Opinion We need to make a statement against Collingwood at the MCG.

[Ian Dargie]

Round 13 against Collingwood this weekend is not just another 4 points by any stretch of the imaginaton

Sorry, but that's exactly what it is.

Media and other fans might jump on the result and inflate its implications but, in the wash-up, it's another four points.

That's true of every game in the regular season.

This year however we've been top of the table the whole season, yet we still have our doubters. We're being labelled flat track bullies, duckers, umpire pets, pretenders with an easy draw.

So what?

None of that makes this game any more important.

You are falling into perception=reality mode i.e. if we lose, some people will write us off so this match is therefore of added significance. In reality, the opinions of the football media and public count for bugger-all.

Why do we need to make "a statement"? It's not politics.

And guess what, if we lose this game by a fair margin we could slip back to 5th on the ladder by the end of the round behind Sydney, Collingwood, Adelaide and Essendon. Now considering we still have to play Sydney, Adelaide, Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong at some stage in the last 8 games, we are no certainty to make top 4, let alone get a home prelim which we all know gives us our best shot at a Grand Final birth.

Turn it up. It's still four points, no matter how hard you try to read the tea leaves.

I reckon this thread is a classic example of media norms shaping the chatter.

Broadcasters will of course talk up the importance of this match and the pundits will rake over the implications in the aftermath. That's what they need to do to keep the treadmill going. But it's still just another game and the heightened atmosphere shouldn't cause people to lose perspective.

Our season will be decided in September, not June.

 

[Gizza]

It might only be half time. But we're currently making a pretty decent statement.