We will win without Rocca

[marcuz]

marcuz, what's yuor sig mean?

Hawks & Dees property of Essendon.

It means what it means....essendon own hawthorn and melbourne. Melbourne havent beaten us since 99 and the hawks since 97

 

[The Shev]

So are you going to take that $1000 from you Alcohol Account or your Bonus Drug Savers Account?

 

[Matt_TY]

Personal attacks: the province of those who lose their arguments.

 

[The Shev]

Thanks for the input Matt_TY. I think it almost changed me.

 

[Rival_V]

Originally posted by The Shev
Thanks for the input Matt_TY. I think it almost changed me.

Clutching at straws eh?

 

[moe sizlak]

it may very well be walker that comes in to replace rocca.

 

[The Shev]

Another has entered the ring.

 

[TheBloods]

I think Collingwood can win without him, however Rocca is still a critical part of the team and losing him is a major blow for Collingwood.

He has played in all 24 games this season. Throughout the season, he had less than 10 possessions four times, and Collingwood lost three of those games (4th was Richmond).

In the first half of the season, when Collingwood were struggling, he kicked 19 goals, had 56 marks and 131 possessions.

Of those 19 goals, 12 were kicked in 3 games - win over Geelong, and losses to form sides Brisbane and West Coast.

In the second half of the season, when Collingwood were playing well, he kicked 26 goals, had 79 marks and 171 possessions. He kicked goals in 10 out of 12 games (7/12 in first half).

In the past five games against Brisbane, he has kicked 13 goals, which is 24% of Collingwood's goals in those games. In the past four games against Brisbane, Rocca has kicked 10 goals, or 27% of Collingwood's goals.

For anyone to say he is not exceptionally important to the Collingwood side is just fooling themselves. He simply has the ability to stand up for short periods and dominate the game, kicking marks from the 50, and it is very hard to match up on him.

However, Tarrant did nothing in the GF last year (was probably a liability) and he is playing well this year, so it's possibly a wash relative to last year, while the rest of Collingwood has improved and Brisbane is not quite as strong.

In case you didn't see it, here were my points comparing to last year's GF. The key factors, from Brisbane's perspective, against last year and another win for them are:

- Lappin may not play or may play injured. He starred last year, with 28 possessions.

- Voss is not fully fit and he was critical last year.

+ Brisbane had to play 2 players short for most of the GF last year, as Pike and McDonald were finished after one qtr.

+ Rocca out and he was critical in Collingwood's game last year.

- Tarrant appears to be in much better form in finals this year, whereas he struggled last year.

+ Lockyer is not available for Collingwood this year. Although not starring in last year's GF, he is a critical cog. However, they have adequately filled in for him this year.

- Brisbane have not had the week off this year, only Collingwood.

- Collingwood's form appears more steady than last year running up to finals, whereas Brisbane have been more hit and miss, as against last year's powerful run home.

- Brad Scott is injured and Chris Scott may not be fully fit

+ Akermanis appears fitter than he did last year, not carrying into the game a possible injury.

- Collingwood will have Cloke, which gives them some more strength in the backline.

- Collingwood have Woewodin this year, which might add something to their midfield

Overall, I think it should be a fascinating game. The potential is for a repeat of 2001 or 1989 or 1984, with the defending champion trying to weather the storm from the fresher and hungrier Collingwood challengers.

One benefit for Brisbane may be that they are perhaps a little less cocky (for want of a better word) this year, and are not an overwhelming favourite to win. Sometimes this can bring something more out of a team, needing to lift rather than expecting to win. I believe there was a little of that last year, with Brisbane expecting to put the foot down when they were ready and move away from their opposition. However, when the Collingwood bull terrier didn't let go when the Brisbane Lion tried to shake them off, they were caught up in a tough fight.

 

[FuManchu]

Originally posted by dees 4 life
I can useally predict the scores very well with these two teams.
Lions by 54.

Its too bad you couldn't predict the pathetic year that you were to have this year, especially after making the finals last year.

Oh yeah, thanks for Woey, looks like h'll get that premiership that your club would never afford him.

Melbourne FC, the footballing version of the Titanic, lurching from one disaster to another

 

[FuManchu]

dees 4 life, is that a moniker or a life sentence?

 

[The Shev]

Originally posted by FuManchu
Melbourne FC, the footballing version of the Titanic, lurching from one disaster to another

Titanic sank on it's first effort. But Melbourne has been around since the dawn of time, longer than anyone else, and doesn't look like sinking.

