Review Round 21, 2025 - Collingwood vs. Brisbane Lions

[Elixuh]

Bunch of things - getting rid of the bounce (just don't do recalls), being super reactionary to clubs wishes/wants, the stuff about the fixture in terms of second competition that doesn't go away.

I like some of it because it benefits us (going to 5 on the bench, keeping the stand rule) but on the whole while I respect Swanny a lot, I have no faith in Andrew Dillon and where his instinct is for the game.

I also think he's going to get a rude awakening about the reality of a super large bureaucratic organisation that is thinking about the whole game, not just one club - I get that large bureaucracies are frustrating but there is a good reason why they are risk averse.

Eg having Michael Christian talk about tribunal decisions as part of a review/wrap up show - that's just potentially free evidence in concussion litigation in 5-10 years. Like Chrisso explaining why he didn't charge Maynard in 2023 and then the AFL overruling him, lol.

The Tribunal is frustrating but at the end of the day it serves 2 purposes (1) let players litigate their right to play (earn match payments or not pay fines) under the CBA and (2) protect the AFL for legal risk.

Bouncing the ball is stoopid. I will die on this block. Either get a drone to drop it or have a little underground chamber that shoot it into the air.

No callbacks suck because you’re relying on individual umpire skill and variations, eg one may have a propensity to be heavier on one side of the ball when they bounce leading to the ‘miss’ being predominantly in favour of one team.

Imagine being a few points up in a granny and you get a spud bounce when goes 20m towards your d50. It’s just free territory.

 

[Tom14]

Bouncing the ball is stoopid. I will die on this block. Either get a drone to drop it or have a little underground chamber that shoot it into the air.

No callbacks suck because you’re relying on individual umpire skill and variations, eg one may have a propensity to be heavier on one side of the ball when they bounce leading to the ‘miss’ being predominantly in favour of one team.

Imagine being a few points up in a granny and you get a spud bounce when goes 20m towards your d50. It’s just free territory.

Sorry to bring this up, buuuuttttt....

Imagine being a few points up in a grand final and the opposition deliberately giving away a 6-6-6 warning so their 207cm ruckman would have certainty as to where the ball would be after a ball up and could win the tap easily, and then losing a clearance leading to a goal to lose the lead.

Random bounce that goes direct to dev robertson on the wing and we get to hatch the ball and try grind it out

 

[Thomasno]

They've been fantastic and their forward line is formidable. They've kind of ticked off every box but just don't have the finals experience yet. They'll be an interesting watch.

Agreed. I think we comfortably held them as well when we played a couple months ago, we all know what happened in the last that led to them narrowly winning.

My main concern now is that with Payne and Answerth out, I genuinely fear for what their forwardline could do to our defence. If we play them in finals, they might be the one team that I think could get hold of us even if we’re playing at our best - and that’s purely now because of our defensive injury profile.

 

[Elixuh]

Sorry to bring this up, buuuuttttt....

Imagine being a few points up in a grand final and the opposition deliberately giving away a 6-6-6 warning so their 207cm ruckman would have certainty as to where the ball would be after a ball up and could win the tap easily, and then losing a clearance leading to a goal to lose the lead.

Random bounce that goes direct to dev robertson on the wing and we get to hatch the ball and try grind it out

I’m OK with that. It’s a true play better scenario.

Alternatively, require that the rucks close their eyes to get that variance. If your eyes are open it’s a free and a 50.

 

[Tom14]

I’m OK with that. It’s a true play better scenario.

Alternatively, require that the rucks close their eyes to get that variance. If your eyes are open it’s a free and a 50.

Removing the warning would have helped too!

 

[3KZ is Football]

Impressive performance. What stoodout at the game was everybody seemed calm and into control. Even in the second quarter.

Does Smith stay in the side now?

Yes.

 

[Elixuh]

Removing the warning would have helped too!

The warning is stupid as well. But I took your point to just mean the impact of throwing it up.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Fly must be in a bad way if he couldn’t find a vote for Nicky. Sad!

The ‘fix’ is in as far as the 2025 Brownlow goes.

“Round 21 Collingwood versus Brisbane
1 vote Brisbane, L.Morris
2 votes Brisbane, H.McCluggage
3 votes Collingwood. N.Daicos”

 

[M Malice]

 

[beatnik]

A big advantage Adelaide have is that their 3 key forwards are all great kicks. And Fogarty is lethal. So if they get the ball in there more often or at least as much as the opposition they very likely win.

Big forwards typically become marginally less effective in the finals than in the regular season as more pressure on the ball creates congestion and slower movement inside 50 - running power becomes more important…that said, kicking for goal is vital in finals too so if your tall forwards are elite then that evens out somewhat

 

[braddsey]

Sorry to bring this up, buuuuttttt....

Imagine being a few points up in a grand final and the opposition deliberately giving away a 6-6-6 warning so their 207cm ruckman would have certainty as to where the ball would be after a ball up and could win the tap easily, and then losing a clearance leading to a goal to lose the lead.

Random bounce that goes direct to dev robertson on the wing and we get to hatch the ball and try grind it out

Easy. Get of the stupid 6-6-6 warning. Pay a free directly!

 

[Tom14]

Easy. Get of the stupid 6-6-6 warning. Pay a free directly!

