Pre-Match: Collingwood V Salary Lions - Discussion in here

[Johnson#26]

Matthews forecasts hard contest
7:41:53 PM Wed 7 April, 2004
Andrew Browne
Sportal
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&s ... eid=141976

The build up to Thursday night’s blockbuster clash between the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood continued on Wednesday with both teams completing their final training runs at separate times on the Gabba turf.

Cream Pies or hot cross guns?
Trevor Grant
08apr04
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common ... 22,00.html

"This is his first Grand Final. He probably played better in his last one . . ." Mick Malthouse on Jason Cloke, an hour after Collingwood had been put to the sword by Brisbane in the 2003 Grand Final.

Matthews to risk big guns at the Gabba
By David Nason and Michael Davis
April 08, 2004
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/co ... 22,00.html

BRISBANE coach Leigh Matthews yesterday conceded he was taking a risk by playing key forwards Jonathan Brown and Alastair Lynch in "Brisbane's blockbuster" against Collingwood at the Gabba tonight.

Shaw returns to face Lions
6:27:43 PM Wed 7 April, 2004
Paul Gough
Sportal
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&s ... eid=141969

He may have been jeered by even his own supporters in his last senior appearance for the Magpies but that has not stopped Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse from rushing Rhyce Shaw back into the side for Thursday night’s blockbuster grand final re-match against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

Big three back for Brisbane
April 7, 2004
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/ ... 97153.html

Gun Brisbane trio Jonathan Brown, Alastair Lynch and Luke Power were rushed into the Lions' side for Thursday night's AFL grand final rematch against Collingwood at the Gabba.

Thursday night teams
By Len Johnson
April 8, 2004
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/real ... click=true

Who will win and why - Collingwood was favourite for the grand final but is paying $4.25 here. Such is the perception created by last year's grand final capitulation. Despite the loss of Keating, Brisbane's stocks look stronger with Lynch, Power and Brown all back. Voss, with seven goals last week, is playing like there is no tomorrow. Perhaps there may be only a few. The Magpies give Shaw and Cole the opportunity for personal redemption and insist they may still play Cloke forward. Their big hope is that Fraser dominates the rucks and Rocca makes a huge difference, but Brisbane, at home, just looks too strong all round.

Pies look for Shaw-footed response
By Linda Pearce
April 8, 2004
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/real ... click=true

Mick Malthouse has set maligned defender Rhyce Shaw the challenge of justifying what the Collingwood coach has admitted is a calculated selection gamble for tonight's grand final rematch against Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

They said it: the grand final aftermath
April 8, 2004
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/real ... click=true

"I think in the second quarter we played so brutally that a lot of their guys were jumping out of the way. I think our guys showed you've got to be tough. That's what it takes in the big games and that's where we won it today."
- JASON AKERMANIS

Brisbane brings back big names to take on Pies
By Len Johnson
April 8, 2004
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/real ... click=true

The Brisbane Lions, with three flags fluttering on their grandstands and wins over two of last year's finalists already, named their strongest side for the season to date to meet Collingwood in tonight's grand-final rematch at the Gabba.

How Eddie feathered Mick's nest
08 April 2004 Herald Sun
Bruce Matthews
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 42,00.html

COLLINGWOOD'S visionary plan for hi-tech headquarters was one of the trump cards in president Eddie McGuire's sales pitch to sign Mick Malthouse.

Magpie scars are still raw
08 April 2004 Herald Sun
Trevor Grant and Bruce Matthews
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 42,00.html

COLLINGWOOD will carry mental demons into tonight's match against the Brisbane Lions, according to former Magpie Jarrod Molloy.

The retired forward said this week it was unrealistic to believe coach Mick Malthouse's public statements that his players had "moved on" from last year's Grand Final humiliation and the post-game taunts from Brisbane players questioning their courage.

[Johnson#26]

Bad decision on Shaw. If he mucks up again his confidence could go forever. We can win as we have a ruck advantage. Fraser, Richards & Rocca vs Charmin & and underdone White. We can win this. MM will have 'em fired up no worries. As for Nixon, he's only played 17 minutes in 1 match. Give him a break. Pitty McGough still can't crack it for a game in the 1st's.

[Cam]

but johnson26 what is mm meant to do with shaw? hide him at willi for a week? better to face the music in round three than facing it in the 2004 GF.

