Qualifying Final. Magpies v. Demons. All comments.

[MagpiesTheGreat]

If Reef McInnes didn't fumble, we could/should have won that close game on 12 June.

[Pies2016]

I think the last time we played them on King's Birthday we had no De Goey, Elliott and Ginnivan

We are a much better team playing them this time round.

They didn't have Oliver or Fritsch. In my view, the teams are pretty even.

They had Fritsch, alright. Uncharacteristically inaccurate with 3. 3.
Hes easily one of the smartest forwards in the game. At 188cm, you don’t kick as many as he does without knowing how to drop off your opponent at the right time. Maynards a good choice as long as he’s prepared to not leave Fritsch back pocket for the entire game.
Interestingly enough ( or maybe not ) on the QB clash, Lipinski was our top goal kicker with 2 goals in his first game back for the season. Howe, McStay, Sidey also didn’t play and Markov came on late as the sub.
No matter what happens at the selection table, our team will look very different to QB side that was narrowly beaten ( albeit the Dees kicked very poorly at goal )

[RudeBoy]

The key to our victory will be hard tackling. The Swans laid many tackles, but the Dees mids frequently burst free. We must smash the living daylights out of them. Do that and we will win convincingly.

[Tanuki]

The key to our victory will be hard tackling. The Swans laid many tackles, but the Dees mids frequently burst free. We must smash the living daylights out of them. Do that and we will win convincingly.

The Swans were smashing the living daylights out them in the 3rd quarter, winning all the clearances and playing fast footy in the tight spaces. And then they just melted away.

[blybo]

If Reef McInnes didn't fumble, we could/should have won that close game on 12 June.

If they had kicked straight we wouldn't have been within 6 goals. Make no mistake, we were thrashed that week and the margin flattered us.

Yes we had a few out on KB, but they played us in a similar way to the way Brisbane had in round 3 or whatever it was. They were able to limit our run and gun game AND get out the back for a few easy ones themselves too.

My wife and her family are Melbourne members so I watch them every week and agree with the experts they are probably #1 going into finals. Melksham has done his ACL in a big blow to them, I predict a classic which goes down to the wire

I'll be re-watching that game at some stage over the next 10 days.

[blybo]

If everyone bar Naicos is available, I think we would be dropping Lapinski, Frampton and ...... don't know..... Cameron?

Assuming the Dees go with Roo as forward/2nd ruck, we could use McStay as 2nd ruck and think Cox could lift as he often has for finals to nullify Gawn. Having said that, Gawn could just as likely have a blinder, he sat out most of the last 1/4 yesterday with Petracca and Oliver to rest up.

[lazzadesilva]

The more annoying thing is that they should have beaten Carlton, and would have if it hadn't been for the umpire calling Petracca's goal a behind at the end. Not only would Melbourne have finished 2nd, but Carlton would have finished 7th and currently be facing an away final against the Giants!

And so continues the inevitable story of events beyond our control affecting us in some way. However I don’t think that dwelling on it helps. Collingwood should resolve to meet any challenge head on and rise above this type of situation. I also think the KISS principle should be applied to strategies and tactics within our control, eg. Run hard, tackle ferociously, smother, punch the ball, kick straight, embrace the chaos footy style etc. and attempt to minimise free kicks against. The obvious ones beyond our control has always been the major problem for us, eg. piss poor umpiring that either gifts opposition goals, ignores high tackles around the neck eg. Ginny, and halts our momentum going forward. From my experience, this will be inevitable as always but if we do the above and continue to apply scoreboard pressure, we can negate its impact. Easier said than done but in case you haven’t guessed, based on evidence from many finals, I have zero confidence that we will get decent umpiring complementing our football. We need to incorporate this fact into our game.

[Gerry Cooper]

The more annoying thing is that they should have beaten Carlton, and would have if it hadn't been for the umpire calling Petracca's goal a behind at the end. Not only would Melbourne have finished 2nd, but Carlton would have finished 7th and currently be facing an away final against the Giants!

