How impressive are Collingwood?

[Bardo State]

2011, my bad.

Yes 2011, the year where Collingwood went into a prelim final as near un-backable favourites and escaped by the skin of their teeth. A great example of how Collingwood get pandered to by the media because it gets ratings.

 

[fine wines]

Im quite happy to hand Bucks an extension now, if it hasn't been done already. The man can coach and there is no doubt we are heading in the right direction whilst rebuilding on the fly

Adelaide might say something about that but that being said Collingwood get a nice draw and play 17 out of 22 in Melbourne which leads to the problem that come finals time they haven't been really tested.

 

[Max Hardcore]

Yes 2011, the year where Collingwood went into a prelim final as near un-backable favourites and escaped by the skin of their teeth. A great example of how Collingwood get pandered to by the media because it gets ratings.

Yeah our % of 180 and our 2 loses for the year were very ordinary.

 

[Bardo State]

Adelaide might say something about that but that being said Collingwood get a nice draw and play 17 out of 22 in Melbourne which leads to the problem that come finals time they haven't been really tested.

Silly argument. 5 interstate trips is about the norm for Victorian based sides. Balances out with not having a distinct interstate advantage for the majority of home games.

 

[Bardo State]

Yeah our % of 180 and our 2 loses for the year were very ordinary.

Was a very uneven year. Geelong had only lost 3 games, Hawthorn only 4.

 

[OK Computer]

Given Pies have finished top four in five of the past seven years, why should we be aiming for and expecting anything less?

because you have to be realistic

 

[Fadge]

because you have to be realistic

Suggest you're one of 'those' who have also been writing off Geelong every year for the past four years...

 

[SuperSub17]

Adelaide might say something about that but that being said Collingwood get a nice draw and play 17 out of 22 in Melbourne which leads to the problem that come finals time they haven't been really tested.

And of these 17 games we only get a home state advantage in 5 of them, and are forced to play two home games at Etihad. Meanwhile interstate sides get 10 home games with distinct home ground advantages.

Sick to death of the fixture debates, it all ultimately evens out.

 

[OK Computer]

Suggest you're one of 'those' who have also been writing off Geelong every year for the past four years...

i rated Geelong highly before we smashed them, the way i see it is
Syd - Hawks are clearly the best teams
Port - Freo next best
Geelong
---------------premiership window
Collingwood
the rest

 

[Fadge]

i rated Geelong highly before we smashed them, the way i see it is
Syd - Hawks are clearly the best teams
Port - Freo next best
Geelong
---------------premiership window
Collingwood
the rest

I had Sydney in 2012 where you have Collingwood This year. Anything can happen if you hit the top four with a healthy list and momentum.

 

[OK Computer]

I had Sydney in 2012 where you have Collingwood This year. Anything can happen if you hit the top four with a healthy list and momentum.

Sydney were comfortably in the four and even were first for a half dozen weeks with the best percentage in the game, not even comparably
you had Sydney in that position cause you dont like them, i have Collingwood there because ive seen them play and theyre not good enough

 

[Fadge]

Sydney were comfortably in the four and even were first for a half dozen weeks with the best percentage in the game, not even comparably
you had Sydney in that position cause you dont like them, i have Collingwood there because ive seen them play and theyre not good enough

Clearly someone who struggles to differentiate between fact and opinion...

 

[OK Computer]

Clearly someone who struggles to differentiate between fact and opinion...

sydneys ladder progression and percentage in 2012 is a fact. my rating of Collingwood this year isnt, nor did i ever claim it was, but theres still a huge degree of objectivity when discussing something like sports

 

[No SPIN]

iroonic that swans supporters are so confident in beating COLL to whom they have lost 15 of the last 18 meetings.
And beating an injury devastated team on their third consecutive 6 day break, while the Swans come off the bye, is heralded as the turning point that will lead to a flag.

I doubt Longmire has these delusions.

 

[Fadge]

iroonic that swans supporters are so confident in beating COLL to whom they have lost 15 of the last 18 meetings.
And beating an injury devastated team on their third consecutive 6 day break, while the Swans come off the bye, is heralded as the turning point that will lead to a flag.

