Opportunity lost: Maxwell

[Dave The Man]

COLLINGWOOD captain Nick Maxwell said the Magpies' post-match meeting on Saturday was solemn but with a clear message - one opportunity wasted is too many.

Maxwell, 25, said the Pies were very disappointed with their four-point loss to Adelaide, which came after they led by 18 points in the third term.

However, he said the coaches and players were diplomatic when discussing what the result meant for the side this season.

"Now we've got to win 21 games from 21, basically," he told afl.com.au after the match.

"We've lost a game, lost an opportunity and we're in the bottom half of the ladder.

"We're disappointed because we had an opportunity, and once we hit the front, you expect to win from there.

"People don't give Adelaide as much credit as they deserve. They're a very good side and very well coached and are always pretty fit and up and going at this time of year."

Maxwell said the players would take a few weeks to get used to the physical standard required to run out games strongly, which was reflected in the number of Magpies and Crows that cramped as the match wound up.

"In the first few rounds, everyone is finding their feet and getting their fitness right," he said.

"You can train as hard as you want but football fitness is different to every other type of fitness.

"Although we've played a few games, we've gone from 26 to 22 on the ground and there's a lot less rotations. It's a different game."

Maxwell played in a variety of roles on Saturday, starting in the midfield opposite Bernie Vince, shifting in defence for part of the game and moving up forward for a two-goal cameo.

"There will always be different roles come up across the ground and I'm happy to play wherever is best for the team," he said, of his changing responsibilities.

"I don't have a preference. I like the midfield because I like the bodies clashing and the physicality of it all, but I'm happy to play wherever I'm needed."

Coach Mick Malthouse said Maxwell will be used wherever pressure is required this season, owing to his natural desire to win.

"Nick is such a fierce competitor. You put him in positions where he's going to be best to put that pressure on," he said.

"I thought under circumstances [on Saturday], he was terrific in creating opportunity for us up forward."

Maxwell said the Magpies won't underestimate Melbourne next weekend, despite the Demons' disappointing 2008 season.

"They're going to be desperate. They've been criticised for last year and we won't be taking a backwards step," he said.

"We know how good their players are and although they've got a lot of young guys, they've got a good team.

"We'll be trying to make amends for this week."

Spot On by the Skipper it was a Missed Opptunity though I love him saying we just have to win 21 games straight now


Story Here

 

[Pie eyed]

We have to address our two biggest shortcomings, from this game and many games last year.

Slow starts and inability to react quickly to negative tactics from our opposition.
Had we gone Man on Man 10 minutes into the fisrst quarter instead of 28 minutes in we would have not "leaked" as many goals, not has as far to come back and expended less energy doing so.

Hindsight however is great, I just hope MM and the side take advantage of it now.

 

[Dave The Man]

We have to address our two biggest shortcomings, from this game and many games last year.

Slow starts and inability to react quickly to negative tactics from our opposition.
Had we gone Man on Man 10 minutes into the fisrst quarter instead of 28 minutes in we would have not "leaked" as many goals, not has as far to come back and expended less energy doing so.

Hindsight however is great, I just hope MM and the side take advantage of it now.

True just hope they have Learn from there mistakes yesterday

 

[FuManchu]

We really are only capable of winning 13 to 15 games in the H&A. Anything else is just fanciful and should be consigned to the pages of the Boys Own Annual.

Of that 13 to 15,now after yesterday we have to either knock over a superior opponent that we wouldnt have factored in, or we are now 12 to 14 games.

 

[Alexander323bc]

Lost opportunity yes. Bad coaching in the first 1/4 yes. Currently going through a change in tactics, yes. Went back to what we know after the first 1/4 and started winning. However that doesn't allow us to work on a new strategy to beat a team that plays the "zone" against us. We have a long way to go before we can play the zone is what came out of the first quarter.

