We dominated for 3 quarters against a top side

[TEDDY24INC]

I remember when we beat Collingwood by about 5 goals in the 2010 H&A.

Everyone was blathering on about how good Geelong was after that game. But I was thinking, WTF?!

The Pies had most of the ball, most of the time. They looked like they were the winners. They just couldn't convert. But every time we went forward, we goaled. Blind kicks into the 50, hitting one of our boys on the chest, was the order of the day. The scoreline did not match what happened.

After that game Collingwood took off in a big way, and shit - as they say - got very real.

Hold on to your hats, pessimists. Hold on tight.

Thank fu#k someone has given some degree of sanity to our situation...
We are going to be 9-5 with wins over the next couple of weeks, knock off the pies (which we are a big show given our last encounter) and it will be interesting to see how some of you change your tune!
We need to keep senior players in the team like Corey and chappy to help the younger players experience wise and so we don't get monstered! I feel the balance of our team was bout right last night, stokes maybe the only 1 in strife for Guthrie or ghs but no way I would be dropping Corey or chap... We can still win the flag, it will be tough, we need everything to go right injury wise and start pinching the close games again... More realisticly I think we should at the very least win one final. I'm tipping a prelim exit interstate which will give so much valuable experience to our younger players!

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Although I think we aren't going to win it this year, Wojo to find some form and fitness and and bundy to play a full game. if we can get a lift out of Corey too and get Varcoe back we can at least go deep in september/october and give it a shake. Hope Simpson gets a few more games and can see where he is at. Then I guess anything can happen but boak is needed now!

 

[Skerret]

For all his faults, Lloyd made some good points on the Sunday footy panel. He pointed out a few passages of play that highlight the offensive mindset of our mids. Duncan and Corey (twice) were exposed for a lack of defensive pressure at stoppages in the back half, each time resulting in a goal. They were ball watching and looking to move into an attacking position. They needed to be goal side of their man but weren't, got drawn to the ball and were punished for it. The point was made that they were playing football like it was 2007-11, but our ruck dominance has dissipated so this attitude can only hurt us.

Our poor first quarters could perhaps be remedied by a more defensive mindset. Have your top ball winners in attacking positions (I'd say Christensen, Selwood and perhaps Kelly are licensed here), but guys like Corey, Duncan, Hunt et al need to think defense first until the game has settled and they've got the rhythm, especially in the back half. Being attacking early really isn't working for us.

 

[Copernicus]

Too many 'what ifs' in this thread for my liking. It doesn't matter that we've dominated halves, or three quarters of a game, if we don't take the four points with us. When we come up against tough opposition in the last part of the season, we will not win games being forced to come from behind. It is far too taxing on older players. We have to control the game from the start, not getting back into it through force of will.

We're not Collingwood of 2010, that much is certain.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Too many 'what ifs' in this thread for my liking. It doesn't matter that we've dominated halves, or three quarters of a game, if we don't take the four points with us. When we come up against tough opposition in the last part of the season, we will not win games being forced to come from behind. It is far too taxing on older players. We have to control the game from the start, not getting back into it through force of will.

We're not Collingwood of 2010, that much is certain.

Lots to work on, but we are improving and that is a good sign.

WE are still matching it with the best teams there is no doubt, we just haven't got over the line in games that we have been used to winning over last 5 years.

I like were we are at, we have a challenge and there is just good scope to play honest footy for remainder of year. If we can sneak into finals I have no doubt we will be a handful for any competing side and are still every chance to go the distance regardless of where we end up....the trick will be getting there now!!

Tactically, maybe Scott will now concede we need to slow game down from start. Happened in way too many games now and we continually prove ourselves by coming back, but we are just getting blow away too early. Dropping Jimmy behind the ball now and slowing first quarters down until pace is out of game is a tactic we will no doubt explore.

Am very much looking forward to remainder of year, its good to be up for a different kind of challenge and to see how these champions respond!!!