Official Preview
Sydney Swans v. Collingwood Magpies
Where: SCG
When: Friday, 13 August, 2015 – 7.50 p.m.
Positions: Swans (5th) 13 wins/5 losses versus Pies (11th) 9 wins/9 losses.
Rounded off – both teams have a 112 percentage.
Odds: Swans $1.33, Pies $3.50
Head-to-Head
This promises to be an intriguing clash for many reasons.
Statistically
With equal percentage, both teams also have similar high tackle ratios (73 per game) and inside 50’s (ranking 5th and 6th) although one suspects that their 112 percentage sees them ranked 1st and 2nd on the “butchery” scale.
Swans have won only 2 of the last 15 games – although the Pies have not often confronted the SCG factor.
Swans
The Swans are focussed on getting back into the top 4 – and this game is critical. No news yet on key ins – Buddy, McGlynn, perhaps Rohan. With these three in, the Swans are more than formidable. Without, they are vulnerable.
The Swans have the talent to challenge this year – but the continued inconsistency is most concerning.
Collingwood
The Pies are 1 ½ games out of the 8 – and with games against Swans, Richmond, Geelong, Essendon ahead – then it’s safe to say the Pies will be free to add tatts to “sleeves” and hobnob with criminals in September. The battle with the Bombers will be especially fascinating – with greater interest in the post match urine testing than on the game itself.
Umpiring
The standard of umpiring in 2015 has been simply outstanding. This is if you define “standard” as “rob Sydney of momentum by fraud and deprivation”. Gil Mclachlan interestingly pointed out to Sydney that “you can’t have everything”. Yet his umpires’ department have extended this to “you can’t have anything”. The umpiring performance in the third quarter of the Geelong game (i.e. continually ignoring blatant infringements (even legging) and gifting enormous extended possession to Geelong) – was one for the ages – the age of the VFL. It is a fact of life that we go into each game 4-5 goals in deficit pre-bounce - but that is our own fault for not being Victorian.
In one of football’s all time ironic comments, several months ago, Bucks complained about big Travis not getting a fair go. Lance Franklin and Barry Hall choked on their weetbix as, magically, free kick decisions began to flow to big Trav – who celebrated by kicking more behinds than usual.
Fat Controller
Our biggest fear – as Collingwood miss the finals – is that the purple-headed monster will refocus his efforts to damage the Sydney Swans football club.
Eddie has succeeded in getting COLA abolished, trade restrictions imposed and having benefits from our academy diluted. In so doing, Eddie has succeeded in distracting attention away from his own questionable competence as Magpies CEO. Danger looms.
Prediction
If the Swans bring it – the swarm, the tackling, the hard running, the fast handballs – then they win. Dan Hanneberry has come out firing saying “There's a massive belief knowing that our best can stand up”. Buddy back in – plus McGlynn – will enhance their chances. Looking forward to seeing Goodesy joyously celebrated by a crowd of decent, non-bigoted Australians. We may not have him for much longer – so it will be special to see the great man in action.
The Pies are a chance only if the Swans switch off for long periods again in the second half.
But, I’m with Dan. I think the Swans will go out hard – bounce back from last week – and build and hold a strong lead in the first half. Umpires will fight back strongly in the second and give Collingwood a fighting chance – but Swans will prevail comfortably.
Swans by 60 then, net umpires’ contribution – Swans by 28.
Sydney Swans v. Collingwood Magpies
Where: SCG
When: Friday, 13 August, 2015 – 7.50 p.m.
Positions: Swans (5th) 13 wins/5 losses versus Pies (11th) 9 wins/9 losses.
Rounded off – both teams have a 112 percentage.
Odds: Swans $1.33, Pies $3.50
Head-to-Head
This promises to be an intriguing clash for many reasons.
Statistically
With equal percentage, both teams also have similar high tackle ratios (73 per game) and inside 50’s (ranking 5th and 6th) although one suspects that their 112 percentage sees them ranked 1st and 2nd on the “butchery” scale.
Swans have won only 2 of the last 15 games – although the Pies have not often confronted the SCG factor.
Swans
The Swans are focussed on getting back into the top 4 – and this game is critical. No news yet on key ins – Buddy, McGlynn, perhaps Rohan. With these three in, the Swans are more than formidable. Without, they are vulnerable.
The Swans have the talent to challenge this year – but the continued inconsistency is most concerning.
Collingwood
The Pies are 1 ½ games out of the 8 – and with games against Swans, Richmond, Geelong, Essendon ahead – then it’s safe to say the Pies will be free to add tatts to “sleeves” and hobnob with criminals in September. The battle with the Bombers will be especially fascinating – with greater interest in the post match urine testing than on the game itself.
Umpiring
The standard of umpiring in 2015 has been simply outstanding. This is if you define “standard” as “rob Sydney of momentum by fraud and deprivation”. Gil Mclachlan interestingly pointed out to Sydney that “you can’t have everything”. Yet his umpires’ department have extended this to “you can’t have anything”. The umpiring performance in the third quarter of the Geelong game (i.e. continually ignoring blatant infringements (even legging) and gifting enormous extended possession to Geelong) – was one for the ages – the age of the VFL. It is a fact of life that we go into each game 4-5 goals in deficit pre-bounce - but that is our own fault for not being Victorian.
In one of football’s all time ironic comments, several months ago, Bucks complained about big Travis not getting a fair go. Lance Franklin and Barry Hall choked on their weetbix as, magically, free kick decisions began to flow to big Trav – who celebrated by kicking more behinds than usual.
Fat Controller
Our biggest fear – as Collingwood miss the finals – is that the purple-headed monster will refocus his efforts to damage the Sydney Swans football club.
Eddie has succeeded in getting COLA abolished, trade restrictions imposed and having benefits from our academy diluted. In so doing, Eddie has succeeded in distracting attention away from his own questionable competence as Magpies CEO. Danger looms.
Prediction
If the Swans bring it – the swarm, the tackling, the hard running, the fast handballs – then they win. Dan Hanneberry has come out firing saying “There's a massive belief knowing that our best can stand up”. Buddy back in – plus McGlynn – will enhance their chances. Looking forward to seeing Goodesy joyously celebrated by a crowd of decent, non-bigoted Australians. We may not have him for much longer – so it will be special to see the great man in action.
The Pies are a chance only if the Swans switch off for long periods again in the second half.
But, I’m with Dan. I think the Swans will go out hard – bounce back from last week – and build and hold a strong lead in the first half. Umpires will fight back strongly in the second and give Collingwood a fighting chance – but Swans will prevail comfortably.
Swans by 60 then, net umpires’ contribution – Swans by 28.
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