 

[wicksy]

Spot On by the Skipper it was a Missed Opptunity though I love him saying we just have to win 21 games straight now


Story Here

Good work mate....

BTW... did I just read that he played on Bernie Vince?? Thee Bernie Vince who tore us apart?

 

[Optimax]

Good work mate....

BTW... did I just read that he played on Bernie Vince?? Thee Bernie Vince who tore us apart?

For part of the game

Also spent time on other mids, kept edwards quiet in the third and had a big effect then too

 

[mdc]

We really are only capable of winning 13 to 15 games in the H&A. Anything else is just fanciful and should be consigned to the pages of the Boys Own Annual.

Of that 13 to 15,now after yesterday we have to either knock over a superior opponent that we wouldnt have factored in, or we are now 12 to 14 games.

I think this is pretty accurate. We now need to "steal" one that we aren't expected to win.

 

[mattys123]

I think this is pretty accurate. We now need to "steal" one that we aren't expected to win.

Problem is, well it might be a blessing, is we only have 2 games left we absolutely can not win (Geelong and Hawthorn).

So the equation is;

To make the finals, win 12 out of 21

To make top 4, win 14-15 out of 21

 

[WinOrLoseILoveEm]

I think this is pretty accurate. We now need to "steal" one that we aren't expected to win.

At this early stage of the season any club could giive us a shake up. The unpredictabiliy factor is strong. I estimate and hope we will win about 13 or more for the season much like Fu Manchu & mdc which could puts us anywhere between 4 and 8. Sounds like last year.

 

[mdc]

Problem is, well it might be a blessing, is we only have 2 games left we absolutely can not win (Geelong and Hawthorn).

Yep, but a better way of thinking about it is;

Say we have a game against the Saints at the dome, and then a game against Port at AAMI. We are expected to win 1 of those, on average. If we win both, we've effectively "stolen" one. That's sort of what I meant.

 

[Optimax]

Yep, but a better way of thinking about it is;

Say we have a game against the Saints at the dome, and then a game against Port at AAMI. We are expected to win 1 of those, on average. If we win both, we've effectively "stolen" one. That's sort of what I meant.

I would personally be disappointed if we lost either

 

[FuManchu]

I would personally be disappointed if we lost either

Like yesterday?

Lets face it we lose so many that theoretically we should win, and this has been the case since 2006.

The thing I take out of yesterday is that in spite of all the talking up of us this year, yesterday is an indication that we are still prone to being average.

Has anything really improved this year? We have talked about this for the last 3 weeks or so and yesterday does not give me much to change my mind on structural, game plan and definitive and comparitive improvement issues.

 

[hellfire]

Problem is, well it might be a blessing, is we only have 2 games left we absolutely can not win (Geelong and Hawthorn).

So the equation is;

To make the finals, win 12 out of 21

To make top 4, win 14-15 out of 21

I'm really not confident of our chances of beating Carlton.

 

[daics cousin]

You can all realte to a post i made before the season started,the title was
Collingwood......same old same old.
This is exactely what we got out of Saturdays game.

We talk of having more depth this year, but malthouse doesn't use it.
We must play the kids and let them develop,at least if we lose we are giving the kids game time.
The following players after saturadys game should not play in the seniors.

Chris Bryan ( he has had his time and has stuffed up to many times)
Toovey ( hopeless,has got the body of a good footballer,but can't dispose of the ball)
Reid (Is lazy doesn't chase, and can't kick ,he is not a forward,at best play him in the midfield or backline not in the forward line)
Obree ( although good at times is getting on )
Ben Johnson( F...K,,,g hopeless twice in the third quarter could have buried the crows and missed twice with his areoplane kicks.We were 3 goals up and he could have put us 5 up.A friend on the weekend told me that his mate knows Johnson,and when asked about being hyped to play a good year,Johnson's response was,na mate don't get on with Malthouse,drop him and trade him at year's end )

These players should be replaced with the likes of Rocca,wood,sidey,beams,barham,even leigh brown,and Corrie,and bring back Brad Dick,and Rusling and Dawes when available.
The younger players must be persevered with week in week out.
Players like Wood,Dawes,Sidey,Beams,Barham

 

[Trojan82]

^^ You seriously think O'Bree shouldn't be in the seniors? Get a grip.

