Last quarters no can't be ignored

[rose jam]

They have been freaking horrible all year, probably only won 1 this year (Carlscum game). Everyone knew that the dogs can flick a switch and kick fast ones if you turn off early enough.
Do we really need to be 40 points up to make sure we hold on to matches, and when they're 1 short the whole match!

It's a real problem and I hope Malty comes out with something to fix this damn soon.

 

[Bay Pie]

In fairness we looked very tired. Young group.

Freo (Subi)
Cats
Lions (Gabba)
Dogs

While the travel may be irrelevant, that is 4 tough games in a row. Our toughest stretch for the year. Sure let's review it, but not get consumed by it.

 

[Heater39]

Agreed. Just checked and we've only won 4 this year. (We've won 8 1st & 2nd qtrs and 6 3rd qtrs fwiw). Dunno if it's a fitness thing or a mental thing, maybe just a bit of general fatigue kicking in after a tough month? The coaching staff will be aware of it though so hopefully they find out the cause and rectify it.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

In fairness we looked very tired. Young group.

Freo (Subi)
Cats
Lions (Gabba)
Dogs

While the travel may be irrelevant, that is 4 tough games in a row. Our toughest stretch for the year. Sure let's review it, but not get consumed by it.

First and foremost, congratulations on the win!

But does this still hold? This notion of a young group?

 

[Chief Ten Beers]

Yeah, average age out there tonight was 25.3 years. Bulldogs were 25.11 years.

Good point.

 

[Ron]

Seems like we got complacent and really let our grip on the game go.

We dominated for about 65-70% of the game and got 48 points up and stopped.

I reckon it was more us stopping, than the Dogs actually doing something.

 

[mattys123]

It's just the flow of modern day football.

Only the Brisbane and Dogs games are of a concern, as Geelong only out scored us very late.

The Dogs game was pretty fair, we out played them for 3 quarters, and they just had to play better in the last, which they did.

I'd rather be 8-3 with a concern over last quarters then 6-5 like the Dogs with a concern over the first 3.

Once you get over 5 goals up in AFL football, you are a 92% chance of winning.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Yeah, average age out there tonight was 25.3 years. Bulldogs were 25.11 years.

Good point.

Yeah, I think there were only two or three older sides than you this round - so you're in that 'top 4' with regards to age.

I just think the time for Collingwood is now whilst it can make use of some their veterans - but you need to iron out these kinds of kinks.

You guys seemed to be set after around the '07 finals series, but you lost say Clement, Buckley, Rocca etc. and just that lack of leadership/experience kind of held you guys back a little.

Now, it's three years on and you appear to be at that kind of stage again, but also could start losing players in the next year or two like Lockyer (who's a more consistent performer than say Medhurst), Fraser, Presti, Johnson, O'Bree.

Not that these players are necessarily your superstars, but that experience can be invaluable especially as the season wears on and players run out of legs.

 

[Forgotten Legend]

We should've played better in that last quarter, but you have to give it to Collingwood that we were able to keep defensive pressure even when we looked, quite frankly, buggered. Also Western Bulldogs were barely playing in the 2nd and 3rd quarter and as such had much more energy built up for a final push at the finish.

Tough game.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Last quarters can be ignored if you get the four points.

Theres a reason we are second on the ladder and have a superior percentage to the other teams with eight wins.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

First and foremost, congratulations on the win!

But does this still hold? This notion of a young group?

The four tough weeks notion certainly holds.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Agree with that ; also the return of a large number of players who were out with question marks over their heads would contribute as well.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Agree with that ; also the return of a large number of players who were out with question marks over their heads would contribute as well.

Correct as well - although injury or players being underdone should be no excuse. Personally I wouldnt have played Medhurst in the 1's. I'd probably have recalled Lockyer.

 

[loki04]

It really is a concern, the other concern is we have no one who can stem the bleeding when a side gets a run on against us we no longer have a Buckley to take the game by the scruff and swing back the momentum.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

It's just the flow of modern day football.

Only the Brisbane and Dogs games are of a concern, as Geelong only out scored us very late.

The St. Kilda game concerned me greatly, they ran all over us early in the last quarter.

I just think the time for Collingwood is now whilst it can make use of some their veterans - but you need to iron out these kinds of kinks.

You guys seemed to be set after around the '07 finals series, but you lost say Clement, Buckley, Rocca etc. and just that lack of leadership/experience kind of held you guys back a little.

Now, it's three years on and you appear to be at that kind of stage again, but also could start losing players in the next year or two like Lockyer (who's a more consistent performer than say Medhurst), Fraser, Presti, Johnson, O'Bree.

Not that these players are necessarily your superstars, but that experience can be invaluable especially as the season wears on and players run out of legs.

I think you've answered your own question in a way. Buckley and Clement were our best players, and Burns and Rocca were pretty integral to our side. Nowadays our only veteran who will require serious work to replace is Prestigiacomo. Lockyer and O'Bree are already on the outer. Johnson still has several years left. Fraser's performances haven't been up to scratch for a long time now.

 

[Snag Breac]

Last quarters can be ignored if you get the four points.

Theres a reason we are second on the ladder and have a superior percentage to the other teams with eight wins.

How is the percentage calculated? I'm wondering what our percentage would have been if we'd won by those 48 points.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

I don't think I have TRS - I think it's natural to be telling yourselves that these players aren't going to win you too many games in the future - but at the same time I recall people saying Rocca was past it and you would have his absence covered anyways - Burns was getting too slow - in the same vein that some would say now, that O'Bree is getting exposed and that you'll cover the losses of Prestigiacomo.

