing some class up top which we can deal with eventually( by the way he's 29)

You can't just look at the player list when determining how we might fair. Pre Brisbane's triple premiership, it was all about building a quality list and winning. That has changed incredibly as game/team strategy has become increasingly the new way to get an advantage. Game/team strategy will be the biggest change factor over the next decade. Bombers didn't beat us on list quality in 2009...they beat us on tactics. Adelaide aren't a 12 goal + better side than us on paper...they are 12+ goals better than us based on game day tactics. Adelaide can also run multiple scenarios...Blues can't.

If we go 50/50 with a lot of other sides based on player personnel, that is only half the story now. Judd can be negated easily in quite a few games (Sydney/Adelaide/Bumbers etc). The bit you have to work out going forward is how you rate the other half which is game strategy development. Right now we have a coach learning the caper..a smart guy, but learning the caper. Has he set himself up with brilliant strategists, or safe options in Harvey and Riley etc. I personally don't know but 2010 will go some way to prove one way or the other.

We definitely have time on our side with a young team and coach.

In regard to Essendon, it might get to the stage where it doesnt so much matter who they put out on the field but more how the Bombers play versus us. Same with Adelaide. Except for rare exceptions, most clubs you might rank between 5th-12th might all rank 6-7/10 on player list. It is not that much of a difference.

 

[magpie_militia]

Losses against Carlton & Essendon, as occurred in the first half of last season, could see Collingwood sitting on 3-6.

As always, injuries and luck will play a major factor. We were unlucky against the Bombers (Bloody Zaharakis), and we were quite undermanned against your boys (not that that is any real excuse). I do think the Bombers will be a rubbish team this year though.

Who knows, the Blues and Pies might both be 5-0 when we play?

Can't wait for footy to return!

 

[Weiterbot23]

Mentioning top 4 is a pipedream. It's not that we don't have quality all over the park, it is the fact that we haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan. We also haven't honed the new post-Fev match plan against different opposition styles (Bombers all out run, and Adelaide's HB counter attacks, others etc).

2010 will bring some crazy wins and some unbearable games to watch. If we are lucky (get on a roll and no injuries) we can finish 5-8th. I suspect we'll bombard a misfiring/developing forward line in most games and finish 8-10th.

A lot of supporters think that others will step straight in to carry Fev's load and make us less one-dimensional. I think these thinkers may be in for a shock. The focus on Fev might have allowed an average player like Betts to look better than he actually is. Without 2-3 defenders going to Fev, each forward will have to win their own ball continually and that requires quality and/or game experience. Hendo and Yarran have the pedigree but not the games. Betts, Houla, and Russell have the experience but not the pedigree without a Fev (dragging defenders) to be consistent winners.

2011 will be a different story hopefully.

PS
For all the supporters saying you cant have enough quality midfielders over drafting a needed tall, 2010 will show a little about whether they know what they are talking about

Worst post of 2010

 

[Malifice]

I do think the Bombers will be a rubbish team this year though.

Agree. Likely be fighting it out for the spoon with Richmond and a few others.

FWIW I expect the Albino to get the sack not long after he has finished destroying the morale of the place and ruining the list... at a guess sometime after round 6 2011 when (after a dismal 2010 consisting of a bottom 4 finish and more rumors of player revolts) the Dons suffer their 6th straight defeat while simultaneously providing GC17 with their first AFL win.

Back on topic, Im actually feeling a lot more comfortable with our first 9 games of 2010 than I was at the end of last year. We are a better team that Richmond, Port and the Dons, should win one of the two 50/50 games against Collingwood and Brisbane, and should win one of the four games vs Adelaide, Saints, Geelong and Hawthorn.

Thats 5 and 4 from 9. Well placed after round 9 for a top 8 finish and a likely home final this year.

Well... as well placed as you can be at round 9 in any event.

 

[Ytoojae]

R1/Western Bulldogs
R2/Melbourne
R3/St Kilda
R4/Hawthorn
R5/Essendon
R6/Carlton
R7/North Melbourne
R8/Freemantle [interstate]
R9/Geelong

They'll beat the Bulldogs (who'll have an adjustment period with Hall coming into the side), Melbourne, Essendon, probably beat us, North Melbourne, perhaps Fremantle (though that is a danger game) and they'll want to avenge the embarrassing loss to Geelong in the Finals from last year. However, teams generally don't play too well after playing a tough one in WA so they'll probably lose a game that they should be up for.

