Preview: Collingwood Vs. Melbourne (Round 2, 2009)

Well, we haven’t started the season in a fashion that we had all hoped and even expected, but it’s early days yet as we face a rebuilding Melbourne in the second round.  We will enter this game as favourites once more and I can only speak for myself, but I’m growing increasingly nervous about entering games as favourites given our past few seasons.

Despite this anxiety, we should comfortably account for Melbourne if we are in fact serious about making an impact this year.  On paper, we sport a better list and the form guide over the last year is a no brainer.  All the same, we struggled to put Melbourne away last year and that was at a point in the season when it was apparent that the ship had already sailed on Melbourne’s chances.

What we face this weekend is a Melbourne side still sporting early season enthusiasm and as such, they’ll be determined to shake up the general consensus of where they stand in the AFL food chain in 2009.  Because of this, it’s important that the players and coaches are mindful not to underestimate Melbourne — who despite being awarded the most recent wooden spoon and being in the midst of a rebuilding phase, still sport some class within their list.

The likes of Cameron Bruce and Brad Green are always dangerous and if left unchecked, can alter the complexion of a match in a hurry.  With quality players in McLean, Moloney and McDonald providing the grunt; the Melbourne midfield is nothing to scoff at.

Where Melbourne tends to fall down is its forward line, since the retirement of Neitz and with Robertson battling injury, they have struggled to find forward targets along with the resulting structure.  I rate the likes of Matthew Bate, however he is the sort of player that we should be able to account for.

One area of concern for Collingwood would be our lack of a specialist defender who can handle the zippy smalls.  With Melbourne blooding both Jetta and Bennell last week with reasonable success and Davey being already established; there is always the risk of one of these smalls slipping under the radar and causing some headaches.

Whilst we can’t underestimate the Melbourne faces we are already familiar with, it’s equally important that we don’t underestimate their fresher faces.  The likes of Cheney and Petterd have been impressive during the pre-season, whilst Melbourne’s other young players in Bartram, Buckley, Garland and Frawley all look to have bright futures ahead.

After Rocca kicked six against Old Scotch last weekend, there has been a lot of talk about his chances against Melbourne.  Whilst we all look forward to seeing Rocca back, I’m not so sure we need to rush him in if the medical staff think he could do with a few more hit-outs at a lesser standard.  We can’t read too much into a six goal performance against an amateur side; but with that said if the people in the know do give Rocca the all clear, then he’ll be a certain starter and the likes of Cloke and Anthony could very well dominate as the burden is lifted.

Heath Shaw is a likely – and most welcome – inclusion, as he seems to be over the minor hamstring injury he suffered in the NAB Cup.  We got the team selection all wrong last week, as we carried too many flankers who are either too defensive to provide adequate rebound, or simply too skill deficient.  The return of Heath Shaw should make a significant improvement in this area.

There was a general consensus amongst supporters over the off-season that we couldn’t have Toovey, Goldsack and Cox all within the same side; especially considering that Maxwell is a lock as captain.  After the game against Adelaide, this consensus looks to have been proven correct, so I would expect that one of these players would make way for Shaw this week.  Cox should be safe, as I considered him one of our best against Adelaide, whereas both Toovey and Goldsack left a bit to be desired.

We must be determined around the stoppages as Moloney, McDonald and McLean aren’t going to relinquish the ball without a fight.  If we can break even in the clearances, you would be confident that we have superior players around the field – particularly up forward – to get a better return than Melbourne for our opportunities.

Importantly, I don’t want to see any players left unchecked should they start showing signs of dominance.  I’m still filthy over McLeod being left to run riot and don’t think I could stomach a repeat of that glaring oversight.  We were guilty of similar negligence at times last year, as Daniel Wells did a number on us the second time we played North.  Quite simply, there is no shame in admitting a small defeat to one particular player — if they look to be in that sort of mood, shut them down!

On a side note, I’m glad that Collingwood has opted not to take our displeasure with the umpiring any further.  As I mentioned in my match review, whilst the umpiring was poor there were plenty of reasons for the team to face up to the mirror.  Dancing with the AFL in regards to the standard of umpiring would have only served as a distraction during preparation for Melbourne.  Instead, I hope the players are taking full responsibility for the loss and are determined to make amends heading forward.

As disappointing as last week was, I’ve been able to find some peace after the dust has settled.  We simply played poorly, not just in the first quarter but also for patches throughout the entire game.  A few of our players were well below their usual standard, whilst we saw some further good signs from the likes of Cox, Anthony and Thomas.  Our performance against Adelaide was clearly not an indication of our potential best form; so hopefully it can act as a catalyst for us to reach and maintain that level after an early kick-in-the-pants.

I’m taking nothing for granted this year, but we simply must win this one and win it well.

Match Review: Collingwood Vs. Adelaide (Round 1, 2009)

The Scores

Collingwood: 2.0 / 7.1 / 12.3 / 13.8 [86]
Adelaide: 5.5 / 8.8 / 11.9 / 13.12 [90]

Goals

Collingwood: Clarke 2, Anthony 2, Cloke 2, Medhurst 2, Maxwell 2, Pendlebury, Swan, Davis.
Adelaide: Stevens 3, Porplyzia 2, Van Berlo 2, Petrenko, Walker, Dangerfield, Douglas, Knights, Bock.

The 10th Letter’s Best: Pendlebury / O’Bree / Cox

Review

After the debacle that was the NAB Cup Grand Final, I had hoped that the Pies would make amends by kicking our 2009 campaign off on the right foot.  On paper and according to the bookmakers, it was a game that we were expected to win.  For many, it was a game that we needed to win to show that we had made some steps from our past tendencies of dropping matches we entered as favourites.

Despite the favouritism, I wasn’t as confident as some others and always expected this match to be a real contest — but all the same this was a game that, when looking at the fixture over the off-season, I had expected a win from.

Unfortunately, it seems like an all too familiar story; with the slow-starting Pies going down by four points in what – I imagine – was an entertaining match to watch if you were a neutral supporter.

Adelaide burst out of the blocks whilst our boys looked like they were yet to arrive at the MCG.  Whilst Adelaide controlled the corridor and rebounded the ball with ease, Collingwood struggled heading forward with stagnant movement around the wings.  The result was a 23 point lead to Adelaide at the end of the first quarter; with McLeod doing a lot of damage out of defence.

Collingwood fought their way back into the match in the second quarter, looking a lot better after what was a forgettable performance in the first.  Shannon Cox continued his good form whilst the likes of Pendlebury, Swan and Thomas started working their way into the game.  We started hitting more targets and moving the ball with a bit more purpose, but still headed into the main break trailing by 13 points.

The first 10 minutes of the third quarter promised a lot for the Collingwood faithful and almost had us forgetting our first quarter efforts, with Collingwood kicking the first five goals to dash out to an 18 point lead.  Maxwell stood up, kicking two goals for the quarter whilst Medhurst got dangerous after finding his feet in the first half, adding 2 of his own.

The momentum ended however, as Adelaide capitalised on three dubious umpiring decisions which resulted in three goals, leaving the teams deadlocked at the final change.  Regardless of the umpiring decisions – which were infuriating – we seemed to lose our spark and retreated back within our shells, battening down the hatches until the three quarter time siren came.

The final quarter was poised to be a real fight, as both teams were looking tired by the end of the third quarter.  A battle of wills ensued as scores remained tied for the first five minutes of play.  We managed to gain some ascendancy for a five minute period, with most of the play unfolding in our forward half of the ground.  Unfortunately, we were unable to capitalise and claim ownership of our fortunes; with Anthony opting to pass instead of taking a shot most would have backed him to kick and Swan fumbling an opportunity after a great defensive effort opened up the goals.

Adelaide managed to kick the first for the quarter after Knights converted from outside 50.  After a few more minutes of tug-of-war and a reprieve thanks to a shanked kick from Adelaide’s Myke Cook, Porplyzia marked and converted from 40 metres out.  There was still time if we were good enough and Pendlebury managed to restore some hope to the masses after marking in the goal square and quickly converting.

In the end, after one more genuine foray forward, time ran out for Collingwood; the siren sounding with Adelaide collecting four points after winning by the same amount.

As for our players, Shannon Cox was composed and hit targets more often than not throughout the day.  Whilst a lot of our players looked unsure and rattled – particularly early on – Cox brought a steady presence when he had the ball in hand.  Pendlebury worked his way into the match and along with Swan provided a spark for us in the middle during our third term resurgence.  Similar to Cox, in a day riddled with errors or poor decision making, he used the ball well and straightened us up.

It was quite difficult naming our best players, as whilst quite a few of them racked up what would appear to be good numbers; a lot of those disposals were largely ineffective.  In today’s game, most stats simply don’t tell the story.  In hindsight, we probably carried too many half-back flankers into this game, with both Toovey and Goldsack being largely ineffective.

Both Fraser and Bryan were quiet on the day, with neither providing much around the ground.  John Anthony continued his straight kicking and also held some strong marks, but as has been the story in his early career he simply couldn’t get on the end of enough opportunities.  This wasn’t entirely his fault, as for large portions of play we didn’t move the ball forward with any sort of fluency and Adelaide did well in pushing numbers back.