The most disappointing thing about Saturday was that it now seems we haven't changed much. We are still going to drop games we should win and hopefully we will still win games that no-one expects us to. That means IMO we are going to have exactly the same year as last year.

Which is to say an unsuccessful year. We need to get games into the kids to ensure they are cherry ripe for next year and the coming few years when our 'window' opens. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like its open just yet.

 

[Pie eyed]

^^ You seriously think O'Bree shouldn't be in the seniors? Get a grip.

The most disappointing thing about Saturday was that it now seems we haven't changed much. We are still going to drop games we should win and hopefully we will still win games that no-one expects us to. That means IMO we are going to have exactly the same year as last year.

Which is to say an unsuccessful year. We need to get games into the kids to ensure they are cherry ripe for next year and the coming few years when our 'window' opens. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like its open just yet.

Where is the respect for Adelaide?
You make it sound like the biggest boil-over since we beat Geelong.
Adelaide aren't that bad you know. If I recall they finished above us last season.
I agree about Cheesey though. Definitely in our best 22.

 

[Alexander323bc]

Where is the respect for Adelaide?
You make it sound like the biggest boil-over since we beat Geelong.
Adelaide aren't that bad you know. If I recall they finished above us last season.
I agree about Cheesey though. Definitely in our best 22.

If that is the case, then we still have a big problem at Collingwood. He would not get a game in 14 out of the 15 other teams. Actually, I can not think of a team where he will get a start other then Collingwood. Nor would Johnson. I would seriously give the youngsters a chance and let them learn on the job and hell sacrifice a year. Carlton sacrifised 4 and are in a better position to win a premiership then we are and that says a lot.

 

[FuManchu]

We are another year away.. it's that midfield.. it's still not right.. Beams Sidebottom McCarthy are all going to have to come through before we can challenge

Already Saints, Bulldogs and Port look miles ahead of us.. that makes the final 4 unlikely considering Geelong and Hawthorn are Montys

Watching the way the Bulldogs moved the ball was sobering and a reality check.. we have to play the kids now

The bulk of the talent on the list is under 23yr of age.. we have to get 50 games into them as quick as possible to challenge in the coming years

You fail to mention an effective Ruck duo, a replacement for presti and possibly finding a key forward and then a more effective game plan, or even better a number of options within the game plan.

Rucks dont come up very often, we havent had a good one in god knows how long. The mids will need 2 to 4 years to mature in body, thats assuming they are up to scratch. And key backs and forwards like rucks, dont grow on trees.

A year away? mmmmmm interesting

 

[FromDaics2Dids]

You fail to mention an effective Ruck duo, a replacement for presti and possibly finding a key forward and then a more effective game plan, or even better a number of options within the game plan.

Rucks dont come up very often, we havent had a good one in god knows how long. The mids will need 2 to 4 years to mature in body, thats assuming they are up to scratch. And key backs and forwards like rucks, dont grow on trees.

A year away? mmmmmm interesting

Fu i must admit i read your posts with interest, as i think we see things relitively the same way.

Glass half empty, and no wonder we will never win a flag with players like Toovey, Johnson, Bryan in the team.

It reminds me of one of our darkest days, Do people forget taking players like Ben Kinnear into the 2003 grand final...

We arnt as close as we all hoped we would be and i do agree unfortunately that Carlton are on par if not infront of where we are in terms of development and that worries the S&it out of me..

 

[FuManchu]

Fu i must admit i read your posts with interest, as i think we see things relitively the same way.

Glass half empty, and no wonder we will never win a flag with players like Toovey, Johnson, Bryan in the team.