I'm predicting Collingwood to start 6 and 3. They'll definitely lose to St Kilda and they don't play well against Hawthorn. I'll stick with them splitting the Fremantle/Geelong games with the others being wins.

 

[joxstrap]

Don't you love the negativity that this thread has encouraged including a couple of Collingwood tipsters adding their expert comments.

I'd like to see what the Collingwood boys think about their own draw which looks as tough as Carlton's draw.

R1/Western Bulldogs
R2/Melbourne
R3/St Kilda
R4/Hawthorn
R5/Essendon
R6/Carlton
R7/North Melbourne
R8/Freemantle [interstate]
R9/Geelong

The next two rounds Brisbane at the Gabba and Western Bulldogs.

As for the Carlton supporters talking down our chances - shame on you. I've gone to the footy and listened to you lot complain for years. So it's not surprising you like to have a whinge on here as well.

It's OK to have a variety of opinions I would have thought. Personally I think you blokes are assembling the makings of a very good team in the future, I just think it's probably going to provide success (in terms of a good run at the finals) next year or in 2012 not this year. Your first 9 games are really difficult that's all I'm saying, not that you are crap. The fact is you are playing really good teams during an adjustment period for your club. One way or another they will be hard games.

You have heaps of winnable games in the second half of the season, with quite a few periods where you should win multiple games in a row.

As for our draw, it's bloody hard too.

I see it as:


R1/Western Bulldogs LOSS
R2/Melbourne WIN
R3/St Kilda LOSS
R4/Hawthorn LOSS
R5/Essendon WIN
R6/Carlton WIN
R7/North Melbourne WIN
R8/Freemantle [interstate] WIN
R9/Geelong LOSS

That's attempting to be as neutral as possible. I think we can certainly win the Dogs game, and could jag one of the Geelong/St. Kilda games if everything goes our way. Hawthorn I expect to beat us 8/10 times. You blokes could easily beat us, as could Essendon if they turn up.

4-5 or 5-4 start for mine.

 

[shell23]

R1/Richmond WIN
R2/Brisbane 50/50 (Interstate)
R3/Essendon WIN
R4/Adelaide LOSS (Interstate)
R5/Geelong LOSS
R6/Collingwood 50/50
R7/St Kilda LOSS
R8/Port Adelaide WIN
R9/Hawthorn Loss

R10/West Coast WIN
R11/Melbourne WIN
R12/North Melbourne WIN
R13/Fremantle WIN
R14/Brisbane 50/50
R15/Western Bulldogs 50/50 (normally match up well)
R16/Sydney WIN
R17/West Coast WIN (Interstate)
R18/Collingwood 50/50
R19/Essendon WIN
R20/Richmond WIN
R21/Geelong LOSS
R22/Fremantle WIN (Interstate)

12 WIN - 5 50/50 - 5 LOSS

 

[chaser1]

Look as avid blues man i am looking at it objectively. We in reality have a very hard draw, first nine. we have no JUDD, possibly walker and Betts for the first 2 to3 rounds.

We have not replaced Fevola, and are hoping that this new GAME PLAN which is going to be delivered by our coaching staff, will invent new goalkickers spreading out the load more. We are HOPING that this will happen, but we have pontential in doing this and reality is different to potential.

Yes with another year under their belt natural inprovemnet should happen, but this applies to 15 other teams also. Also factor in injuries which all clubs get, that adds another dimension to it. The loss of Fevola and Stevens is huge in terms of experience lost, the gain of Waite cancels this out of bit.

The way i see it the younger ones have to step up big time.Are they capable time will tell. Objectively i can see us being 2 and 7, season over.

More likely 3 and 6 or 4 and 5 !!! This year will show us what RATTEN and co are made off . I see us missing the eight perhaps finishing 9 to 12 , this will depend on the START we have , injuries to key players and how quckly our group develop the NEW game plan being devised by the top BRASS!

 

[HBF]

Losses against Carlton & Essendon, as occurred in the first half of last season, could see Collingwood sitting on 3-6.