There has been a lot of focus on our wing dependant game plan during the off-season, with many people growing increasingly frustrated by the stop-start ball movement that results.  Whilst the strategy has served us well at times, the game is evolving and this method of offence is looking more and more redundant.

What frustrates fans so much isn’t the use of the wings solely, but more critically that we completely relinquish the corridor to the opposition.  Adelaide were able to stroll through the centre square, casually sharing the ball around in the middle of the ground.  It’s quite simply infuriating to watch as a supporter, when not only do the opposition have the ball in a dangerous part of the ground but also have little pressure applied in the process.

Some changes definitely have to be made in regards to how we go about it, as with Hawthorn’s success last year more sides are likely to employ a rolling zone that we have proven vulnerable to.  The logic behind using the wings as a method of minimising the cost of skill errors seems less and less credible; as when we turn the ball over, even wide on a wing, opposition teams have a variety of options queueing up in the corridor.

Whilst the game plan is worthy of discussion and most fans would agree they would prefer that we hit the drawing board and tried something new; it wasn’t entirely at fault for today’s loss.  Quite simply, the players did not look switched on until the second quarter and in any game of football, you simply cannot afford to give the opposition that sort of head start.

The same applies for any complaints about the umpiring.  Whilst I was as frustrated as any other Collingwood supporter as some terrible decisions were made, the fact still remains that we gave the opposition a 23 point head start – which arguably could have been more if not for poor conversion – and as such the team has nobody to blame but themselves.

I like to finish on a positive note at times like this, so despite all the disappointment we can still take something from the game played by Cox and also by some pieces of play from Daisy, who got involved and provided some spark in the middle during the third term.  Thomas also had some forgettable efforts – borne out of trying to do too much or be too flashy – but despite this he also provided us with some of our more convincing passages heading forward and was directly responsible for a few of our goals.

On days like this, perhaps the only positive to take away from the match is that there is definitely improvement to come.  Didak had an off-day despite picking up reasonably good numbers, whilst Medhurst still looks rusty at these early stages.  The return of Heath Shaw will be valuable and with our improvement in depth, we have options waiting in the wings.

It’s never a good way to start the season and some questions need to be asked along with some changes made; but we must remember that there are 21 rounds remaining.  Our current form is not our best form, so we should expect an improvement on that as the season progresses.  Whilst performances such as today should not be tolerated, it’s way too premature to worry about the sky falling.

Pre-Season Assessment: Part IV

Now for the final instalment of my pre-season assessment.

31. Chris Dawes

After looking the goods during our pre-season training, namely with a great 2km time trial performance, quite a few people were gearing up for Dawes to make an impact during the NAB Cup.  It wasn’t meant to be and instead we were reminded that Dawes still has a way to go before he can be considered an AFL quality key forward.

Nothing against Dawes of course, as in most cases it takes longer for a key position player to find his feet at senior level — especially one who has had to overcome a knee reconstruction.  Dawes has a lot to offer if it can all fall into place for him; he has good endurance and when you add that to his physical specs you end up with a very exciting prospect.

Many earmarked Dawes as Rocca’s replacement, but he is yet to prove he has the contested ability required of a deep key forward.  He has the tools for the most part, it’s just a matter of refining them and building some confidence.  After some frustrating showings during the NAB Cup, Dawes needs to find some calm and consistency within our VFL ranks.

Personally, I would give Dawes the whole year in the seconds for further development.  If he stakes a claim for the senior side through consistent dominant displays then all the better.

32. Travis Cloke

Trav has basically picked up where he left off, remaining our most important forward.  There are still queries over his kicking, but his ability to present time and time again whilst also having some of the safest hands in the business make him one of the best young key position players currently in the competition.

In the absence of Rocca, Rusling and Reid; Cloke had to shoulder a massive responsibility last year and it is a testament to his maturity in the way that he has gone about it.  Whilst there are still some queries over his kicking, which has a tendency to be wayward, his overall work ethic and determination make him absolutely pivotal to any grand final aspirations we might have.

I can’t help but get the feeling that once our forward structure settles and Cloke is given some adequate key position support; he could very well take his game to a whole new level.

33. Brad Dick

Highly rated within the club, as evidenced by Malthouse dubbing him a starting player when fit, Dick spent all of last year recovering from a knee reconstruction.

We have only seen glimpses of Dick so far, but his skill is evident.  The biggest attribute that Dick brings to the table are his foot skills, a quality which is vital to success within the modern game.  Whether he can transfer his evident ability from the training track to the football field on a consistent basis remains to be seen.

Everyone’s biggest concern regarding Dick is his light frame, as he doesn’t present as a player who is going to be able to add much bulk.  For this reason, in my mind he will always shape as a completely outside player; running off a wing or a half-forward flank.  Despite his body size, he’ll still be a valuable player when it comes to imposing some defensive pressure up forward.

The club would be desperate to get games into him this year and whilst I think he should come through the VFL side, he is likely to play more games than I think many would predict.

34. Alan Toovey

Humble pie anyone? I’m eating a slice as I write.  Granted, it’s only a modest slice as it was only the pre-season, but Toovey was nonetheless excellent.  In my defence, there were some worrying signs in regards to Toovey and he did have the ability to frustrate supporters with some awkward efforts.  This pre-season however, the only people he has been frustrating have been his direct opponents.

Toovey isn’t the most gifted footballer, but he is a gifted athlete.  He has a deceptively good size about him, with speed and endurance to match.  What has probably won him the most favour within the coaches circle is his willingness to apply himself to any task given.

Not only did Toovey showcase his defensive ability, but he also gave us something heading the other way — particularly against Richmond.  Based on pre-season form, I’d have Toovey ahead of Goldsack for the mid-sized back utility position and I’d also have him ahead of Cook for a run-with role within the side.

He’s likely to be in and out of the side throughout the year, but the club obviously rate him and after his early performances, I’m beginning to rate him too.

35. Simon Prestigiacomo

The glove is back!  With Wakelin departing, it is absolutely vital that we can keep Presti on the park throughout 2009.  Our defence is still in a transitional period after the loss of both Clement and Wakes, so Presti has become the new – or should I say old – foundation.

We know what to expect from Presti and he has had a pretty good pre-season from all reports.  His showings in the NAB Cup were reassuring, but we must remember that he is near the end and as important as he is to our chances this year; just like Rocca we must be mindful of a Presti-less future.

Pending his fitness and how he holds up throughout the year, he should start in every game.  However, I would like to see the likes of Nathan Brown, Harry O’Brien and even Ben Reid tried on the opposition’s most dangerous forward for periods of any given game; purely as part of their development and with a view to the future.

36. Dane Swan

What can you say about Swan?  He is a primary midfielder heading into 2009 and should remain so until he begins to slow down — which is a while off yet.  Swan is just an uncanny midfielder, using his work rate and cunning to consistently fuel our engine room.

Seemed to be in second gear for the NAB Cup, yet still performed to expectations.  Will play all games this year and will hopefully be given some more support from our second tier midfielders. His goal kicking was a little off early last year but came good towards the end; hopefully he’ll be able to remain dangerous when sneaking forward for most of 2009 as I consider it one of his most damaging attributes.

37. Luke Rounds

Not much to report at this stage, aside from the fact that he has added some good size in a relatively short period of time.  Had a noteworthy performance in one of our intra-club matches, but as a bottom aged player he is likely to spend the year at VFL level being groomed primarily as a rebounding defender.

Rounds has good endurance and fantastic pace; reports from training and our practice matches suggest that he also uses the ball well.  Whilst he’ll be groomed as a running defender, I hope that he is tried further up field on a wing or even in the middle during the VFL season.

38. Scott Reed

Our very first NSW Scholarship player, Hine was extremely pleased with the acquisition of Reed.  For the Rams, Reed played a variety of roles from defence to the midfield — showing good signs all over the park.  The club seems to be happy with his progress this pre-season and those who have gotten down to some of our practice matches have likened him to Goldsack.

I’m currently unsure as to what type of player the club envisions Reed becoming long term, but he has spent most of his time in defence so far.  At 192cms, we seem to have almost too many utility/defender types.  Reed will spend 2009 in the VFL and is one player who I will be watching closely.

39. Heath Shaw

Returned to some of his best during the pre-season and looks determined to repay the club’s faith.  Unfortunately, Heath is under a minor injury cloud and at this point may miss out on round one.  Regardless, it’s common knowledge that we are a much better side with Shaw available.

A recent article by assistant coach Paul Hudson suggested that Shaw is likely to be used on the wing throughout the year; a move which I would be happy to see.  Whilst Shaw straightens us up and gives us good drive from defence, he is such a talented and well rounded player that it would pay for us to free him up a bit more — whilst simultaneously keeping the opposition on their toes.

40. Chris Bryan

Our second ruck position remains a problem, but based on pre-season form Bryan has probably shown a little bit more than Wood.  Whilst history has shown us that Bryan won’t be influential in the rucking contests, he currently gives us more around the ground than Wood and is also a better option when resting forward.

