How do we compare to 2018?

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Adam Treloar first emergency?

It’s tough to get into Collingwoods best22

 

[Toecrusher]

It's a good subject. My recollection of last year, was we were playing as a united team better than this year, but looking at the 2018 results, maybe we didn't really click until the finals started.

Ultimately injuries and how well we play as a cohesive team will make or break us.

Bring on the finals, I'm ready.

 

[Boris the Contradiction]

Similar position ladder wise. Better list position.

We went into last year's finals series with the worst record against the other top 8 teams. We go into this finals series with the best record against the other top 8 teams.

Last year we played our first final against WCE in Perth and had to fly back for a final in week 2. This season we start our finals series at the MCG and will likely stay there, with an interstate final only being possible in week 3 of the finals.

We're definitely in better shape this year.

Bring it on.

 

[Go Woods]

With the addition of Roughy, and Moore, Elliot, Scharenberg and Wells can remain fit and available throughout the finals series (didn’t have them in 2018) and we don’t get any further injuries, going into 2019 series we are really only missing Sire (Wills) Cox (might get Reid back) & Langdon (Moore & Shaz) I think we can still go all the way.

 

[manicmagpie]

Keep saying it, but last year we couldn’t beat the top sides, whereas this year we can.

2018: 1 win from 8 attempts against the top 8 sides. After finals improved to 3 from 12.
2019: 7 wins from 11 games including beating Brisbane, WC and Richmond at their specialist venues.

Our only possible travel during the finals will be to a venue where we haven’t lost in 9 years.

There is no reason we can’t go one step further than last year!

 

[Black_White]

Our Achilles is no different in 2019 than it was in 2018.
Defence.
We can still be split open and get scored heavily against out the back.
Our only combat to this issue seems to rely on our forward half scoring.
But we know by experience that we need a lot more F50 entries to make a score count.
That reliance in massive F50 thrusts and our poor conversion rate puts us on the back foot.
Would seriously not be shocked with a straight sets out in 2019.
Hoping not, but I don’t feel we are in the same position that we were in 2019.

 

[Moore of the Same]

Our Achilles is no different in 2019 than it was in 2018.
Defence.
We can still be split open and get scored heavily against out the back.
Our only combat to this issue seems to rely on our forward half scoring.
But we know by experience that we need a lot more F50 entries to make a score count.
That reliance in massive F50 thrusts and our poor conversion rate puts us on the back foot.
Would seriously not be shocked with a straight sets out in 2019.
Hoping not, but I don’t feel we are in the same position that we were in 2019.

Whilst it's true that we can still get cut up from quick ball movement, our defense this year is the foundation of our success. We have defended magnificently all season, particularly with our starting back six.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

You think he's as good as Langdon right now?

I think he’s a great replacement and we haven’t lost much if anything with Langdon out. What we miss with his intercept marking is covered by getting Moore back. Shaz is probably a better one on one defender and is surer with disposal than Langdon. Whilst it would be preferable that we had both of them to choose from it’s at least comforting that one has come back in time to replace the other.

Let me put it another way. We’d be a far weaker side with both of them out.

 

[mocamagic]

Howe is a key player for me. Overall he hasn't had a great year but the last few weeks he has been almost back to his best.
The injury he was carrying in the GF had a major impact on how the last quarter played out.

 

[Thatsmyname]

2018:
Crisp Goldsack Greenwood
Howe Langdon Maynard

Grundy Treloar Pendlebury
Phillips Adams Sidebottom

Mihocek WHE Stevo
De Goey Cox Thomas

Int:
Sier Aish Varcoe Mayne




2019:
Crisp Roughead Maynard
Howe Moore Scharenberg

Grundy Treloar Pendlebury
Phillips Adams Sidebottom

WHE Mihocek Stephenson
Elliott De Goey Thomas

Int:
Wills Mayne Brown Greenwood

23rd:
Varcoe


???:
Wells Sier Aish Reid

 

[Aishole]

I reckon our September list is looking pretty good compared to last September. Player by player in no particular order.....

Grundy. improved
Pendlebury. Improved. Last year he was suffering from injury niggles
Treloar. Improved after playing at 50 percent last September after recovering from a double hammy
Adams. Break even. Fully recovered from injury and back to last years form
Sidebottom backwards but last month has been 2018 standard
Phillips break even
De Goey. Break even. Injury struggles both years
Elliott. Improved. On the park!
Stevo. Backwards due to enforced holiday but potential to play at his best in September
Cox. Backwards
Hoskin Elliott backwards
Thomas backwards but starting to hit 2018 form
Mihocek improved
Varcoe backwards
Brown improved
Langdon. replaced by Shaz.... net break even
Maynard improved
Mayne break even
Greenwood break even
Crisp improved
Roughead new but great asset
Moore on the park so has to be an improvement
Howe break even
Sier replaced by Wills so slightly backwards but not much

Overall our list is in better form than it was last year. It doesn’t mean much of course but you’d rather be in better form than not at the business end of the season!!!!

Go pies

Schaz replacing Langdon is not a break even... i believe in Schaz, but he isn’t langdon just yet.

Langdon was our best player in finals last year. Replacing him with Schaz is a loss as far as im concerned

 

[Aishole]

Our Achilles is no different in 2019 than it was in 2018.
Defence.
We can still be split open and get scored heavily against out the back.
Our only combat to this issue seems to rely on our forward half scoring.
But we know by experience that we need a lot more F50 entries to make a score count.
That reliance in massive F50 thrusts and our poor conversion rate puts us on the back foot.
Would seriously not be shocked with a straight sets out in 2019.
Hoping not, but I don’t feel we are in the same position that we were in 2019.