I doubt Longmire has these delusions.

You're clearly lacking in comprehension skills.

Even though we've beaten Sydney in 15 of our last 18 encounters including our past two matches, there's no way we'd get anywhere near them if we were to play them NOW...

 

[Gone Critical]

Sydney were comfortably in the four and even were first for a half dozen weeks with the best percentage in the game, not even comparably
you had Sydney in that position cause you dont like them, i have Collingwood there because ive seen them play and theyre not good enough

After 9 games in 2012 Sydney were sitting around 6thor 7th on the ladder. They were not among the flag favs. They are a good example of how fortunes can change quickly. Likewise Collingwood entered 2010 far from a serious challenger and by the time we were beaten by the Saints early in the season and MM had his famous Milne incident many considered the flag a distant dream. Geelong entered 2011 as a team who had been belted out of the previous finals series by the Pies and were considered a fading star. All these impressions proved false

 

[Gone Critical]

I have been plugging Collingwood as a top 4 chance since the year started. Our progress to this point is no surprise. We are not the inexperienced side many make us out to be. 2013 was the year we played the kids by necessity. Jolly, Dids, Krak, Daisy etc all faded and we had a big injury list Beams, Fasolo, Keefe, Young, Ball, Toovey all missed big parts of the year. We had 8 debutants. And 12 players who as a group had played around 40ish games of AFL between them when the season started played over 25% of the total games played in 2013.

2014 is much more experienced and promising group. We have had 1 debutant this year. Many of last years debutants are back in the VFL developing their game as spots in the senior team have been much harder to come by with Beams Toovey Fasolo Ball Keefe and Yonug all back and fit. Kennedy, Dwyer, Oxley, Martin etc might be good players later but have become depth alone this year. We have around 14 premiership players who are regulars in the 22 and most of the rest have significant finals experience. Ruck is clearly our weakness in 2014

We should improve more as Reid and Seedsman settle into the 2014 seniors. We have been a regular top 4 teams for many years and still have the nucleus of that group. We have some good kids coming. We had a very bad year in 2013 when we were at our weakest and finished the end of the home and away in 6th and played poorly in the finals. That was clearly our low point. Logical assessment dictates we should improve from 2013 and that is what is happening in 2014. We are not guaranteed top 4 but I can't see why anyone would believe it's not a reasonable chance this year.

 

[Mateyman]

Odd, you act like they were somewhat deserved.

I will not fear Collingwood so long as they continue to run with a midfield that struggles to hit a target against the good sides, a backline that struggles immensely against any player sub 190cm and a forwardline with only two genuine outlets. Collingwood will make the 8 but talk of a prelim is fanciful.

I hope the Hawks go into our game thinking that . Unfortunately I doubt they will.

 

[Bardo State]

I hope the Hawks go into our game thinking that . Unfortunately I doubt they will.

It's worked well in recent years

 

[Mateyman]

It's worked well in recent years

Probably because they don't actually believe that.

 

[Bardo State]

Probably because they don't actually believe that.

You don't think Hawthorn have exploited Collingwood's poor small/medium defenders in recent matches? It's been a major factor.

 

[Art Corvelay]

You don't think Hawthorn have exploited Collingwood's poor small/medium defenders in recent matches? It's been a major factor.

Buddy has killed us and you've opened us up on the counter attack, as we always pick out your loose man in defence when going forward. My dream is one day we actually man up that loose man (normally Hodge)

 

[Bardo State]

Buddy has killed us and you've opened us up on the counter attack, as we always pick out your loose man in defence when going forward. My dream is one day we actually man up that loose man (normally Hodge)

We haven't played a loose man since 2011. But when you have limited threatening scoring outlets, it makes it much easier to zone off and provide an extra in the contest.

 

[bradrowe#32]

Hawthorn are flying at the moment. Absolutely miles in front of anyone.

 

[Mateyman]

You don't think Hawthorn have exploited Collingwood's poor small/medium defenders in recent matches? It's been a major factor.

We don't have a problem with forwards under 190cm particularly anymore. Riloi and Breust combined for a massive 2 goals last time we played Hawthorn. Toovey/Williams/Sinclair can handle the smalls fine.