Based on form, I would have Bryan ahead of Wood as our second ruckman.  When taking development into consideration and looking beyond the immediate future, there is merit in persisting with Wood despite his form.  I would expect these two to interchange throughout the year; hopefully with Wood cementing a spot in the end.

With that said, Bryan’s endeavour is a credit to him despite being aware of his place in the preferred pecking order.  He’ll get game time this year and is likely to remain on the list beyond 2009 for insurance.

41. Kevin Dyas

Not much to say about our other Irish experiment, as he was laid up last year from a severe hamstring injury and is yet to resume proper training.  I’ll refrain from making any judgements until he returns and manages to string together some games in the VFL.

43. Jaxson Barham

I really like the way this kid goes about his football.  The son of Ricky, we got Jaxson at the cheapest possible price as an uncontested father/son selection.  Considering the draft was considered a weak one, to have picked up a player who has shown the signs that Jaxson has so far could prove to be an unexpected bonus.

He came to the club with question marks over his disposal, whilst his pace was considered his best asset.  It’s evident that his disposal isn’t his strongest point, but in my opinion it is nothing to worry about as long as he plays within his limitations.  His kicking action is somewhat reminiscent of Brodie Holland, as he has a tendency to lean over the ball and punch it — obviously a modified  method of improving his control during the ball drop.

Even more impressive than his running prowess is Jaxson’s tackling, which is in my opinion the biggest feature to his game.  This kid is tenacious and prepared to get amongst the thick of it.  He was given game time against Essendon in the NAB Cup and it was probably one of the unluckiest quasi-debuts I’ve witnessed.  He was sold into trouble by team-mates on numerous occasions and was unable to find any breathing space.

Despite this, he worked hard and ended the night as our leading tackler — something that I hope wasn’t lost on the powers that be.  After getting a closer look at Barham, he looks as good a prospect for a tagging role as anyone else currently on our list.

I’m hoping that Barham can get some game time this year, as his tenacity and willingness to do the hard yards are commendable.  If given game time, hopefully we can free him up a bit more so that he can use his pace to effect.

44. Lachlan Keeffe

Currently, Keeffe is probably our most talked about rookie.  Whether this is due to our ruck woes or because so little was expected of him is debatable, but from all reports he is progressing faster than expected — some have even suggested that he might be in contention for some senior time this year if Bryan and Wood don’t get it together.

An athletic 204cm, Keeffe has warranted a mention in every intra-club and practice match report so far this pre-season; competing well in the ruck whilst also featuring around the ground and up forward.  This kid probably has more time than anyone else on our list and will spend the year honing his trade in the VFL.  Much like Reed, I’ll be watching this lad closely.

45. Tobias Thoolen

Delisted from the senior list at the end of last year, Thoolen was eventually rookie listed for a further two years.  A key position project, Thoolen didn’t impress many people – myself included – during his VFL appearances last year.  He was always going to be a project tall, so the two year extension on the rookie list was probably the best course of action as opposed to cutting our losses completely after one year.

Pre-season reports have been mixed regarding Thoolen, so I’ll reserve any judgement until the middle of the VFL season.

46. Tristan Francis

He’s probably been our least talked about draftee from last year, but there’s something about Francis that makes me think he’ll win people over quickly.  Our first selection in the rookie draft, Francis comes to the club with a ready-made body whilst being noted for his attack on the ball and man.  Paul Hudson made special mention of this kid’s hardness in his aforementioned article — and there is nothing that wins the Collingwood faithful over quicker than genuine hardness.

Shaping as a backman who also played a lot of his junior football on the ball, Francis is almost certain to come through the ranks in defence.  Being a rookie, he’ll obviously spend the year in the VFL where I hope we’ll get to see him in a variety of roles so that we can gauge the full spectrum of his potential.

47. Jarryd Blair

A contrast of Francis, Blair had everyone talking from the minute he walked in the door; destined to become a fan favourite given that he stands only 172cm tall.  What he lacks in height, he more than makes up for in genuine football ability, winning the Morrish Medal at under 18 level.

An inside midfielder, Blair has impressed over the pre-season with his work in close.  Not only has Blair looked composed in traffic and been busy around the packs, but he has also shown that he is a good user of the football — both in execution and decision making.

There is no questioning Blair’s ability, but whether his size will hold him back at AFL level is yet to be determined.  Regardless, I was glad that the club gave him the opportunity, as he strikes me as the sort of player who will get the best out of himself whilst also having the added incentive of proving a few people wrong.

48. John Bennell

An injection of X-Factor, Bennell is a lively forward who we drafted with a view to replacing Leon as he moves into the middle on a more permanent basis.

Whilst most reports coming out of the pre-season from onlookers have revolved around Bennell’s flashy choice of footwear, he has also impressed quite a few people with his natural gifts.  There have been a lot of positive reports coming from our practice matches regarding Bennell and he has managed to get amongst the goal kickers in just about every outing.

As with all our rookies, a good year in the VFL is the most we should expect of Bennell.

Pre-Season Assessment: Part III

21. Sharrod Wellingham

Wellingham is a player who I am hoping can step it up a notch in 2009 and become a consistent contributor to the senior side.  Only recently elevated from the rookie list, Wellingham still managed to play 12 games last year.  With our midfield in a transitional period, Wellingham is one player who will be vying for a more permanent spot in the side heading forward.

Sharrod managed two games during the NAB Cup, against West Coast in the first round and Geelong in the grand final.  Against West Coast, Wellingham was unable to stand out during what was an expected dominant performance.

Against Geelong, I believe he showed some better signs despite the overall performance of the team being well below average.  Wellingham worked hard for little reward, but showed a willingness to get amongst the packs and lay tackles — particularly early in the piece.

Concentration seems to be Sharrod’s biggest problem at the moment, as he seems to struggle to stay in the game.  This could come down to not having a constant role within the senior side, as there hasn’t been any visible indication as to what sort of player we are grooming Sharrod into.  He has some class which would suit him as an outside midfielder, but at the same time he is an effective tackler and is prepared to get amongst it.

Wellingham would benefit from being give some one-on-one guidance and a clearer direction in 2009.  There are aspects about Wellingham’s game that could make him an effective tagger, but he needs to find further maturity within his mental application.  I would expect Wellingham to at least equal his senior games from last year and start performing on a more consistent basis throughout the course of a match and from week to week.

22. Steele Sidebottom

It wasn’t just Collingwood fans who were anticipating getting a look at Sidebottom during the NAB Cup, as Rusty generated quite a lot of talk after his incredible TAC Cup grand final performance.  Whilst Beams stood out the most during the pre-season, Sidebottom was no slouch; collecting 19 disposals against Essendon in his first appearance in the black and white.

Much like the rest of the side, Steele found it a lot tougher against Geelong — although he was admittedly given very limited game time.  Despite Geelong having complete control and applying immense pressure, Sidebottom still managed to get involved during his time on the field.  He showed a hunger for the contest and didn’t seem overawed by the situation or the stronger bodied opposition.

We already knew that Sidebottom had elite endurance for a kid of his age, but he has also shown a very good football brain.  He works hard and knows where and when to present, as evidenced against Essendon where he made himself an option time and again.  Rusty also showed some nous at the clearances, reading and sharking a couple of bounces to send us forward.

Whilst Sidebottom looks ready made as far as talent and composure is concerned, there is no rush to push Steele – along with Beams – into the senior side.  Sidebottom could benefit from a year in the VFL whilst advancing his physical development.  With that said, don’t be surprised to see Sidebottom debut this year and string a few games together.  Anzac Day looks as likely an occasion as any other.

23. Anthony Rocca

There isn’t much to say about Rocca, as he is still on the road back from his ongoing injury woes.  He is obviously a certain starter if fit, although we should be expecting Rocca to be in and out of cotton wool all year long.  Pebbles has been doing some light rehabilitation work but is still yet to resume full training.  Given his current situation, he will be nursed right through to his senior return.

Getting 10+ games out of Rocca and having him right to go at the business end of the season would be the best possible return we can expect at this point.

24. Tarkyn Lockyer

One of Collingwood’s favourite sons, Tarkyn looks set to continue his good work as a damaging utility.  With the departure of so much experience over the last few seasons, players such as Lockyer are pivotal if we are to be serious contenders come September.

Tarkyn has had a very good pre-season and will carry good form into round one.  Whilst Tarkyn will be a certain starter all year and a major component of any success we aim for; much like O’Bree we should be looking to gradually find his successor from next year onwards.

25. Josh Fraser

With our well known ruck problems and neither of Wood or Bryan really putting their hand up, Josh is as important as ever to our finals chances.  Josh was rested after our clash against Essendon and then, unfortunately, never returned to the side and has since been under a “general soreness” injury cloud.

Despite this bad news, Fraser showed some excellent form in our first two NAB Cup matches.  He was nearly back to his best with his second efforts after ruck contests and he also started looking dangerous drifting forward once more.  We can only hope that the injury speculation is nothing too serious.

Fraser has been the victim of being mismanaged early in his career.  In 2009, he will remain our primary ruckman and an important leader for our younger lads.  It’s important that Josh gets his body right and can work himself back to his best form; as we’ve suffered too long for lack of competitive ruckmen.  As much as we might not like to admit it, the development of Wood and performances of Bryan are critical to the fortunes of Josh Fraser this season.