[Johnson#26]

True Cam but I'd prefer for him to play at Willi this week. At 11:00 tonight we'll know what the right decision was.

[Cam]

I can understand all the commotion about Shaw... BUT realistically R Lonie, R Cole & S Woewodin have a lot to prove tonight.

[d9 tank]

Plus Clement, Holland, O'Bree, Lokan etc

[magpies are 2 good]

shaws confidence has been lost since either the 2002 or 2003 grand final when jonathon brown did a hip and shoulder on him and then shaw was on the ground. why is williams going as the 23rd man why does he deserve a game before c.cloke or mckee

[Johnson#26]

I can understand all the commotion about Shaw... BUT realistically R Lonie, R Cole & S Woewodin have a lot to prove tonight.

A hell of a lot of players have some-thing to prove. 3/4 of the playing list. Bucks, Burnsy & Frase are excused. The rest are on notice.

[erniedog]

"I don't know how it's going to work out, but I'm going to throw the ball to Rhyce and he's going to have to pick it up," Malthouse said.

How does one interpret this? Is it your career is on the line? If so then tonight we'll find out who is scarier, Malthouse or Brown/Lynch etc. Hope to see Shaw reported and suspended for unduly rough play.

[Daks]

"I don't know how it's going to work out, but I'm going to throw the ball to Rhyce and he's going to have to pick it up," Malthouse said.

How does one interpret this? Is it your career is on the line? If so then tonight we'll find out who is scarier, Malthouse or Brown/Lynch etc. Hope to see Shaw reported and suspended for unduly rough play.

Bit harsh on young Shawry dont ya think? lets give the kid a go.. he's more than capable...

[Jonesy]

Regardless of how Shaw plays....I can guarentee you he wont be the difference between us winning and losing. To win we need eforts like Round 8, 2002 and the GF of that year, where 14-16 players stood up and contributed to there potential.

If the other 6-8 can be servicable, and hold there opponents well...I can honestly see no reason why we can win this one. Our form at the GABBA isnt too bad...sure we havent won many there but we never get flogged.

I'd like to think that last years GF was an abberation...it wont happen twice. MM wont allow it, Bucks wont allow it, Taz, Rocca (Lets not forget how much he owes the Lions) none of them will allow it.

In my opinion the season starts tonight....a good showing here (hopefully a successful one) could really kick start us into a charge for a third finals appearance in 3 years.

Good Luck lads.

[PeterWH]

So all the so called experts (ex.....unknown quantity,spert.....drip under pressure)are tipping Lions to win tonight,well I hope that they have to eat 'HUMBLE PIE'
Mike Sheahan has tipped the Lions to win by 60 points,so who does he think he is.
I personally feel that the boys will win and win well.
It is being shown on Fox footy at 9:30 tonight here in Sydney and at 11:30pm on Channel 9.
I notioce that in the Daily Telegraph today that Channel 10 are saying that the top rating shows in Sydney are Tens News,Law & Order and AFL.
Glas that OUR games get a show in.Apparently the Footy Show (NRL) in Sydnety has lost alot of ratings for Ch9....good to see.

[bokka]

It was great to see Buckley being used quite a bit in attack last week, looks likely this will be repeated against the lyin's.
This may be the only way we break Lyin's defensive shackles and get some serious scoring run-ons for the first time in a long time against them. Seemed to me the dogs shat themselves when he was put forward.To paraphrase and misquote MM, you could put a cardboard cutout of Buckley in the forward line and it will cause panic in any team.
I stil think the main issue is not the score but the "trial by fire" which will define this team for a long time. Probably the most important game ever for these personel.
It's not a mistake to put shaw in, the only mistake that would be made would be by shaw if he faulters and doesn't put his body absolutley on the line. It's upto him and the rest of the individuals. You can say he isn't ready but when is anyone ready for a game like this?
I'm quietly confident the team will play assertive powerful footy without (much) deliberate targetting, and not faulter when the Bores inevitably up the "brutality" after halftime. This could be a great triumph - win or lose!
Oh yeah and it would be great to see our ruckmen smashing straight through their ruckmen like the bastards did to us in the grandie. I still remember Matthews quote that the pivotal moment for him was Keating doing that to Fraser on the opening bounce.

[Johnson#26]

The players need to remember back to round 8 2002 when all players stood up. That was a great night.

[Joel]

CARRRRRRRRNNNNN PIEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!