They'll lose to St.Kilda as well. Collingwood don't do well against teams that have tall forwards, which is why Hawthorn always do well against them.

 

[Robbo's my hero]

Good to see the Collingwood experts analyzing its draw. At this time of the year it's impossible to predict results. The obvious point for both teams is that a poor start is possible. Collingwood recovered from a poor start in 2009 and got to the 3rd week of the finals. The gap in talent when it played Geelong was stark. A similar start to 2010 will hurt given the difficulty of the draw. Collingwood's draw is a tough ask this season. I'd say 5/4 is probable. 6/3 or better would be great. 4/5 and your unlikely to make it as far as last year. Carlton's draw is not as tough and looking at the draw I think 11 wins for the season is a good chance. I'm not sure whether a team will make the finals with 11 wins but I'm not predicting doom and gloom for the season. If we get a couple of goals improvement from our backline we could win a couple of more and make the finals. It's all hypothetical.

 

[zeeCFC]

ahh thanks njac, was looking for the list of first 9 games. Here's how i see it:

Richmond - WIN
Brisbane - WIN (They've had a powerful forward line before when we've beat them 2 out of 3 times, factor in our much stronger midfield aswell)

Essendon - 50/50 (God I hope we win)
Adelaide - LOSS
Geelong - LOSS or 50/50
Collingwood - 50/50
St Kilda - LOSS
Port - WIN
Hawks - 50/50

I can see us getting 5 or even 6 wins

Hmm sort of different from how I thought we'd get there. But we are well on our way to 5 or 6 from this tough 9 rounds

revised:

R1/Richmond WIN
R2/Brisbane LOSS
R3/Essendon LOSS
R4/Adelaide WIN (Interstate)
R5/Geelong WIN
R6/Collingwood LOSS
R7/St Kilda WIN
R8/Port Adelaide WIN
R9/Hawthorn WIN

R10/West Coast WIN
R11/Melbourne WIN
R12/North Melbourne WIN
R13/Fremantle LOSS
R14/Brisbane WIN
R15/Western Bulldogs LOSS
R16/Sydney LOSS
R17/West Coast WIN (Interstate)
R18/Collingwood LOSS
R19/Essendon WIN
R20/Richmond WIN
R21/Geelong LOSS
R22/Fremantle LOSS (Interstate)

13 FROM 22 ROUNDS - THIS IS OUR PASS MARK IMO

 

[BlueYoss]

You're forgetting that the Doggies are our bitches.

 

[invinciBlues]

It's the hardest start to a season i can remember.........I'm looking forward to seeing what the lads are made of.......

Results are in:

[imghttp://randall120.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/blue-steel2.jpg[/img]

 

[zeeCFC]

Yeah i took into consideration that they'll be pumped to beat us, much like Geelong later in the year

 

[BlueYoss]

Richmond will no doubt be pumped to beat us too, won't influence the result though.

 

[zeeCFC]

Tigers =/= Doggies

If i picked every game on potential output, we'd win every game

 

[ESKIE]

Like I have been telling people for months now, get ready for the bottom four. Shit administrators at our club.

Hey butchy boy, you must be feeling so ecstatic to absolutely wrong !!

 

[blujoejoe]

Really good to be in this position after round 7. But although we've had some fantastic wins, we've dropped games we shouldn't have. I think we can keep getting better though, with the return of Judd, and the continued gelling of our forwardline To really capitalise on the wins against Geelong and St Kilda, we need to win the games we should win, eg: Port, West Coast, etc.

 

[Koutafidamedis]

You're forgetting that the Doggies are our bitches.

Your forgetting that we're St.Kilda's bitches.

I would never pencil in a win or a loss just because of previous meetings.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Really good to be in this position after round 7. But although we've had some fantastic wins, we've dropped games we shouldn't have. I think we can keep getting better though, with the return of Judd, and the continued gelling of our forwardline To really capitalise on the wins against Geelong and St Kilda, we need to win the games we should win, eg: Port, West Coast, etc.

Dropped one game we 'shouldn't have' and won two we 'shouldn't have'.

I know which I'd take over beating our two rivals and beating the two previous grand finalists.

Essendon are still on the revenge list.

 

[Malifice]

Essendon are still on the revenge list.

This.

Just... this.