The game versus Geelong showed why Johnson is so integral to your structure - he was, IMO, the only one who really gave a yelp alongside Ball (obviously Beams was the beneficiary in the forward line). I still think he's pivotal to your sides success in the near future - in '07 there were some (read : numerous) who were suggesting Buckley had a few years left as well.

Correct me if I'm wrong, as I was only listening on radio, but the spine appeared to be;
Presti - Maxwell - Ball - Cloke - Brown

The spine is of a good age and spread to have a fair-dinkum crack this year, but the squad as a whole has the talent, and the experience to really give it a go.

I guess the reason I question all of this is because I wouldn't mind seeing Collingwood take it out - it'll really put the heat on the Blues and the Dons to perform - but the squad has structural similarities to that of the one in '07, where a younger Cats side backed in its youth and is still reaping the rewards (at least so far).

 

[Rohan25]

How is the percentage calculated?

For/Against * 100

 

[TradeDraft]

They have been freaking horrible all year, probably only won 1 this year (Carlscum game). Everyone knew that the dogs can flick a switch and kick fast ones if you turn off early enough.
Do we really need to be 40 points up to make sure we hold on to matches, and when they're 1 short the whole match!

It's a real problem and I hope Malty comes out with something to fix this damn soon.

Agree 100%, Seems we can play about 3 QTRS but get Stuffed in the Last and let teams back in the game and give them chances to win

 

[TradeDraft]

The St. Kilda game concerned me greatly, they ran all over us early in the last quarter.

Spot On TRS we should of Won that Game but got Murded in the Last QTR, Close Game and it cost us a Win

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

I don't think I have TRS - I think it's natural to be telling yourselves that these players aren't going to win you too many games in the future - but at the same time I recall people saying Rocca was past it and you would have his absence covered anyways - Burns was getting too slow - in the same vein that some would say now, that O'Bree is getting exposed and that you'll cover the losses of Prestigiacomo.

The game versus Geelong showed why Johnson is so integral to your structure - he was, IMO, the only one who really gave a yelp alongside Ball (obviously Beams was the beneficiary in the forward line). I still think he's pivotal to your sides success in the near future - in '07 there were some (read : numerous) who were suggesting Buckley had a few years left as well.

Correct me if I'm wrong, as I was only listening on radio, but the spine appeared to be;
Presti - Maxwell - Ball - Cloke - Brown

The spine is of a good age and spread to have a fair-dinkum crack this year, but the squad as a whole has the talent, and the experience to really give it a go.

I guess the reason I question all of this is because I wouldn't mind seeing Collingwood take it out - it'll really put the heat on the Blues and the Dons to perform - but the squad has structural similarities to that of the one in '07, where a younger Cats side backed in its youth and is still reaping the rewards (at least so far).

You make some valid points. I've had it with the 'we are still young' talk. Seems like the fans are making the age excuse when those who matter 'club and player' are after the flag this year. We lack the 'creativity' and the ability to lift a gear when in trouble to win a flag at this stage.
As for Johnson, he may have had a crack but his turnovers are killers. Struggles to make a good decision even when he has the time. Being spot on with his kicks was even more important when Geelong was cloggin up the space in our forward line. His disposal during crucial times of the game was poor, sometimes comically poor. He failed just like the rest of the side on that night.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I've had it with the 'we are still young' talk.

To be fair, not many people are falling for that trap this year. Its generally recognised that our core group now has the maturity required. We have a pretty good age mix.

The only area where we still lack a bit of expereince is in the key positions - with Dawes Reid Anthony and Brown still in development mode, as too is Cloke to a lesser extent. They all need at least another 30-50 games in them.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I don't think I have TRS - I think it's natural to be telling yourselves that these players aren't going to win you too many games in the future - but at the same time I recall people saying Rocca was past it and you would have his absence covered anyways - Burns was getting too slow - in the same vein that some would say now, that O'Bree is getting exposed and that you'll cover the losses of Prestigiacomo.

But Rocca was past it. Well past it, in fact. I don't know about Burns being too slow but he wasn't on the paddock much. O'Bree isn't in our best 22 right now, so I don't see how his loss will hurt us much in terms of our output in finals.

Prestigiacomo is the only current veteran player who will be impossible to cover in the short term.

The game versus Geelong showed why Johnson is so integral to your structure - he was, IMO, the only one who really gave a yelp alongside Ball (obviously Beams was the beneficiary in the forward line). I still think he's pivotal to your sides success in the near future -

I think a run and carry player is essential, I don't think it necessarily needs to be Johnson. He plays his role well, but his disposal is often dreadful. We had Shannon Cox playing his role for much of the time last year, and his disposal was much better, however Cox was an unfit ********. Marty Clarke has also performed this role. As it stands currently, we lack someone who is ready to play Johnson's role better than Johnson himself, but I don't think it's a big problem longer term.

in '07 there were some (read : numerous) who were suggesting Buckley had a few years left as well.

Numerous people say a lot of shit about Collingwood, including Collingwood supporters, I don't think that carries much weight. Everybody who knew Buckley had done his hammy in that PF against Geelong, knew his career was toast, as unpalatable a prospect as that was.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Prestigiacomo is the only current veteran player who will be impossible to cover in the short term.

I wouldn't say impossible.

Ben Reid was among our best on the weekend, Nathan Brown among our best in the VFL, and good old Leroy can play anywhere. We can even cover for Presti - but I'd rather we didnt have to!

 

[Art Corvelay]

I wouldn't say impossible.

Ben Reid was among our best on the weekend, Nathan Brown among our best in the VFL, and good old Leroy can play anywhere. We can even cover for Presti - but I'd rather we didnt have to!

I suspect Presti will be suffering from a couple of more "groin" injuries this season to bring N. Brown in