26. Ben Johnson

For mine, Johnson has been one of the negatives to come out of this pre-season; yet I feel unfair in saying that.  Roids worked hard on the track over summer and got himself into the best shape he has possibly ever been in.  Unfortunately, the well-known deficiencies of Johnson’s game continue to haunt him and us as supporters.

Nobody would question Johnson’s endeavour, but it has become obvious that we can probably no longer accommodate his shortcomings given the new direction that football is heading in and our changing game plan.  Consistent execution of basic skills is an absolute necessity to account for defensive zones, clusters and even flooding.

Johnson was fantastic against West Coast but unfortunately proved to be ineffective against Richmond and then Geelong.  Whilst he’ll get his hands on the ball often, he counteracts this side of his game by being wasteful with his possessions.  Johnson is also incredibly one-sided, which the opposition have worked out.  He will often run himself into trouble or sell a team-mate up the river due to a complete lack of a right side.

In his defence, he is bound to be rusty after sitting out a large portion of last year.  He is one of our more experienced players and as such will feature in the first 22 throughout the year; however he currently sits outside of our best 22 based on pre-season form.  With the likes of Toovey, Cox, Goldsack, Barham, Wellingham and McCarthy all set to fight for senior positions throughout the year; it’s going to be extremely hard for Johnson to redeem himself.

27. Jarrad Blight

As expected, Blight didn’t feature in any of our NAB Cup hitouts and is set to have a year of development at VFL level.  All the same, Blight has impressed quite a few people during the pre-season, particularly against the Coburg Tigers in a VFL practice match where he racked up 21 disposals and 4 marks from a wing.

A bottom aged player, Blight has a lot of time on his side and given our depth it is likely we won’t see him debut until 2010 at the very earliest.  Whilst we should take our time with Blight, from all reports he looks to be a very natural and gifted footballer.

28. Danny Stanley

His name alone tends to open a can of worms amongst the Collingwood faithful, as he is generally considered one of the most unlucky players currently on our list.  I tend to agree with the pro-Stanley sentiment, as he has been consistently excellent at VFL level yet hasn’t been given an adequate run at senior level.

With the departure of Burns, Stanley looked the most logical replacement yet was only given a half against West Coast in our NAB Cup campaign.  During that half of football, Stanley didn’t set a foot wrong and also looked capable at the centre bounces, winning a clearance or two in the short time he was on the ball.

This pre-season, Stanley has continued to dominate in our VFL practice matches; always amassing 20-30 disposals whilst proving to be our most influential player.  Whilst we have good depth this year and some impressive fringe players who have the potential to become full-time senior players, none look as capable as Stanley at correcting our clearance problems.

Hopefully in 2009 we’ll see Stanley given a reasonable chance, preferably in the form of three or so games in a row being tried in the middle.  He has the physique, tenacity and the runs on the board at VFL level to warrant a call-up; especially given our clearance struggles throughout the NAB Cup.

29. Ryan Cook

Ryan Cook was another player who was looking to put his hand-up for a more permanent position in the Collingwood midfield.  Cook was given a fair shake in the middle, but probably failed to stamp his name ahead of others.

I’m still not sure what to make of Cook, he has some attributes that I like and in many ways he reminds me of Paul Licuria, without having the ability – as yet – to get his hands on the ball on a regular basis.  He runs hard and over the off-season looks to have become stronger; the most noticeable improvement I picked up on during the NAB Cup was his ability to break or stand-up in tackles.

There are some legitimate concerns over Cook’s ability to gather the ball cleanly, especially when under pressure.  His decision making at this point also leaves a bit to be desired, as he has a tendency to sell team-mates into trouble by hand.

The coaching staff seems to have some faith in Cook and I would expect to see him in the seniors for stretches this year.  At this point however, he sits outside our starting line-up and I’m more inclined to explore the Stanley option whilst Cook works on his weaknesses and builds his case at VFL level.

30. Brent Macaffer

Another of the good stories to come out of our NAB Cup campaign was that of the recently elevated Brent Macaffer.  After performing well and regularly kicking goals in the VFL last year, Macaffer was promoted to our senior list at the end of 2008.

Whilst Macaffer was impressive in the VFL, there were still some concerns over his versatility at AFL level.  Fortunately, Macaffer looks capable of offering us more than just a leading option within 50; as during his two matches and limited game time against Richmond and Essendon he presented an option further afield and contested well when not in possession.

Whilst Macaffer clearly deserved elevation last year, I still wasn’t sold on him long term.  After early glimpses, I’m feeling a lot more optimistic about Macaffer’s future prospects.  Alongside Rusling and Anthony, it’s hard to see how they will all fit into the same side; however Macaffer looks to have the ability to play a Ryan O’Keefe type lead-up role, allowing Anthony or Rusling to play out of the goal square.

Macaffer will start 2009 in the VFL, but given his early showings at senior level and the promising feedback from our coaching staff in the media, a senior call-up during the year is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Pre-Season Assessment: Part II

Continuing on with the pre-season assessment…

11. Shane O’Bree

Cheesey has been a workhorse for the Collingwood Football Club since crossing over from Brisbane.  He is most definitely in his twilight, but with a lot of experience departing the Collingwood side – particularly in the middle – O’Bree is a required player if we intend on having a serious crack in 2009.

Currently, I would rank O’Bree as our number one clearance player.  He does have limitations, which are often dragged up after forgettable team performances, but we simply do not have another player on the list ready to replace him just yet.  What O’Bree lacks in polish he makes up for in gusto, something that is rightfully highly regarded at the club.

As far as pre-season form is concerned, we know what we’re going to get with O’Bree and the NAB Cup did nothing to change any long-standing knowledge of what Cheese will bring to the table.  A certain starter in 2009 when fit, but we should expect to see O’Bree slowly succeeded by our next generation from 2010 onwards.

12. Shannon Cox

Close to our best performed player throughout the NAB Cup competition, Shannon played in all four games and provided some classy rebound out of defence.  Despite being abundantly talented, Cox has remained a fringe player at the Pies during his time at the club and with most of the obvious dead wood purged at the end of 2008, this year always shaped as a critical one for players in Shannon’s position.

There has always been a lot to like about the way Shannon goes about his game, but his application has been called into question in the past.  What we’ve seen this pre-season is not too surprising as we all knew he was capable and possessed a healthy amount of skill.  The big questions regarding Shannon’s future will be decided by his consistency and contribution once the blow torch of the season proper is applied.

So far, Cox has stepped up to the plate and has done enough to warrant a round one call-up.  I’d like to see him tried on the wing in a more offensive role throughout the year, along with his expected assignments on the half-back line.

13. Dale Thomas

Consistency has always been the key word applied to Thomas throughout his young career.  With another pre-season under his belt and what looks to be a new role sweeping up across half-back, the club is obviously experimenting and taking some steps to keep one of our natural match winners in the game for longer periods of time.

Thomas was relatively impressive during the NAB Cup, managing to pick-up respectable numbers playing in a more defensive role; whilst still making himself dangerous by drifting forward.  If early signs are anything to go by, he seems to be coming to terms with his natural tendency to swing the ball from right to left when taking set shots and has worked this into the equation when lining up.

I’m not sold on Thomas as a permanent fixture down back, but I’m definitely a fan of playing him there in stints to work him into a game.  He has the creativity and one-on-one ability to be dangerous anywhere, but I can’t help but feel that his unique gifts would be somewhat wasted in a defensive role.  Further to this, Thomas is likely to be exposed if isolated deep in defence — something that we should avoid at all costs.

I’m glad to see the new direction that the club is taking with Thomas, as a player of his natural ability should be aiming to amass around the 20 disposal mark per game, whilst ideally contributing to the scoreboard.  A definite first 22 player, I’m hoping that 2009 proves to be the year that Thomas comes of age.

14. Anthony Corrie

I would consider it unfair to suggest that Corrie has been a disappointment this pre-season, given that he is at a new club and as such learning an entirely new game plan.  But on the other hand, I think it’s fair to say that we probably expected more from a player who our coaching staff have been keen on for a while now.

Corrie came to us along with a promise of pace and good disposal, but unfortunately we are yet to witness any of these exploits in his new colours.  On a positive note, he has worked hard doing the little things in the two matches he has played against West Coast and Essendon — but our entire team is drilled to perform such acts and as such, Corrie will have to do a lot more if he wants to resurrect his career in any meaningful fashion.

As things stand, Corrie is a depth player and nothing more.  We got him cheaply and he may yet surprise us, but currently he is standing back in the queue with perhaps only his experience giving him some leverage at the selection table.  The club was obviously keen on him – and I was happy with picking him up for next to nothing – so let’s all hope that it’s just a matter of him finding his feet.

Corrie will start in the VFL and I predict will spend a majority of his time there this year based on early signs.  However I do expect him to get a few games in the seniors as we historically like to comprehensively test recycled players.

15. Leigh Brown

As expected, Leigh Brown is in a similar boat as Corrie as far as being considered depth is concerned.  With that said, I think it’s safe to say that Brown was the better of the two during our pre-season and will provide us with some insurance in the event that injury strikes some of our key position stocks.