Yeah no issue with me. But if they get rid of the bounce there is no need for collingwood to commit the 6-6-6 violation as they get that predictability anyway.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Lots made of the fact that this was our first win against Collingwood at the MCG since 2014. Here are the highlights from that game.

Highlights: Collingwood v Brisbane Lions

The Pies and Lions clash in round 21

www.afl.com.au

 

[M Malice]

Chris Fagan on afl 360 tonight was asked what player past or present does Logan Morris remind you of... didn't hesitate with his answer, Jack Riewoldt.

IMO a very apt comparison.

 

[twhowler]

Chris Fagan on afl 360 tonight was asked what player past or present does Logan Morris remind you of... didn't hesitate with his answer, Jack Riewoldt.

IMO a very apt comparison.

Also said Henry Smith is now 207cm

Did get the sense the defenders were panicking a bit when he was in front

 

[Section 5]

Sorry to bring this up, buuuuttttt....

Imagine being a few points up in a grand final and the opposition deliberately giving away a 6-6-6 warning so their 207cm ruckman would have certainty as to where the ball would be after a ball up and could win the tap easily, and then losing a clearance leading to a goal to lose the lead.

Random bounce that goes direct to dev robertson on the wing and we get to hatch the ball and try grind it out

Also said Henry Smith is now 207cm

Did get the sense the defenders were panicking a bit when he was in front

So, no bounce is good for us.

Either way i have hated the bounce for a very long time

 

[martinson]

Chris Fagan on afl 360 tonight was asked what player past or present does Logan Morris remind you of... didn't hesitate with his answer, Jack Riewoldt.

IMO a very apt comparison.

It's been evident for a while that Logan is a Reiwoldt clone in the way he positions himself , outmarks taller opponents and kicks them from anywhere.

Potentially Logan is better at ground ball gets and giving it off than Jack.

Let's hope he doesn't replicate the more annoying aspects and whingy appealing for frees face that characterised Jack's career.

 

[BuntonRules]

It's been evident for a while that Logan is a Reiwoldt clone in the way he positions himself , outmarks taller opponents and kicks them from anywhere.

Potentially Logan is better at ground ball gets and giving it off than Jack.

Let's hope he doesn't replicate the more annoying aspects and whingy appealing for frees face that characterised Jack's career.

I just hope I get to see him singing on stage after a grand final win.

 

[Sanchez365]

Is currently bouncing the ball a prerequisite for all umpires? I remember someone mentioning a while ago there were potentially a lot of good decisions making umpires out there who weren't getting a look in because they couldn't bounce the ball.

If that's still the case then it's reason enough IMO.

 

[M Malice]

I just hope I get to see him singing on stage after a grand final win.

It is my understanding that Logan has been honing his Snoop Dogg repertoire.

 

[Mr Ripper]

Bounces are good because it takes away yet another thing coaches want control of. What needs to be gotten rid of is the recall and the line across the centre.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Keep the bounce. Get rid of the players in the centre square

 

[Section 5]

Is currently bouncing the ball a prerequisite for all umpires? I remember someone mentioning a while ago there were potentially a lot of good decisions making umpires out there who weren't getting a look in because they couldn't bounce the ball.

If that's still the case then it's reason enough IMO.

That was me.

Quite a few years ago now, the umpires put their case to the AFL about back injuries caused by the bounce.
The umpires also tried to make a case about very good decision-making umpires can't be considered because they can't bounce the ball to save themselves.
Also, that there is a shortage of umpires for natural attrition and the AFL should make it an easier pathway.
The AFL just ignored their concerns.

 

[Elixuh]

Keep the bounce. Get rid of the players in the centre square

Each team has all 18 players in their respective d50 goal squares and as soon as the ball is bounced they charge?

 

[Section 5]

Bounces are good because it takes away yet another thing coaches want control of. What needs to be gotten rid of is the recall and the line across the centre.

I hate the bounce with a vengeance. Should have been changed 10 years ago.
If this was introduced, almost nobody would notice after a month and that is good for everyone.
The line across the center is to protect rucks from knee injuries and won't get changed.
If you throw the ball up, you get rid of the recall bounce that you want.

Any rule change will have some affect and coaches and players will adjust.
I doubt it will take much adjusting as the ball is thrown up a lot around the ground anyhow. See numbers below.

There are way too many ruck contests in the game. In my opinion we need to reduce the number of stoppages.
They vary each game so i will just look at the Pies game.

Ruck contests v Pies: Fort had 96 + Smith 21= 117 ruck contests
117 less 4 bounces for each quarter less 24 (14g+10G) bounces for goals scored = 89 boundary and stoppage ruck contests

They should also introduce last touch to further reduce these high numbers
I don't know how many times the ball was thrown in between the arcs in this game
I will watch the replay and make a note so i can break the numbers down further.
A very wild guess is about 25 of the 89.
Will edit later after watching replay.

EDIT:
Umpire ball ups around the ground: 45 (38.5%)
Umpire center circle bounce downs: 28 (24%)
Boundry throw in between the arcs: 24 (20.5%)
Boundry throw in I50s arc Fwd/Def: 20 (17%)
Total ruck contests..................: 117

All these contests have a slight time factor attached to them and the AFL want to reduce the time for each quarter
Last touch would also help with this.