News Team vs Cats

[Lockyer24]

Shazam is back.

Loving the coaches faith in our core group of 18-22 year olds.

We are not bad now, imagine us in 2 years. Frightening.

Gunna be a tough game though up against a team who has mastered the art of creative offensive play for a few years. We are just getting started.

 

[Blur]

Yeh, Anthony looked encouraging last week. Not sure what Mick was after from him to be honest, he directly contributed to at least 4 goals off the top of my head, and seemed to work hard.

I know. What else can you ask of him? He needs consecutive games in the 1st's to regain his old form, and looked good for his first game back after spending time in the magoos. I'm still unsure about Cafe' in the forward line.

 

[Bloben]

I was convinced that Fraser would have been in for Wood seeing how Geelong only have Blake and Hawkins. I'm actually quite happy that we are persisting with Wood though as he has a lot of potential.

Not sure what the future holds for Fraser. It is great that we have three good rucks to pick from however just like King in 2007 it may be too good for too long.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Late change, O'Bree OUT, Anthony IN plzkthx?

 

[knightwheelrqr]

The club by keeping: Ben Reid, Nathan Brown, Cameron Wood and Chris Dawes in the side really proves the point that Mick wants to test and give these young players a shot against the best side in the comp being Geelong. Since all of the above players have been performing well he is pretty happy to reward them for their efforts over the last few weeks which is great from a developmental standpoint keeping these players in our side.

The side that was selected was purposely selected not with the primary goal to win the game, but instead to expose these young players who will be critical to our team for a number of years to come on to the big stage against the best competition to continue their development which will no longer happen at VFL level since they are all well beyond that standard. Also the lack of changes is a bit of reward for effort in beating some top placed sides over the last few weeks.

For those of you betting on the game, I strongly suggest to stay well clear of Collingwood.

 

[Bloben]

For those of you betting on the game, I strongly suggest to stay well clear of Collingwood.

Don't bet on it

These younger blokes have been empowered to prove themselves against the best. You just don't know... maybe they will and maybe the older guys would fail.

 

[Nesian]

I am pretty happy with the team. Would have been nice to have Presti and Medders back, but I am glad that MM is backing his young players and allowing them to build some consistency and gain exposure in pressure games at AFL level. This may work in our favour as the "hard bodied" geelong players may underestimate their rather unknown younger opponents.

The side is also structured to be as attacking as possible, with only two KPP down back and up forward. As they say, attack is always the best defence.

 

[mdc]

The side that was selected was purposely selected not with the primary goal to win the game

Nonsense. The only players that are potentially in our best 22 that aren't in the team are Medhurst (inj), Presti (obviously they don't feel he's back to 100% + Brown has been playing very well) and Jack.

For those of you betting on the game, I strongly suggest to stay well clear of Collingwood.

I tend to agree, but it has nothing to do with selection. Geelong are in ridiculous form, and our two key forwads both have nightmare match-ups this week.

Point being, betting against Geelong at any point is not a smart move.

 

[WEARECOLLINGWOOD!]

Suprise that JA was Dropped for Wellingham must be attacking them with small players and speed

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/Default.aspx

Will line up like this

B: Heath Shaw, Ben Reid, Nick Maxwell
HB: Harry O’Brien, Nathan Brown, Alan Toovey
C: Dale Thomas, Dane Swan, Sharrod Wellingham
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
F: Dayne Beams, Chris Dawes, Leon Davis
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Luke Ball
I/C: Shane Obree, Brent Macaffer, Ben Johnson, Cameron Wood

Only inclusions to better this side is:

Medhurst>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Obree
Presti>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Brown

But needed to lood Brown to give him experience in case Presti doesnt come up in the finals.. Great forward planning & Presti is too experienced that him playing reserves will keep him fresh & wont affect his form..

The pies will win & win comfortably.. mark my words the chamging of the guard will start tomorrow nught & we will be clear flag favourites at about 11pm tomorrow night!

 

[mattys123]

The club by keeping: Ben Reid, Nathan Brown, Cameron Wood and Chris Dawes in the side really proves the point that Mick wants to test and give these young players a shot against the best side in the comp being Geelong. Since all of the above players have been performing well he is pretty happy to reward them for their efforts over the last few weeks which is great from a developmental standpoint keeping these players in our side.

The side that was selected was purposely selected not with the primary goal to win the game, but instead to expose these young players who will be critical to our team for a number of years to come on to the big stage against the best competition to continue their development which will no longer happen at VFL level since they are all well beyond that standard. Also the lack of changes is a bit of reward for effort in beating some top placed sides over the last few weeks.

For those of you betting on the game, I strongly suggest to stay well clear of Collingwood.