A much maligned player (admittedly for good reason at times) Brown did some good things during the pre-season.  Capable of playing down back and up forward whilst also pinch-hitting in the ruck when required, Leroy may yet win senior selection off his own merits.  As with Corrie, expect to see Brown called up throughout the season in attempts to get some return on our minimal investment.

16. Nathan Brown

A revelation early in 2008, Nathan Brown stepped from being a player whose development we worried about, to a first selected key position defender  Whilst his early form was fantastic, Brown faded as the year wore on and ended the season much like other young players before him — fatigued and somewhat out of touch.

Whilst Brown hasn’t set the world on fire this pre-season, we simply have to remember that he is only 20 years old and is shouldering a fair amount of responsibility down back.  By my count, Brown is still ahead of where we had envisioned him to be and it would serve us well to remember that he’s effectively still learning the trade down back.

Brown will start more often than not, but don’t be surprised to see his form fluctuate once again in 2009.  I also wouldn’t be surprised to see him tried up forward where feasible, as Malthouse has already stated that he expects versatility from our talls.  I’m happy for Brown to play every game this year, he’ll have his victories but will also be taught a few more lessons along the way.

17. Dayne Beams

One of the most exciting things to come out of our pre-season has been the early signs from our second pick in the 2008 draft: Dayne Beams.  In all three games he played – including the dismal affair against Geelong – Beams provided us with a highlight or two to make the Collingwood faithful salivate.

Already showing a composure beyond his years, Beams just has star quality stamped all over him.  Whilst managing to find the ball more often than you would expect from a player yet to play an official AFL game, Beams also proved damaging with his touches and won the confidence of the coaching staff by getting thrown into the centre.

Without getting too carried away, Beams obviously still needs further development — which is a given considering his tender age.  Thankfully, all reports from training and articles regarding Beams suggest that he is a competitive and level-headed kid, determined to get the most out of himself.

I would be happy with Beams getting a round one call-up and given his performances so far, he arguably deserves it.  However, I would not be opposed to giving Beams a string of matches in the VFL to earn his stripes so to speak.  Whatever course we take, you can be assured we are likely to see Beams make his official debut in 2009.

18. Marty Clarke

Marty started last year slowly but has had no problems rekindling his best form early this year.  One of the best finds we’ve had in recent years and a credit to our recruiting staff, Marty seemingly has no limit to his potential.

Whilst Didak and Davis are generally considered our most creative players, Marty has a solid case to put forward in the inventive stakes.  In any given match – often on several occasions – he will pull a trick out of his hat that simply leaves you smiling bemusedly.

Picking up where he left off, Marty is now a pivotal part of our defensive drive.  He’ll play all matches this year barring injury and I would expect to see him given even more offensive license.  With his endurance and ability to win or break even in ground level contests, in my mind Marty also shapes as midfield potential.

19. Cameron Wood

We simply needed more from Wood this pre-season and aside from an encouraging performance against West Coast, I would have to say he left us wanting.  Our ruck stocks have been a problem for as long as I can remember and whilst Wood still has time on his side, I think most people were expecting more at this point in time.

Wood just seems lost out there for large portions of his game time, failing to have much influence in ruck contests whilst also providing little around the ground.  Last year, there were question marks over his fitness base and as such he was excused for some poor form.  This year he chalked up his first full pre-season at the club and we were all expecting to see that reflected in his performances.

Turning 22 this year, Wood still has some time on his side.  What worries most supporters is his lack of mental application come game day, at times Cameron just seems to be disinterested — something that isn’t so easily attributed to natural development.

Even though we haven’t been impressed with Wood this pre-season, I think it’s important that the club gets some regular games into him.  Bryan is not a long-term rucking option by any means and Wood is the player we have hedged our bets on.  Maybe with some faith shown at the selection table, Wood might feel like he belongs and in turn play accordingly.

20. Ben Reid

A much discussed player at Collingwood, Reid has polarized many Magpuie supporters during his short time at the club.  After lining up for goal against Carlton last year and succumbing to a level of anxiety usually reserved for Bryce Gibbs when confronted by bustling small forwards, Ben Reid became a common talking point.

With all the speculation over his future, you would have been forgiven for forgetting that the kid is still only 19 years old.  He has had two seasons on the club’s list and in this his third, has shown very good signs during the pre-season.  In fact, I would even say that the signs shown by Reid during the NAB Cup were amongst the most positive things we can take from our campaign.

Standing at 195cm with athleticism to boot, Reid is indeed a very exciting prospect.  During the NAB Cup he was played both forward and back; showing positive signs in both positions.  He seems to have a new found confidence in his marking, taking some good contested grabs and generally attacking the ball with his hands out in front as opposed to the attempted chest marks that were an early trait of his.

I expect Reid to be given a lot of opportunities this year and I’m quietly confident that he will repay the faith.  Still only 19 years of age, Reid has plenty of time on his side for a player of his make and model.

This year will remain a developmental one for Reid, given that we shouldn’t expect him to assert any onfield dominance for a little while yet.  If – or when – Reid does hit his straps, there is perhaps no other player on our list with more versatility; capable of beating opponents who equal his height for speed and agility whilst beating more dexterous opponents for size.  If Reid can stay fit and find his feet, we may have a weapon that no other club can provide an answer to.

Pre-Season Assessment: Part I

With the pre-season competition ending bitterly for the boys, it is now time to take a look at the form of the individuals that make up our 2009 playing list.  Whilst Geelong handed us a brutal defeat on Friday night, there was a lot to like about our early form.

What follows is a player-by-player assessment based on performances in the NAB Cup and reports from training and VFL practice matches.

1. Leon Davis

Leon was brilliant in the first three rounds of the NAB Cup, but along with the entire team he came unstuck in the grand final against Geelong.  Some have speculated about whether Leon has the mental fortitude for the big stage, but all the result against Geelong proved was that Leon should be considered complimentary to our midfield as opposed to pivotal.

Regardless, Leon showed enough during the pre-season competition to suggest that 2008 wasn’t one out of the box.  He has taken the next step as a player and will spend a lot of time in the middle this year.  We must remember however – as far as our midfield is concerned – that Leon’s style of football provides the polish — the engine oil must come from elsewhere.

2. Sean Rusling

Rusling’s recovery and preparation remains something of a mystery.  It was reported that Ruz had a run at full-back in a VFL practice match a couple of weeks back, the consensus being that he didn’t look the part down back.  Currently, we are none the wiser as to how Rusling’s fitness is and where his body is at.

What we do know, is that with the emergence of Jack Anthony and some good early signs from Macaffer; Rusling is set to have some competition for senior selection in 2009.  This can only be a good thing, as it would serve Rusling well to regain some form and consolidate his fitness base in the VFL before coming into selection consideration.

3. John McCarthy

Plenty of Pies fans – myself included – expected big things from J-Mac in 2009 after having a very promising debut season.  Unfortunately, we may have to lower the expectations a little as judging by the glimpses we’ve seen of McCarthy this pre-season, he is clearly underdone.

McCarthy’s preparation was hindered by a knee complaint, which resulted in some minor touch-up surgery.  McCarthy had limited game time against Richmond, where he showed the poise that won over so many fans last year.  Against Geelong, he tried hard but much like the side at large he had a night he would rather forget.

McCarthy is likely to start the season in the VFL, or at least he should in my opinion.  He has all the required attributes for senior selection, he just needs to get his body right and dust out the cobwebs.  I’m expecting McCarthy to get a look in by mid-season and reasonably confident that by the end of 2009, he should be considered a certain starter heading forward.

4. Alan Didak

Didak was welcomed back to senior football in style, with the Pies thumping a rookie-list comprised West Coast in the opening round.  Didak ran rampant, amassing possessions at will and continued to get good numbers throughout the NAB Cup.

One observation to come out of the pre-season is that Didak is a little rusty, particularly with his field kicking.  I consider this a good thing, as Didak has looked dangerous and had no problem finding the ball, so once he completely gets back his touch we should be treated to some elite football.

There is nothing better than having a genuine match winner with a point to prove on your list.  Whilst Didak should play some cameos in the middle throughout the year, I’d prefer to see him spend most of his time on the half-forward flank, where he is most dangerous.

5. Nick Maxwell

It was smooth sailing for the new Collingwood captain, up until Friday night of course.  The appointment of Maxwell as captain has been a talking point amongst Collingwood supporters and the league at large, but after a few pre-season hitouts have we seen enough to judge whether the decision was the correct one?

At this early stage, I would have to say yes, although I can understand some of the reasonable scepticism from some of our fans.  Maxwell provides a level of leadership and has garnered the required support to be a logical choice as captain, his on field form during the pre-season competition was as you would expect — determined and honest.

The problem that some fans foresee is that with the likes of Cox, Goldsack and Toovey all vying for positions in the side; and the hopeful emergence of Blight and Reed as future talents, Maxwell the footballer could be overtaken by players who possess either more upside, or simply more talent.  It’s a reasonable concern, but for 2009 it is moot in my opinion, as none of the aforementioned have proven to be a better alternative to Captain Nick on a consistent basis.