 

[marcuz]

It's already sunk and they are sending a salvage team to see if it can be saved

 

[The Shev]

Salvage team isn't doing too bad then, making the Grand Final in 2000 and the semi-finals in 2002.

 

[FuManchu]

Originally posted by The Shev
Titanic sank on it's first effort. But Melbourne has been around since the dawn of time, longer than anyone else, and doesn't look like sinking.

You sank with every effort this year. Woe(y) is me

 

[Arma]

Originally posted by FuManchu
Woe(y) is me

Enjoying his monster Finals series? 29 possessions in 2 games is all class.

 

[marcuz]

Salvage team isn't doing too bad then, making the Grand Final in 2000 and the semi-finals in 2002.

Making up the numbers in both finals series. Melbournes culture needs a total overhaul. If you think that points to a succesful club then your either deluded or brain dead

 

[FuManchu]

Originally posted by Arma
Enjoying his monster Finals series? 29 possessions in 2 games is all class.

As opposed to 0 posessions, in let me see.......0 games

 

[Arma]

Originally posted by marcuz
Making up the numbers in both finals series. Melbournes culture needs a total overhaul. If you think that points to a succesful club then your either deluded or brain dead

Making up the numbers? Buddy, we finished 3rd after 22 rounds in 2000. And if we were making up the numbers, just how did we make the GF?

 

[The Shev]

Originally posted by marcuz
Making up the numbers in both finals series. Melbournes culture needs a total overhaul. If you think that points to a succesful club then your either deluded or brain dead

Making up the numbers? Our last three finals years have been much more than making up the numbers.

1998- Won last 9 of 10 games towards the end of the season (lost to Roos by 1 point), then beat eventual premiers Adelaide by 9 goals, pumped the Saints and then went out to the Kangaroos in the preliminary. Gave it a good shake that year, pumping the premiers and getting very close to North Melbourne.

2000- Top 4 finished followed by a win over highly-fancied Carlton, beat the Roos convincingly in the preliminary final and then lost to Essendon in the Grand Final. Any team who makes the GF isn't making up the numbers. Plus, we beat 2 and 4th along the way.

2002- At one stage during the year we were rated as the best chance for a Victorian premiership. Beat Brisbane in Brisbane, Port Adelaide too. Then beat the Kangaroos and just lost to Adelaide in the semi-finals. A fairly good year, BGombers didn't do much better.

 

[marcuz]

Making up the numbers? Buddy, we finished 3rd after 22 rounds in 2000. And if we were making up the numbers, just how did we make the GF?


FuManchu quote:

Im sorry i must have been watching another melb team getting a new arseh*le torn by essendon. 69 points....thats making up the numbers. You were an above average side who hit a rich vein of form at the right time. You weren't even in the same league as essendon that year.

In 2002 you gave up a three quarter time lead to a side who couldnt get anywhere near the pies the following week...so yes thats making up the numbers...good but not good enough

 

[FuManchu]

Originally posted by Arma
Making up the numbers? Buddy, we finished 3rd after 22 rounds in 2000. And if we were making up the numbers, just how did we make the GF?

you drew the short straw that year

 

[The Shev]

Didn't know making a Grand Final meant making up the numbers?!?!

In 2002 you gave up a three quarter time lead to a side who couldnt get anywhere near the pies the following week...so yes thats making up the numbers...good but not good enough

A bit hard when 3 of your best midfielders were injured. Johnno was exhausted and had to do the work all by himself.

 

[marcuz]

Originally posted by shev
2002- At one stage during the year we were rated as the best chance for a Victorian premiership. Beat Brisbane in Brisbane, Port Adelaide too. Then beat the Kangaroos and just lost to Adelaide in the semi-finals. A fairly good year, BGombers didn't do much better.

Please dont compare us to your pathetic club. As you see by my sig i have no respect for your mob. You never seem to beat us and you've done jack **** since 1964.

And thats a shame because melbourne used to be such a powerful club....and i mean "used" to be

 

[Arma]

Originally posted by marcuz
Im sorry i must have been watching another melb team getting a new arseh*le torn by essendon. 69 points....thats making up the numbers. You were an above average side who hit a rich vein of form at the right time. You weren't even in the same league as essendon that year.

In 2002 you gave up a three quarter time lead to a side who couldnt get anywhere near the pies the following week...so yes thats making up the numbers...good but not good enough

So what you're saying is that every team besides Essendon were making up the numbers in 2000? Every single club were murdered by them that year. As we beat Carlton, it's fair to say that we were the 2nd best side that year. It's a pity it was 2000.

 

[marcuz]

yes every team was making up the numbers...although a full strength carlton side would have made it a much closer gf