Game thoughts

[The Dawes]

That was a strange old game, you would think us Collingwood supporters would be fired up for it, but even the crowd seemed a little flat.

Even I, usually so mad at the footy, only got out of my seat twice, once for a Leon free kick that wasnt paid just before half time (that cost us 12 points) and once for Swanny kicking our goal of the match in the 3rd.

Apart from that, I was like MM and the players, FLAT.

You could see early we just weren't on, we had a crack after half time but when the doggies surged either side of 3/4 time we seemed reluctant to match their intensity.

The fact we were 1 point away from playing Geelong is annoying to say the least, but we are in the top 4, in a qualifying final for the first time in 6 years, and still a realistic contender for the premiership flag.

Today's game will be, and should be, forgotten by all, except for it exposed how Sidebottom should have played instead of J-Mac, and that Brad Dick is a huge worry going into September.

I'm not too upset over this loss, which shows how un important it really was in the long run.

Get ready for a Mick Malthouse first week of the finals special next week, I will be.

Matty, you have perfectly summarised my thoughts here.

On the face of it, it seems frustrating that we missed the chance to play Geelong, but they are no easybeats and the Dogs will know they've had a game next week at the G.

We are top 4, basically on level footing with St Kilda, who really get no advantage from finishing top. They will be favourites, but I have no doubt we can rise to the occasion. We will be happy not to have to play at Etihad again this year - the G suits us better and often brings out our best, but I feel we do need a couple of stronger bodies.

Yesterday's game is done and there really isn't any point dwelling on it.

Finals are almost the start of a new season, we wipe the slate clean and all start again from scratch. We have positioned ourselves for a real crack, it's up to us to see if we can capitalise on the opportunity we have.

 

[Snoop Dog]

wouldnt mind betting the extra day break isnt such a bad thing and Saints at the G will be more challenging for them than us. Mick also now knows who is up for the big games and who aint. Dick, Wellingham, Wood, Beams all struggling. Carke is a big call but we need his run to go around the saints and leigh brown for down back or in the ruck depending on whether wood is played. i would keep mccarthy over wellingham - wellingham did some silly things and jmac goes a lot harder.

 

[Quicky]

wouldnt mind betting the extra day break isnt such a bad thing and Saints at the G will be more challenging for them than us. Mick also now knows who is up for the big games and who aint. Dick, Wellingham, Wood, Beams all struggling. Carke is a big call but we need his run to go around the saints and leigh brown for down back or in the ruck depending on whether wood is played. i would keep mccarthy over wellingham - wellingham did some silly things and jmac goes a lot harder.

Wood was great in the ruck against the Dogs. Whenever he was rucking we won the hitouts and we usually won the clearance as a result. He had a few poor moments around the ground though - he was outmarked by a much smaller opponent on one occasion and was also soft in a tackling effort which lead to a goal. Regardless Wood is an absolute must in the ruck for us - we look so much better in the middle when he is rucking. No way should we bring in Leigh Brown to ruck - if at all it would have to be as a defender. Also Beams was a bit flat but i'd say this season he has mostly stood up when it counted. Agree about Wellingham and Dick.

 

[kevind]

Cloke to easily beaten by smaller oppenents for mine. When Morris is on Cloke and Lake is pantsing Anthony surely Anthony leading up and Cloke playing deep is the way to go. I know a couple of times when they tried that Lake zoned off in front of Cloke and let Anthony lead up but surely that creates a free man somewhere else.

It staggers me how many posters want to play Cloke deep. IMO his strength is running his opponents around and presenting for uncontested chest marks a la Chris Tarrant. And his weaknesses are winning contested ball and kicking for goal. If you agree with that, particularly the goal kicking, why in the hell would you want him playing deep????

 

[mdc]

It staggers me how many posters want to play Cloke deep. IMO his strength is running his opponents around and presenting for uncontested chest marks a la Chris Tarrant. And his weaknesses are winning contested ball and kicking for goal. If you agree with that, particularly the goal kicking, why in the hell would you want him playing deep????

If his opponent is of similar size, yes. But opposition coaches have long woken up to the fact that if you stick a quick mid-sized defender on him, he can be effectively shut down (since, unlike Tarrant, he has no burst of pace).

If you push him deep, then the mid-sized player has to play him body-on-body, and although Cloke's not great at this, his 10kg and 5cm advantage over most of his opponents becomes a factor.

Also, I'd point out his weakness is kicking in general, not just goal-kicking. I actually think his field kicking is worse. So if we have the choice of seeing him burn it from the wing, or missing half his set shots...I'd rather take the latter. It's just playing the percentages.

 

[kevind]

If his opponent is of similar size, yes. But opposition coaches have long woken up to the fact that if you stick a quick mid-sized defender on him, he can be effectively shut down (since, unlike Tarrant, he has no burst of pace).

If you push him deep, then the mid-sized player has to play him body-on-body, and although Cloke's not great at this, his 10kg and 5cm advantage over most of his opponents becomes a factor.

Also, I'd point out his weakness is kicking in general, not just goal-kicking. I actually think his field kicking is worse. So if we have the choice of seeing him burn it from the wing, or missing half his set shots...I'd rather take the latter. It's just playing the percentages.

Sorry mdc, I can't agree on that. IMO,few things are more harmful to the confidence of a side than continually missing easy shots on goal.

I also think he struggles to take contested marks against shorter opponents, so I wouldn't be over confident in putting him deep to take contested marks against anyone the other top 4 teams may choose to play on him.

 

[Strachuniee]

Wood was great in the ruck against the Dogs. Whenever he was rucking we won the hitouts and we usually won the clearance as a result. He had a few poor moments around the ground though - he was outmarked by a much smaller opponent on one occasion and was also soft in a tackling effort which lead to a goal. Regardless Wood is an absolute must in the ruck for us - we look so much better in the middle when he is rucking. No way should we bring in Leigh Brown to ruck - if at all it would have to be as a defender. Also Beams was a bit flat but i'd say this season he has mostly stood up when it counted. Agree about Wellingham and Dick.

Yep i definitely agree. We looked far more damaging when wood was in the ruck than fraser. If we were to play only one ruckman next week (which hopefully will not happen), fraser would be more deserving of being dropped.
I personally would prefer to see josh stretch the st.kilda's defence and provide relief to wood in the ruck

 

[Brent24]

I thought Wood had a better game than Fraser, neither were good though. Not sure Wellingham and Dick are ready for finals football, Wellingham is still a little lazy/soft at times but is improving. If it wasn't week 1 of the finals coming up, Medhurst would be extremely close to being dropped. I'm not too worried about the loss, I honestly believe we were playing for next week. That said, I fear the Dogs more than any other side this season.
Pendlebury out was huge, we were destroyed in the clearances. We still would have been beaten, but a great deal more competitive. I also don't like Didak being around stoppages, he's a poor clearance player and he's not half as dangerous or creative.

On the plus side, the spotlight is off us.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I think Cloke does particularly well pushing up the ground and then leading back toward goal. Leading out of the goalsquare however, is not his thing.

 

[Optimax]

I think Cloke does particularly well pushing up the ground and then leading back toward goal. Leading out of the goalsquare however, is not his thing.

He does the carey role well, except for conversion. He wouldbe perfect if he could get his conversion somewhere near 60%

 

[Dylz48]

I thought MM experimented a lot we handballed more then ussual we pushed up a lot into our own forward line and played the zone at kick-ins. Overall it was a very strange game.