Given his captaincy, it is quite likely that Maxwell will be moved around a bit more this year, injecting him within the action with a view to inspiring his comrades.  Looking beyond 2009, it would be advisable for Maxwell to try and add a new string to his bow, to compliment the new feather in his cap.

6. Tyson Goldsack

A personal favourite of mine, Moneybags didn’t get a look in until the third round of the NAB Cup, benefiting from the decision to rest Maxwell and O’Brien against Essendon.  What resulted was a return to 2007 form for young Tyson, who was as dependable as ever whilst also providing some dash out of defence.

Goldsack brings a dynamic to the side not too dissimilar to Maxwell.  He excels at the one percenters and is a genuine team player.  Whilst he falls into a grey area physically, where he has the height but not the mass to hold down a key position role; he certainly possesses some very likeable athletic traits — he has something that I like to call “working class X-Factor.”

Unfortunately, Tyson’s second showing was against Geelong and it’s never easy being a defender when your midfield is almost non-existent.  Regardless, based on pre-season form I would currently have Cox and Toovey ahead of Goldsack, although I expect Tyson to figure in the senior team throughout the year.

7. Paul Medhurst

We didn’t get to see much of Medders this pre-season due to a slow recovery from residual injuries sustained in the 2008 season.  Perhaps the story from 2008, Medhurst catapulted from deceptive small forward to All-Australian; much to the delight of the Collingwood faithful.

We got our first look at Medhurst in 2009 against Geelong, where despite looking somewhat rusty, he was still able to give us glimpses at his evasive and dangerous exploits.  Given past heroics and his experience, Medhurst is a certain starter – barring injury – in 2009.  I’m not expecting him to burst out of the blocks, but hopefully he can build his fitness whilst contributing and peak from the middle of the year onwards.

8. Harry O’Brien

Speaking of the stories of 2008, Harry O’Brien was one of the most prominent improvers.  Harry O is simply a fantastic young man, who will never look back and regret not doing everything within his power to get the most out of what ever opportunity he is presented with.

In 2008, we witnessed O’Brien evolve from a hard working, somewhat awkward and occasionally frustrating defender to a bustling, creative and talented vital cog in our defensive machine.  O’Brien meets every challenge head on and learns as much from his victories as he does from his defeats.

This pre-season, much like in the case of Davis, we have been reassured that O’Brien is set to pick-up where he left off.  The absence of O’Brien against Geelong was telling; whilst it wouldn’t have changed the ultimate result, it is amazing just how much he shores up our back-line and how important he has become for our forward drive.  A certain starter in 2009 and beyond.

9. John “Jack” Anthony

For years, Collingwood supporters have been praying to the almighty to deliver us a forward who can kick straight.  Last year, our prayers were seemingly answered when we were stricken down by injury to Rocca and Reid; forcing Malthouse to swing young Jack up forward.  What resulted is history and it just goes to show that when God shuts a door, he opens a window.

It’s a little difficult to judge Anthony’s pre-season, as it is at the risk of being over-rated based on his performance against an undermanned Essendon defence, where he booted seven goals.  We all know that Jack will make the most of his opportunities, the queries have been over his ability to find more of those opportunities in a manner more befitting a genuine forward.

Against Essendon, he managed to do this and despite my earlier statements regarding the potential to read too much into one performance, seven goals is a very impressive return regardless of the opposition.  Jack looks to have improved his marking and the presentation of his leads also show an improved understanding of forward play; however there is still a way to go.

Whilst he should – and will – get a start in round one, he is not quite ready to be considered our next full forward.  Anthony will do his best work at this stage as a third tall, whilst it would be beneficial for him to rack up some game time playing against some of the leagues more established defenders.  Given the jury is still out on Rocca and Rusling in regards to their fitness, Anthony is likely to shoulder some large responsibility early in the season.  I look forward to seeing how he handles it.

10. Scott Pendlebury

The heir-apparent to our future captaincy, Pendlebury looks to have added size over the off-season and despite already establishing himself within the Collingwood midfield; he still has plenty of room for further improvement.

Pendlebury was his usual classy self throughout the pre-season, ranking within our top possession getters in all matches.  Whilst I would still like him to take the bull by the horns a bit more often, asserting his influence more brazenly, I’m very comfortable with where Scott is currently at.

Pendles has taken to his leadership role with enthusiasm and maturity, working extensively with a lot of our younger brigade throughout training.  Players of Pendlebury’s ilk are invaluable, both on and off the field and the new faces at the club will undoubtedly benefit from his tutelage.

Pendles looked to be travelling in second gear for the pre-season (admittedly, he rarely seems to break a sweat) and I look forward to him kicking it up a notch when the real stuff begins.  It goes without saying that Pendles is a certain starter, as he has become the cornerstone of our future midfield.  Personally, I couldn’t think of a better cornerstone to have than one which defies the laws of space and time.

Match Review: Collingwood Vs. Geelong

NAB CUP GRAND FINAL: COLLINGWOOD VS. GEELONG

The Scores

Collingwood: 1.2.2 / 1.2.3 / 1.4.5 / 1.6.6 [51]
Geelong: 0.3.5 / 0.9.10 / 0.13.17 / 0.18.19 [127]

Goals

Collingwood: Thomas 2, Bryan, Clarke, O’Bree, Beams, Cloke.
Geelong: Ablett 3, S. Johnson 3, Selwood 2, Chapman 2, Lonergan 2, Stokes 2, Gamble, Varcoe, Tenace, Bartel.

The 10th Letter’s Best: Thomas / Cox / Lockyer / Toovey

Review

It’s always difficult writing a review after such a demoralising performance, but I’ll suck it up and type through gritted teeth.

The first quarter showed a bit of promise in regards to the match being a close contest, with the teams exchanging goals throughout and ending the quarter with 23 points a piece.  Geelong had more of the ball but missed a couple of gettable opportunities, whilst Collingwood managed to manufacture two early goals through Clarke and O’Bree.

It would be as close as Collingwood got for the evening however, as Geelong turned it on with a dominant ten minute display in the second after Chris Bryan flattened star midfielder Joel Selwood.  Selwood was dominant throughout the game, particularly for a patch after being flattened by Bryan, where he won the next three consecutive centre clearances which resulted in three quick goals to the Cats.

Geelong reversed the tables on Collingwood, replicating the brand of pressure that we applied on them last year and in the process reversing the result.  With Geelong relentless when not in possession, Collingwood made skill error after skill error and were reduced to kicking in desperation in attempts to merely scramble the ball out of the hot zone, heading forward with no purpose or fluency.

The second quarter was littered with demoralizing errors; players missing targets even when finding a rare amount of space.  Ben Johnson streamed through the centre square, only to kick into a Geelong player and turn the ball over once more.  Shannon Cox, who had shown some poise despite the pressure in the first quarter, made some forgettable disposal errors deep in defence — a crime he was hardly alone in committing.

It’s safe to say that the Collingwood structure fell to pieces and Geelong were prepared to work harder than their opponents and use the ball a lot more effectively.  With Collingwood players shell shocked and confused as to their instructions, Geelong streamed forward and were able to raffle the ball amongst multiple open targets inside 50.

Geelong piled on six goals and five behinds for the quarter, whilst Collingwood barely fired a shot, managing only the solitary point.  Despite the forty point deficit, I hoped that the Pies would show some resolve for the remainder of the match.  Unfortunately it was not to be, as more of the same continued after the half-time break.

The Cats continued to turn the screws throughout the second half of the match, eventually running out 76 point winners.  Joel Selwood rightfully won the Tuck medal for best on ground, whilst Gary Ablett Jnr. proved damaging as usual racking up the disposals and kicking three goals.  With the roof open, fans were treated to a final quarter of rare wet weather football at the only indoor AFL venue in the country — a fitting dreary end to what was a forgettable night for the Magpies.

Geelong were simply dominant from the second quarter onwards, taking the ball from the centre at leisure and winning just about every position across the ground.  In the wash up, the telling point is that Collingwood had no clear winner all night, with the most that could be said about a handful of players simply being that they tried hard and managed to force or break even in a few contests.

Dale Thomas tried hard throughout the night – further dispelling the front running myth – and managed to push forward and kick two goals.  Alan Toovey was solid in his defensive work once more, putting his hand up for a round one start ahead of the likes of Goldsack and possibly Cox as a medium defender.  Whilst Cox may suffer the fate of being a fringe player amongst a side that was comprehensively beaten, I must commend his endeavour, picking up 17 disposals in a match where he historically would have seen little of the ball and been accused of looking disinterested.

Tarkyn Lockyer worked hard all over the ground, ending up as our leading possession getter with 20 disposals.  With the midfield soundly beaten, it’s hard to judge the performance of our forwards.  Jack Anthony was well held by Scarlett and spent a lot of the game working hard but only being rewarded with frustration.  Travis Cloke presented time again as usual, but was unable to find the ball in any dangerous positions.

Out of the young and fringe brigade, Dayne Beams should be a likely starter for round one also.  Despite not being as statistically impressive, he showed a willingness all night to put his head over the ball and do the hard yards — exemplified by a brilliant one minute passage where he forced a ball-up by contesting a loose ball in the midst of an oncoming Cat.  He received recognition from Darren Milburn for his courage, then followed it up a few seconds later by sharking the ball at the throw in and snapping truly from 30 metres out on a 45 degree angle.