Wait our Achilles heel is our defence... you mean that defence that is ranked 2nd in the League?

Right...

Our defence is the backbone of this team. The midfield has had its struggles, as has the forward line, a lot due to injuries. The backline is the only line that has performed well as a unit across the year, even with a few key injuries.

 

[GemPies95]

Adam Treloar first emergency?

Jeez, My bad. Maybe JT Comes out, Sidey plays half forward and Treloar slots into that midfield with ease.

My concern is leaving Trav out, he showed last year his importance in a finals side. He doesn't do a lot, but he has special moments that make a big difference

 

[jathanas]

I am surprised to see how little recognition Langdon is getting for his 2018 finals series. In my view Shaz would have to play at 130% to compensate for his loss (I hope he does).

 

[TradeDraft]

Whilst it's true that we can still get cut up from quick ball movement, our defense this year is the foundation of our success. We have defended magnificently all season, particularly with our starting back six.

Our Backline is a Huge Reason along with Grundy why we made the Top 4. I say our Backline was better then last year

 

[TradeDraft]

I am surprised to see how little recognition Langdon is getting for his 2018 finals series. In my view Shaz would have to play at 130% to compensate for his loss (I hope he does).

So Landon out has Cost us any Chance at the Flag Then?

 

[Boris the Contradiction]

I am surprised to see how little recognition Langdon is getting for his 2018 finals series. In my view Shaz would have to play at 130% to compensate for his loss (I hope he does).

He was the best player on the ground in the Grand Final. By a distance.

 

[jathanas]

So Landon out has Cost us any Chance at the Flag Then?

Every year brings opportunities for new heroes to rise Dave. Who knows, Shaz might play out of his skin and wouldn't that be an amazing story in itself?

 

[NonPhixion]

Our Achilles is no different in 2019 than it was in 2018.
Defence.
We can still be split open and get scored heavily against out the back.
Our only combat to this issue seems to rely on our forward half scoring.
But we know by experience that we need a lot more F50 entries to make a score count.
That reliance in massive F50 thrusts and our poor conversion rate puts us on the back foot.
Would seriously not be shocked with a straight sets out in 2019.
Hoping not, but I don’t feel we are in the same position that we were in 2019.

I have to disagree. Our defence is pretty underrated, it’s our best asset imo. Midfield can be inconsistent and forward line has suffered from lack of continuity.

 

[Thatsmyname]

Key backs 2018: Goldsack Langdon
Key Backs 2019: Roughead Moore

Two genuine key positions over two mediums if you go small in the forwardline

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I am surprised to see how little recognition Langdon is getting for his 2018 finals series. In my view Shaz would have to play at 130% to compensate for his loss (I hope he does).

Moore in for his intercept contested marking compensates for Langdon as well.

Moore and Shaz = Goldsack and Langdon

 

[60 Yards Out]

and Langdon Overrated

Very good player. In our best in finals last year.

 

[DaVe86]

I reckon we are in exactly the same position as last year. No better no worse. We just need to hope that we can bring our best footy in the finals like we did last year.

I think the list is in good shape if Moore is fit. The additions of Elliott, Moore and Roughead to our side from last year make a big difference, but losing Cox, Sier and Langdon pretty much balances that out. But I still think the ins are better than the outs.

Treloar is also fitter, as is Pendlebury. Grundy has improved.

I think the main difference is expectation. Last year, we were not expected to challenge, so it made the year seem so much better. We've been basically identical this year, but with more expectation. So it makes some of our performances stand out more.

Ultimately, all that matters now is how we perform in finals. The H&A season is about mere qualification. Playing Geelong at the MCG makes our 4th place finish as good as 1st or 2nd. We get an MCG first final. So we have qualified in perfect position. But it all counts for nothing because we need to play a lot better than we have in the 2nd half of the year.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I reckon we are in exactly the same position as last year. No better no worse. We just need to hope that we can bring our best footy in the finals like we did last year.

I think the list is in good shape if Moore is fit. The additions of Elliott, Moore and Roughead to our side from last year make a big difference, but losing Cox, Sier and Langdon pretty much balances that out. But I still think the ins are better than the outs.

Treloar is also fitter, as is Pendlebury. Grundy has improved.

I think the main difference is expectation. Last year, we were not expected to challenge, so it made the year seem so much better. We've been basically identical this year, but with more expectation. So it makes some of our performances stand out more.

Ultimately, all that matters now is how we perform in finals. The H&A season is about mere qualification. Playing Geelong at the MCG makes our 4th place finish as good as 1st or 2nd. We get an MCG first final. So we have qualified in perfect position. But it all counts for nothing because we need to play a lot better than we have in the 2nd half of the year.

I reckon you have contradicted yourself here.

You say the ins are better than the outs
You say Treloar and Pendlebury are fitter
You say Grundy is better
And you say and MCG QF puts us in a perfect position

And your only downsides are intangibles like expectations and needing to play well in finals. That and “it’s all about qualifying” combined with “we need to play better than we have in the second half of the season”.

Appreciate you’re keeping a lid on it but I also reckon you’ve got your hand on it!!!!

 

[60 Yards Out]

So Landon out has Cost us any Chance at the Flag Then?

Not what he said.