Post match. Pies win heart stopper !! - all comments

[bokka]

Yes we are still 16th, but not *as* 16th.
16th's aint 16th's Sol.
Some 16th's are more equal than others.

[Brown26]

thought after quarter time the forward line was great, and the backline stood tall all day, we just need to get cleaner through the midfield. Hands up who thinks this might happen when bucks and burns and fraser come back? I see the signs, we're fighting again, we're scrapping, the backline is back in a big way (go Wakes!) even without Presti, but we need to put a couple of good performances in (better than last night through the middle) in the next three weeks to be 4 - 8 and still in with a shot when we're fully fit and raring ot go after the break.

Quick note to Licca, well done! Stopped Riccuito after he had a good first quarter, AND put in in the middle.

- Ben

[Johnson#26]

Today's News:

Pies can make finals
23 May 2004 Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralph
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 42,00.html

HAMSTRUNG ruckman Josh Fraser said yesterday the Pies still harboured hopes of sneaking into the lower reaches of the eight with a late run this year.

Pies in video nasty
23 May 2004 Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralph
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 42,00.html

IN years gone by, a game such as Friday night's Collingwood-Adelaide clash would quickly vanish from memory, lost forever in the dungeons of Channel Nine's video library.

Pies coach pleads for fair go
DAMIAN BARRETT in Melbourne
23may04
http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/co ... 64,00.html

COLLINGWOOD coach Michael Malthouse has vowed to drive the AFL umpires boss "nuts" following a lopsided free-kick count in his side's three-point win over Adelaide on Friday night.

[Big T]

Cam, I generally think your comments are right on the money (eg) "we could lose our first six" thread.

I think this next half of the season is a great opportunity to see how our coaching panel can work on all of our weaknesses, after all we have the same players who have made 2 GFs in a row, really the coaching staff have an enormous challenge but an exciting one. It is a good chance for the assistants to step up and take responsibility for certain players and prove they can "coach" them to be better players than they would otherwise be (eg) McGs kicking, Shaw's entire game especially courage, Didak's confidence and hardness at the ball, Richards using his height top better advantage etc...

Also, anyone got any comments on where Lonie should be playing? I reckon he should be used more as a wingman/forward and the Pies should look elsewhere for a key defender, his foot skills are just too good and lets face it we have the worst offence in the league, but it could easily be amoung the best. I admire MM trying him in key defensive roles but feel he is needed in attack.

[spoljar]

I thought it was a good win from the boys. Not from a playing point of view as the skill level was not great, but simply that they were able to fight back and grind out a win which showed great character. The umpiring was garbage which made the win all the more better.
A Grade Games from Tarrant, Licuria and Wakelin.
B Grade Games from Woewodin and McGough.
C Grade Games from O'Bree, Clement, Johnson, Richards, J.Cloke, Cole, Lokan and Lonie.
D Grade Games from Rocca, C Cloke, Didak and Maxwell.
E Grade Games from Shaw and Davis.
F Grade Games from Swan, Walker and Mullins.

[Cam]

Pretty accurate review there spoljar. Although i would have lifted Walker from F to D, and Dids from D to C.

[spoljar]

Pretty accurate review there spoljar. Although i would have lifted Walker from F to D, and Dids from D to C.

Do see your point Cam. Probably was a bit harsh on both Didak and Walker. The way I rank them is as follow:
A Grade - Had an influence on the outcome of the game.
B Grade - Solid game right through.
C Grade - Played well but probably could have done more.
D Grade - Did not contribute enough during the game.
E Grade - Did less than was required.
F Grade - No influece on the game.
I also take into account a players ability and will therefore grade good players a lot more harshly. For example, Didak certainly should be converting from 15m out almost directly in front.

[Cam]

True, true.

[maggies2003]

johnno C.... umm..somehow i dont think so.. haha... ah well... the rest seems pretty good though....

[Kinky(36)Kate]

Have McGough and O'Bree been told to hang on to/ carry the ball until the very last second?! It looks great when it comes off but I don't care what anybody says, the possibility of pin pointed a hand/foot pass with someone hanging off the back of you is minimal! At least they're getting the ball again. Good to see players getting back to the form we know and love. Go Pies!!

[Culprit]

How can you possibly get excited over that performance, I am rapt we won but geez talk about hopeless football.

I noted in the newspaper young Josh says we are still a chance for the finals. All I can say if we play like we did against the Crows next Saturday night we are in for a pumping.

Any team that has Rhyce in it's side cannot be that good.

By the way if no one has noticed we are still bottom of the ladder.

[Nath]

Geez, that was enough to pull the hair out. Wasn't the worst game to watch live, always the case as you get to see the play unravel but obviously from all accounts a terrible game on the box.

Couple of things.

1. We did everything possible to lose the game. I know C1 kicked the ball on the full the first time, but who put the second over the line, I thought it was Clement, but apparently he didn't give a free away for the night?

2. Why did Johnson start the second half on the bench, and then be moved forward when he clearly had the better of Johncock throughout the first half.

3. Didak looked the most dangerous he had for the year and thats no joke. He actually moved to the right positions, was hard at it and looked like he could kick a bag. Had he kicked straight he would have.

4. If Rhyce Shaw is dropped, I'll do my nut. I'm no big fan of the guy, but he put himself in space and good position at least 10 times I can recall and we were extremely reluctant to give him the ball.

5. I see nobody has ragged out Richard Cole....interesting that.

6. Walker is slow, I mean physically and mentally. He just loses his footing far too easily and is caught on the wrong side of his opponent far too often.

7. Probably the worst game I have seen MCG play, he just blazed away too often and seemed to get found out on a large, spacious ground.

8. Woewodin, Licuria, Johnno, Jimmy, Wakes, Taz.......great stuff boys.

[sherrife]

5. I see nobody has ragged out Richard Cole....interesting that.

Why does everyone keep saying this as if they won a victory? He's been playing pretty poorly for ages, we're all happy for him to play well, it's not like we a vendetta against him, he just hasn't been playing well.

Much improved on the weekend definitely in our best players, but why all the petty point-scoring?

[Culprit]

Arg bloody Walker the big ape, spends so much time on the ground and still cannot physically touch the ball. Rhyce has to go, no contest if he actually has to be physical.

If you listened to Gary Ayres speak at a 1/4 time huddle he virtually said how soft he is.

O'Bree finally pulled his finger out. About bloody time.

[Nath]

5. I see nobody has ragged out Richard Cole....interesting that.

Why does everyone keep saying this as if they won a victory? He's been playing pretty poorly for ages, we're all happy for him to play well, it's not like we a vendetta against him, he just hasn't been playing well.

Much improved on the weekend definitely in our best players, but why all the petty point-scoring?

Its not point scoring sherrife, its more along the lines of everyone says we are soft, but Richie has a full on go at every contest. So his skills let him down at times, so do most of our young players. Not having a go at you either cos I haven't seen you as one overly pushing the Cole thing, merely saying that because he puts a couple of bad performances in everyone sinks the boots into him, merely pointing ou how fickle some people are.....and IMO if you are going to go out and say a guy is no good and not worth it and should be traded, you should cop it on the chin if he comes out of a bad patch. If he plays poorly next week, feel free to have a go back.