Completely disagree.

Nathan Brown was brilliant on Pavlich last week, restricting him to only one set shot on goal, an absolutely amazing effort, you simply couldn't drop him this week.

Ben Reid has been in stellar form also, in fact last week was clearly the best game he has ever played for us at senior level, once again, couldn't be dropped.

Cameron Wood contested up against Sandilands almost better then what Jolly did, and Fraser needs some miles in his legs before he returns anyway.

I simply couldn't see a reason for any VFL player from last week to come in. The performance against Frankston was so falsely flattering that it's not funny, as I made the comparison during the week it would be like taking a driver out of go karts and placing him an F1 car the next week.

As for Dawes, anyone could see we have had a better structure up forward since he has been in, and Travis Cloke has benefited from Dawes inclusion more then anyone.

100% CORRECT SELECTION THIS WEEK, for mine, that side gives us the best chance of winning this football game.

We will win, and yes, I will have some money on us.

 

[twoforjoy]

I'm glad Wellers is back...like most others would have thought that Presti was a monty this week. But if we looked at how Carlton smashed them I reckon we will have enough fire power from our smaller goal kicking mids. Would have liked to see Dicky make it back for this but too soon alas.

 

[jefffff34]

Tomorrow night is exactly why we persued and recruited Luke Ball.

I expect a massive game for him.

 

[Kipz]

Tomorrow night is exactly why we persued and recruited Luke Ball.

I expect a massive game for him.

This

 

[knightwheelrqr]

Nonsense. The only players that are potentially in our best 22 that aren't in the team are Medhurst (inj), Presti (obviously they don't feel he's back to 100% + Brown has been playing very well) and Jack.

"but instead to expose these young players who will be critical to our team for a number of years to come on to the big stage against the best competition to continue their development" was more the point I was trying to make. It is not saying we are trying to lose but instead develop our young talent who are playing well and rewarding them. It is the best side and they will all learn lots. Prestigiacomo is obviously a better player than both Reid and Brown. Fraser is probably slightly ahead of Wood. Then Dawes his chemistry with Cloke validates his chance, but the point is that we are sticking with the young side that has been successful as opposed to our best 22. I'd say Medhurst, Presti, Fraser, JA would all be best 22 selections.

On Presti he seems in pretty reasonable condition and didn't seem to have difficulties last week. I interpret the selection to be intended more than anything. (asside from Medhurst who is unavailable).

I tend to agree, but it has nothing to do with selection. Geelong are in ridiculous form, and our two key forwads both have nightmare match-ups this week.

Point being, betting against Geelong at any point is not a smart move.

I agree with the idea that we will be outmatched particularly in the key position department since we have elected to go with a young key position group who will likely be outmatched.

But also in terms of selection I think it will be a factor. Fresh legs and that energiser factor I consider to be of great importance particularly after traveling to Subiaco. Just don't see us running out the game as well as Geelong.

Prestigiacomo could very easily have been included for one of Reid/ Brown, would have been the ideal matchup for JPod. Fraser could have replaced Wood after a strong week in the 2s, still a toss of the coin call, but I still see it being a pretty deliberate exposure of Wood along with the other youngsters more so than to get our best 22 on field. And a fresh enthusiastic player like a Barham could have been put in for a Macaffer/ O'Bree to give that enthusiasm to really give us a lift. With Wellingham also added into the side for the other of Macaffer/ O'Bree.

 

[DJ Black @ White Blood]

Shocked to see Presti still out.
Meddas must be injured still.
Not our best team this week which is what we need to beat the Cats.

Look this might not make sense but here i go. When you say not our best team i disagree. The problem we have, and its a good problem to have is that we have a number of best teams this year. The fact is we are 7 and 1 with almost a diferent team each week. So i think its one of our best teams this week. Im happy

 

[knightwheelrqr]

Completely disagree.

Nathan Brown was brilliant on Pavlich last week, restricting him to only one set shot on goal, an absolutely amazing effort, you simply couldn't drop him this week.

Ben Reid has been in stellar form also, in fact last week was clearly the best game he has ever played for us at senior level, once again, couldn't be dropped.

Cameron Wood contested up against Sandilands almost better then what Jolly did, and Fraser needs some miles in his legs before he returns anyway.

I simply couldn't see a reason for any VFL player from last week to come in. The performance against Frankston was so falsely flattering that it's not funny, as I made the comparison during the week it would be like taking a driver out of go karts and placing him an F1 car the next week.

As for Dawes, anyone could see we have had a better structure up forward since he has been in, and Travis Cloke has benefited from Dawes inclusion more then anyone.

100% CORRECT SELECTION THIS WEEK, for mine, that side gives us the best chance of winning this football game.