Sidebottom had limited game time and despite working hard, found it tough to find the ball or space amongst seasoned Geelong bodies.  Wellingham had a real dip, especially in the first quarter, but was unlucky at times and outclassed by more experienced opposition in others.  John McCarthy looked very underdone and is likely to find some form and fitness in the VFL prior to winning a senior call-up.

Ben Reid persevered throughout the night and had a couple of forgettable moments.  Despite this, I don’t think we can judge the young developing tall by a few skill errors in a night where basic errors were rife throughout the entire team.  Reid spent a lot of time down back and wasn’t beaten on the lead often; also managing to effect a few spoils before the match was done.

Chris Dawes looked lost at sea while on the ground and needs another year of development in the VFL.  I don’t intend on judging Chris too harshly, as it wasn’t a good night for forwards in general; but he does need to work on his positioning and presentation whilst on field.  I wouldn’t be expecting Dawes to crash packs at this early stage in his career, but he does need to provide a target – even further afield – more often and more convincingly than he currently does.

Paul Medhurst had a relatively good return, despite the result and rarely seeing the ball.  He did look a bit rusty, but also provided some reminders of his creativity up forward when the ball was on the deck.  Our ruck combination of Wood and Bryan were soundly beaten both in the ruck and around the ground, but I don’t think there were too many surprises there.

With that said, Bryan tried hard as usual and also had a few brainfades — as usual.  Wood was not as poor as previous efforts, managing to find the ball a tad more often than his last two outings; but he still clearly has a way to go yet.

Davis had a night to forget, yet it was probably a reminder that as good as Davis can be he is not going to impose himself on a game if our midfield is being that soundly beaten.  Swan and Pendlebury endeavoured as usual, but were unable – bar a few pieces of play – to provide any sort of influence in the middle of the ground.

Ultimately, tonight just highlighted weaknesses that we were already aware of.  Our ruck stocks are some of the weakest in the league at this point in time, whilst our midfield is likely to remain a concern throughout this season when matched up against elite combinations.  Beams and Sidebottom have shown very good signs early, but they are at least a year or two away from having any impact in the centre.

Despite our perceived depth up forward and our wealth of dangerous small forwards, our structure is still vulnerable when we are being beaten out of the middle.  Cloke is one of the hardest working young centre half forwards, but he is so often forced to do his work further afield and once we have used him as an option, we desperately need another focal point afterwards.

We were simply given a lesson in football and a reality check as a result.  Hopefully the lads can take this in their stride and learn as much as possible from it, without becoming disillusioned.  Whilst a defeat like last night has dampened what was otherwise a fairly promising pre-season campaign, we can take some solace in such a defeat occurring early and in the pre-season, without four points being at stake.

Congratulations to Geelong, as hard as it is to say it was an awesome and daunting performance by the Cats.  As for our boys, they can take the next two weeks to attend to their wounds and prepare to redeem themselves in round one of the home-and-away season against Adelaide.

NAB Cup Grand Final 2009: Collingwood Vs. Geelong

The Team

B: Maxwell / Prestigiacomo / Goldsack
HB: Cox / N. Brown / Thomas
C: Beams / Pendlebury / Clarke
HF: Medhurst / Cloke / Sidebottom
F: O’Bree / Anthony / Reid
Foll: Bryan / Davis / Swan
IC: Dawes / Didak / Johnson / Lockyer / McCarthy / Toovey / Wellingham / Wood
EMG: Cook / Macaffer / Stanley

Changes

IN: Nick Maxwell, Paul Medhurst, Ben Johnson, Sharrod Wellingham, John McCarthy, Chris Dawes.
OUT: Heath Shaw (Back Complaint), Ryan Cook (Omitted), Anthony Corrie (Omitted), Leigh Brown (Omitted), Brent Macaffer (Omitted), Jaxson Barham (Omitted).

Preview

After a promising pre-season campaign, Collingwood have found themselves one hurdle away from claiming the NAB Cup.  Unfortunately, that final hurdle is a considerable one in a full-strength Geelong side who would be looking to kick start their mission of redemption for the bitter ending that was season 2008.

The fact that Collingwood was the only side to defeat Geelong – convincingly I might add – during the home and away season last year has been talked about ad nauseam, but holds little relevance other than highlighting the fact that Collingwood does match up well against Geelong.  Despite our good record against Geelong, it will take an excellent all-round effort to overcome a side that boasts as much talent as the Cats — particularly in the midfield.

The game shapes as perhaps the only seriously contested game so far during the pre-season.  Whilst teams have experimented throughout the competition or rested key players, both Geelong and Collingwood have fielded strong sides and made their intentions clear; “we’ve made it this far, we might as well win the damn thing!”

For Geelong, tomorrow night’s game shapes as an opportunity to seize back some shaken belief.  Whilst Collingwood, who have made their premiership aspirations public during the off-season, would be using this as an opportunity to test themselves against the competition’s current benchmark.

Collingwood will welcome back our captain Nick Maxwell along with some further experience in Ben Johnson, who was rested after being omitted for a disappointing performance against Richmond.  The forward line is also set to get a little more dangerous, with the welcome return of Paul Medhurst who has overcome his off-season injuries.

Rounding out the inclusions are three of Collingwood’s bright young prospects in McCarthy, Wellingham and Dawes.  Wellingham performed particularly well against Geelong last year, where he put in a memorable first half effort standing Gary Ablett Jnr.  McCarthy has been impressive since earning senior selection late last year and is the sort of tenacious competitor who should suit the pressure game plan we are likely to employ.

Chris Dawes has been relatively impressive in his last two VFL hitouts, although reports have varied.  With Reid and Anthony performing as well as they have, not to mention the good signs shown by Macaffer, Dawes should be desperate to make an impression in Collingwood’s forward line.

We have shown our faith in youth once more, with Beams and Sidebottom retaining their spots after impressing the coaches and fans alike.  Surprisingly, Josh Fraser has not been named amongst the inclusions as expected, whilst Harry O’Brien is currently on leave after the unfortunate passing of his step-father.

The Road To Victory

Quite simply, we have to recreate our best pressure football from last year.  When on song, we are perhaps the best practitioners of man-on-man football in the league.  Geelong’s weakest link is its forward line, so we have to turn the screws throughout the middle of the ground to prevent the elite Geelong midfield from delivering the ball to their forwards on a platter — or kicking goals themselves for that matter.

Our rebound out of defence so far this pre-season has been a highlight, with the likes of Clarke, Cox, Shaw and O’Brien all providing excellent drive.  Whilst we will be without Shaw and O’Brien for this hit-out, Tyson Goldsack displayed some newly found run-and-carry out of defence last week in a very promising display.  To compensate for the loss of Shaw, Dale Thomas was tested across half-back last week against Essendon and managed to find the ball 20 odd times.  Thomas has been named on a half-back flank, so expect to see Daisy tested down back once more.

I’m not at all confident about our midfield breaking even out of the centre, so they’ll have to work hard around the ground when the ball is in play.  We’re not going to beat Geelong on class, but we can beat them on work ethic.  The likes of Swan, Davis and Pendlebury would do well to push forward at any opportunity, giving their direct opponents something to think about.

John Anthony was extremely impressive last week, but will have a much bigger task – likely in the shape of Matthew Scarlett – this week.  This will be an interesting test for Anthony and in the event that Scarlett manages to hold him, it will be up to the likes of Medhurst, Dawes and Reid to expose whatever weak link resides in the stronghold that is the Geelong defence.

Our defence is the most likely to gain ascendancy out of any position on the ground, so we’ll be relying on continued drive from the back half.  Shannon Cox has been outstanding so far this pre-season, but unfortunately for a player in his fringe position all his good work so far could come unstuck if he doesn’t continue on with it tomorrow night.  With O’Brien and Shaw both absent, Cox has been presented with an opportunity to stamp his name in the senior side for round one.

Geelong are a side who tend to over-possess the ball, a game plan which can play right into our hands when we’re switched on.  We must harass the ball carrier at every opportunity and force as many errors as possible.  If we can hold steady and control the back half, whilst pressuring Geelong’s ball movement for the entirety of the night, then we’ll put ourselves in an excellent position to win the match.

Finally, we have had a longer pre-season than the Cats and the Pies look fitter than ever.  Geelong struggled in the second half last week against a second tier Carlton side; so if we can maintain four quarters of solid football, we may just win the match on endurance alone.

Final Words

It’s important to remember – win or lose – that there are a lot of good signs to take out of this pre-season.  The early promise displayed by both Beams and Sidebottom, combined with the improvement displayed by Cox, Reid, Anthony and Toovey, all bode well for the future.  Regardless of the outcome, it’s safe to say that the selection committee is going to have its work cut out for it heading into the home and away season.

Geelong are considered a class above Collingwood at this point, however we have an opportunity to make some people reevaluate their assessment of our side tomorrow night.  The boys all seem eager for the challenge and a victory tomorrow night would instill a lot of belief within our young side, whilst simultaneously causing some further damage to the psyche of a side that will undoubtedly be standing in the way of whatever premiership dreams we have come season’s end.