It reminds me of one of our darkest days, Do people forget taking players like Ben Kinnear into the 2003 grand final...

We arnt as close as we all hoped we would be and i do agree unfortunately that Carlton are on par if not infront of where we are in terms of development and that worries the S&it out of me..

I get accused of the glass half empty thing quite often. Its neither, If I thought the glass was full I'd be saying it was full. But so many are just so infantile in their assesments. They see someone who looks to fit the bill wearing a Collingwood jumper and they attach 'complete player' status to them, without a proper assesment of their talent.

I havent seen the glass full for quite some time tho. In fact in 2006 and 2007, the glass was a lot fuller than it is now. We really only lacked a midfield gun and Rucks back then. Two years on we have lost a few key backs and Rocca hasnt taken the field in so long and it remains to be seen if he will prosper again and we still lack rucks and gun mids.

Now is it MM's game plan that holds us back? Is it structure that holds us back? Is it his recruitment and list management that has always seen us lacking some key ingredient? Is it his coaching that holds us back? I think its a combination of all four.

But some wont see it that way, they think every year that this is the year and hellfire and damnation to anyone that thinks the opposite. Come years end its like they drink from some well of optimistic rejuvination and go forth blindly and assume the same optimistic crap they did the year prior, when in reality, nothing has changed!!! I am not sure if I should laugh at their stupidity or admire their staunchness in the face of eternal mediocrity! LOL

 

[Scottabe_pendles]

I'm with you too Fu, Pies list is a long way off yet you get blasted for whatever reason main ones: its only round one, its only one loss, it was against the top team that year etc...

Its not so much that its only one game but the fashion which these losses happen that is a disgrace, with the selections, the team that we're putting forward etc.

It's opinion that Malthouse at times can be one of the best gameday coaches (because he can take the at times average list we have with no rucks or inside mids to finals) BUT he needs to learn to have other options (E.G against things such as the rolling zone)...

I've been saying it a while even WCE or maybe melbourne are closer to a flag than us just because they've had their bad years - people say you dont win a flag by tanking - Geelong didnt tank no.. but they got GREAT GREAT draft picks with lower picks....generally the good players come from top 10 and we really need some star power....

End of 06 was the peake of the pies after the loss to geelong if anything its gone 5 steps backwards since then and I cant see any great room for improvement....

 

[Pie eyed]

If that is the case, then we still have a big problem at Collingwood. He would not get a game in 14 out of the 15 other teams. Actually, I can not think of a team where he will get a start other then Collingwood. Nor would Johnson. I would seriously give the youngsters a chance and let them learn on the job and hell sacrifice a year. Carlton sacrifised 4 and are in a better position to win a premiership then we are and that says a lot.

I did say in our best 22.
This is not to say he may not be in the future but at the moment he is.
In reality, even taking into account our potentially great drafting in 08, where is his replacement going to come from now?

 

[Alexander323bc]

I did say in our best 22.
This is not to say he may not be in the future but at the moment he is.
In reality, even taking into account our potentially great drafting in 08, where is his replacement going to come from now?

Granted.

However, my point is that if we can not find a better midfielder then Obree now, we will not be challenging for the title this year. I trully hope that he is not going to be in our best 22 next year because if he is, then we have failed as a club to manage and improve our list. If we all agree that he is not part of the future starting from 2010 and he will not win us a premiership in 2009, I ask the question, what is the point of playing him over a Beams or Steele? I also think that the above applies to BJ.
With Obree we know what we are going to get and its not a winning midfield. A Beams or Steele or Stanley could actually surprise us and give us something to cheer about by giving us a drive out of the middle if we persist with them. Or they could flop and never be heard of again. Either way it will put us in a better position come year end then persisting with BJ and Obree.

I agree that it was an opportunity lost, however I dissagree as to what the opportunity was. It was an opportunity to give the young blokes are chance to shine and take us forward.