We will win, and yes, I will have some money on us.

Dawes I am in agreeance on. Cloke has looked much better with him in the side and I am certainly in favour of his selection over L.Brown/ JA at this stage based on performances as AFL level being the better of the 3 to date and more importantly fitting the structures much better to compliment Cloke which over the past few weeks has proven to be massive.

Personally I was in favour of keeping Brown in the side who is suited to the bigger bodied forwards then having Presti pickup JPod. Pretty hard to make the call that either Brown or Reid are better than Presti regardless of form or matchups because neither are correct.

With quality sides hard selection decisions have to be made and if this were the grand final tomorrow I'm pretty sure that the side would look pretty different with Presti and likely Fraser also back in the side.

I'm not opposed to having our younger players play over our more experienced players, infact I would rather see it, just purely from a winner or losing standpoint this is not our best 22 and not the side with the best chance of winning either.

 

[doppleganger]

Dont really understand the fuss being made with selections.

Brown and Reid have been playing well, both are in form so no need to change anything down back. It is an attacking move, as can back Maxwell to play tall if Geelong put all 3 of the big blokes down forward at the one time.

O'Bree has been good in his two games back...25 touches, 4 tackles and 1 goal in both his games.....feck me take you take that every week. + he is a big body who can match it with the cats midfield, that aint really quick anyway....guys like Ling, Kelly, Bartel ain quick...but they are experienced and mature.

Anthony, sort of stiff but had little impact against the Dockers....so prob fair enough that he was the one to make way.

We put out a side that is in red-hot form and choc full of confidence.

Is it our best 22?? Interesting question.

Our best 22 will fluctuate as the season goes on based on form.....

Dick, Medhurst, Presti, Fraser, Anthony, Goldsack could all slot in and the side would be as good if not better.

 

[Snag Breac]

I seem to remember a degree of selection angst in the corresponding thread from last week, and look how well we did then.

The truth is, we don't have a best 22, we have a best 25 or 26. If the absence of Presti or Medhurst means we lose this game, then we're no better than St Kilda with their reliance on Riewoldt. We have to be able to challenge the Cats all over the ground. The boys believe they can, so we should back them with our faith in them.

Pies by 25.

 

[dickballsack]

i agree with the guys saying JA was pretty good last week but the changes for this game say to me they will try and mimick the game style carlton used against the cats, running defenders on their tall forwards ( jameison, white & walker) and only 2 tall targets with 4 -5 quick forwards on the ground at all times ( gartlett, betts, yarran, houlihan & murphy kicked 11 between them). i think it's a good strategy as their backs rather play on tall marking players where they can zone off

 

[TradeDraft]

Tomorrow night is exactly why we persued and recruited Luke Ball.

I expect a massive game for him.

100% agree and I hope he does have a big game as he will be very important to our chances

 

[PieBeast]

Late change, O'Bree OUT, Anthony IN plzkthx?

Yeah was thinking the same, could be one of MIck's tricks.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

I am going to let the team selection pass through to the wicketkeeper and restrain myself from playing a stroke. There is obviously a plan in place and we will know tomorrow night how this team stands up against Geelong.

I have not so anticipated a game for a long time. Of the emergencies, even Lockyer has a chance for last minute selection, because he might prove a better HFF than O'Bree, if the intention is to use OB in that role.

What a buzz to see the young guys, Reid, Dawes and Brown up against the best! Who is going to perform above expectations in the heat of battle? Etc, etc.

I am glad Wellingham is back. I never would have said that last year!

Go Pies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keele]

the cats have the best record of any side this year for defending marks inside oppositions 50 keeping set shots for goal very low... expect the same this game and thats why MM has gone for running forwards...

If we win we will need to keep kicking goals on the run from a number of players which is what this side has been picked for.


go pies

 

[danielnajdek]

Love the look of the team.Yes they're very young but you'll never find out if they can cut it until they play the best.I've been a critic of Mick but not this year.His selctions have been really good looking towards a few years but also this year as well.Well done Mick on doing a great job. Go Pies!! We'll win by 10 points

 

[Quicky]

I'm happy with less changes over more. The last thing we want is a big turnover in personnel. It's great to see Wellingham back in - if I could have picked one 'in' it would have been him. I'm concerned that O'Bree is still in as I think it will mean Wellingham plays more outside as O'Bree isn't that versatile in other positions. Anthony is pure and simple a victim of our strong team right now. It's surprising that Presti is still out - i'm not sure if this is because his injury is still being managed; whether he is still being kept on ice for finals; or whether it's a deliberate ploy to continue Reid and Browns development. We're definite underdogs for this but shit i'm looking forward to the contest.