To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised by either outcome; I’m just looking forward to seeing how we match-up against such a formidable opponent.  Actually, you know what?  Forget sitting on the fence — slaughter ‘em Pies!

Related Articles: [Match Review]

Match Review: Collingwood Vs. Essendon

NAB CUP SEMI-FINAL: COLLINGWOOD VS. ESSENDON

The Scores

Collingwood: 1.5.1 / 1.9.4 / 1.14.4 / 1.17.5 [116]
Essendon: 0.2.3 / 1.3.6 / 2.5.9 / 3.6.10 [73]

Goals

Collingwood: Anthony 7, Bryan 2, Thomas 2, Didak 2, Davis, Lockyer, Pendlebury, Cloke, Beams.
Essendon: Dyson 2, Ryder, Lloyd, Williams, Hille, Lucas, Dempsey, Bellchambers.

The 10th Letter’s Best: Anthony / Cox / Goldsack / Clarke / Swan / Davis

Review

Similar to our first round clash with West Coast, most people considered this match a formality as Essendon rested senior players whilst once again suffering with injuries to key players in McVeigh and Welsh.  Despite this, you can take nothing for granted when Essendon goes up against Collingwood, regardless of form and fitness.  When Collingwood decided mid-week to rest Fraser, Maxwell and O’Brien, I admit I became a little nervous.

Ben Johnson was also omitted, most likely due to a poor showing against Richmond.  The inclusions for the game consisted of Goldsack, Corrie, Bryan and to the joy of many Collingwood fans — Sidebottom and Barham.

The Pies got off to a good start once again, as Anthony marked and kicked truly from 40 metres out on a 45 degree angle.  Chris Bryan added our second shortly after from 50 metres out on a similar angle after being the beneficiary of a free kick.  Essendon pegged one back, before Leon Davis swooped on a loose ball in the forward 50 to kick what is a bread-and-butter type of goal for the likes of Neon Leon.

Alan Didak marked on a tight angle but on the right side for a left footer, converting from near the boundary line to push the lead out evem further.  Essendon kicked their second to reduce the margin once more, but it wasn’t long before Dayne Beams received the ball, ran to just outside 50 and kicked a lovely super-goal on his non-preferred side.  Alan Didak bobbed up again just before the siren to snap truly and put Collingwood 25 points ahead at the end of the first quarter.

After one quarter of play, Pies fans were grinning from ear to ear as Dayne Beams picked up from where he left off and Sidebottom started like he was 200 games deep into a respected career; collecting seven disposals in the opening quarter.  Despite missing Maxwell and O’Brien, the back line held up fantastically with Goldsack in fine form and Cox continuing to impress.

Essendon kicked off the second quarter by benefiting from a 50 metre penalty to Ryder which resulted in a super goal.  Collingwood responded a minute later through Tarkyn Locker and once again through Scott Pendlebury, who received a handball from Leon Davis and kicked truly with his foot just on the 50 metre line.  Hille pegged one back again, but as would be the pattern throughout the game, Collingwood responded almost instantly with a strong contested mark to Anthony on the goal line who went back to kick his second.

Thomas put the finishing touches on the quarter by streaming forward to mark and kick truly from 40 metres out on a slight angle.  Once again, Beams and Sidebottom continued to impress during the quarter and the back line held strong once more whilst cleaning up the ball well.  Clarke and Cox racked up the touches whilst Presti continued to show why he is one of the best negating defenders in the league.

After a half of football, Collingwood held a 34 point lead.  Heath Shaw was subbed from the ground with a minor back complaint and was replaced by O’Bree on the field.  Dale Thomas played a different role cleaning up and providing some drive from the back line, doing a fairly good job whilst still managing to drift forward and make himself dangerous.

After the major break, Collingwood picked up where we left off when Dane Swan ran on to a well placed kick by the rebounding Goldsack, in turn delivering the ball laces out to the leading Anthony — who was now being marked by Essendon’s first pick from last year in Michael Hurley.  Anthony went back from 45 metres out on an angle and gave more credence to his growing reputation as a sharp shooter — sending it straight through the middle.

Essendon managed to string two goals together for the first time in the match through Scott Lucas and then a very fortunate holding the ball decision and subsequent 50 metre pentalty after O’Bree nearly had his head taken off by an errant David Hille elbow.  The result was a super goal to Ricky Dyson as Essendon fans began to find some voice.  It wasn’t long before they fell quiet again however, as Anthony kicked his fourth after being delivered the ball on a platter by Leon Davis.  Cloke joined the score sheet shortly after, kicking truly from 50 metres out on a tight angle.

Dale Thomas bobbed up forward of the ball once again, as the ever-clever Marty Clarke invented a chip pass that found Thomas 30 metres out on a 45 degree angle.  Thomas kicked truly, with his right to left swing keeping the ball within the big sticks.  When Anthony took a strong contested mark close to the goal square, resulting in his fifth goal, the result looked beyond doubt.

The final quarter was a mere formality, with the lead never venturing below the 40 point mark.  Lloyd and Bellchambers kicked Essendon’s two goals for the quarter, whilst John Anthony kicked two more to take his tally to seven for the match and Chris Bryan kicked his second after being on the end of a nice pass from Steele Sidebottom.  The final siren sounded with Collingwood running out convincing 43 point winners — a deficit that in my opinion was a little flattering to Essendon, who were on the receiving end of two gifted super-goals.

John Anthony was superb, actually looking like a genuine forward throughout the match as opposed to an experiment.  His straight kicking has been well-known for a while now, but his contested marking and understanding of positioning has greatly improved over the off-season.  We can’t read too much into it, as a few of his goals came on inferior opposition; but the fact is he’s beginning to become a player who opposition coaches will have to respect.

Leon Davis was his usual classy self and looks poised to take the AFL by storm this year.  I’m not basing this entirely on pre-season form either, as his performances for the last half of season 2008 were simply awesome and he looks ready to continue that form.  Pendlebury was kept relatively quiet, but still managed to collect 15 disposals and used the ball well as expected.

Swan was a work-horse as usual, waddling his way to 24 touches and winning a bit of ball out of the middle.  Marty Clarke was superb once again, matching Swan’s game high possession count with 24 of his own whilst using the ball creatively and providing good rebound.  Dale Thomas upped his work rate, largely due to his new role, collecting 22 disposals whilst still managing to kick two goals.

Shannon Cox was fantastic once more and I dare say he has stepped it up a level this year and should be starting in round one of the premiership season.  Goldsack has made the job even more difficult for the selection committee, stepping in and confidently filling the void left by O’Brien and Maxwell.  Goldsack collected 18 disposals and 7 marks, but what was most impressive was his rebounding and usage by foot — he was not only his honest and negating self, but also quite damaging coming out of defence.

Jaxson Barham was a little unlucky in his debut, as he seemed to find himself amongst congestion a lot of the time.  Regardless, he worked extremely hard and didn’t look daunted by the jump to senior level.  Further to this, Barham laid 5 tackles – a team high – and is likely to feature a bit in season 2009.  Beams and Sidebottom weren’t far off being named in the best, as they racked up 17 and 19 disposals respectively.  Both players use the ball very well and have composure beyond their years.  Whilst trying to keep a lid on it, I can’t help but think Hine has delivered once again.

Ben Reid continues to look more comfortable at senior level, despite getting just over a half of game time before being subbed for Macaffer.  Whilst his stats may not be all that impressive, Reid presented well throughout his time on field and just looks like an incredibly valuable asset given his improved marking, second efforts and versatility.  He also looked a lot more comfortable with his set shot kicking, despite missing from a tight angle.

Macaffer looked good once again, whilst not troubling the score sheet he provided an option around half-forward and worked hard when not in possession.  After the signs shown from Reid and Macaffer, combined with the improvement of the already impressive Anthony; Rusling is going to have to work his way back into the senior side, which is not a bad problem to be facing as far as Collingwood is concerned.

Whilst many expected a Collingwood victory based on form, fitness and the selected sides — there was a lot to take from this game from a Collingwood perspective.  Essendon were missing some senior players, but we also rested Fraser, O’Brien, Maxwell and lost Shaw after one quarter.  That is a huge chunk from our senior back line and yet we still easily accounted for Essendon, who had both Lloyd and Lucas up forward along with a resting David Hille.

The match was also fairly open and we weren’t exposed for pace; which is an attribute that people keep attaching to Essendon.  It was a sharper performance as those we have seen in previous weeks, whilst still needing some further polish we used the ball a lot better and were a lot more efficient at cleaning up and heading forward.

The biggest thing to take from last night was the confirmation that we now have genuine depth.  With the likes of Medhurst, Rusling, Dawes, Rocca, Fraser, Maxwell, O’Brien, Wellingham, McCarthy and even Stanley all absent, we looked strong and settled.

It may only be the NAB Cup, but Collingwood has given us a lot to get excited about.  Besides, it’s always good to beat Essendon, regardless of the circumstances.  We now face the winner of Geelong and Carlton in the NAB Cup Final.