And so continues the inevitable story of events beyond our control affecting us in some way. However I don’t think that dwelling on it helps. Collingwood should resolve to meet any challenge head on and rise above this type of situation. I also think the KISS principle should be applied to strategies and tactics within our control, eg. Run hard, tackle ferociously, smother, punch the ball, kick straight, embrace the chaos footy style etc. and attempt to minimise free kicks against. The obvious ones beyond our control has always been the major problem for us, eg. piss poor umpiring that either gifts opposition goals, ignores high tackles around the neck eg. Ginny, and halts our momentum going forward. From my experience, this will be inevitable as always but if we do the above and continue to apply scoreboard pressure, we can negate its impact. Easier said than done but in case you haven’t guessed, based on evidence from many finals, I have zero confidence that we will get decent umpiring complementing our football. We need to incorporate this fact into our game.

The solution to that has always been to play well enough to get a margin in front and stay in front. That takes any umpiring foibles out of the equation. My opinion is that whingeing about the umpires - particularly if we have lost is just an excuse hiding other issues.

[Clifton Hill-Billy]

Pink ducks got crucified by the scumps on their home deck the scg, Simon Meredith is a closet dreamons supporter and hates us with a passion, God help us if he's named for our final

[stoliboy]

There has been a few comments about the last time we played Melbourne.

Stats were fairly even but:
1. Melbourne were inaccurate in front of goal
2. We got a few late goals to narrow the margin
3. We also let Melbourne get away from us a few times with repeat goals e.g. Melbourne kicked the first 3 goals of the 3Q and another 2 goals + 6 behinds in the 4Q. We we were chasing a lot of the game.

Melbourne brought their pressure game…Tackles inside 50m Melbourne won 17-4.

Nicks Post Game Thread: https://www.magpies.net/nick/bb/viewtopic.php?t=92040

Melbourne vs Collingwood Highlights: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V6y0-8Mn9 ... IDIwMjM%3D

Last two minutes Highlights: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2iY3TgRmU ... IDIwMjM%3D

Swoop Luke - Demons vs Pies - Frozen Pies: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0BvHMjVRq0

Collingwood Rant - Melbourne vs Collingwood Round 13 2023: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ND_ThsdHjDo

Game Stats: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/matchup/_/gameId/1132918

[Magpietothemax]

Here's my speculative team for the QF:
(similar to 90 nice)

OUT: Frampton, Lipinski, Macrae (sub)
IN: Moore, Murphy, McCreery

FB: Maynard, Murphy, Howe
HB: IQ, Moore, Markov
C: JDaicos, De Goey, WHE
HF: Hill, Mihocek, McCreery
FF: Elliott, McStay, Ginnivan
FOL: Cameron, Mitchell, Crisp

IC: Sidebottom, Pendles, Adams, Noble
EMG: Lipinski, Macrae, Frampton, Cox (sub)

* 3 old guys are on the IC near the oxygen tank at hand, Lol
* I feel the big marking forward is a weakness. But get ball to ground, that's our strength.
* Frampton's role not in the side weakens the backline if there is an injury

No, Cox must play. If any ruckman is to be the sub, it would be Cameron

[Horatio Fin]

There has been a few comments about the last time we played Melbourne.

Solid post, mate.

[Piesnchess]

If Reef McInnes didn't fumble, we could/should have won that close game on 12 June.

If they had kicked straight we wouldn't have been within 6 goals. Make no mistake, we were thrashed that week and the margin flattered us.

Yes we had a few out on KB, but they played us in a similar way to the way Brisbane had in round 3 or whatever it was. They were able to limit our run and gun game AND get out the back for a few easy ones themselves too.

My wife and her family are Melbourne members so I watch them every week and agree with the experts they are probably #1 going into finals. Melksham has done his ACL in a big blow to them, I predict a classic which goes down to the wire

I'll be re-watching that game at some stage over the next 10 days.

Mate, they had ONE player out, Oliver, last time to our SIX, which included JDG Elliott and Hill, plus other of our guys had the flu recovery. They were not that great, just fell in, a good side with so many of our outs would have won by six goals not by a lousy five points, get real. Now we have our best side , fit, heatlhy, we will put these toffy pricks to the sword.

[Magpietothemax]

^I agree PNC, i don't think the game against Melbourne is a game which we should be concerned about as any kind of indicator.
We had several guns out, and it is well known that flu etc was going through the club at the time. These are not excuses, but reasons for our relatively poor performance on that day.
As others have noted, our team on Thursday week will be extremely different from the one we fielded on the KB.
Another poster mentioned that Melbourne played like Brisbane in round 3 against us, displaying the "template" to defeat us.
I would challenge that claim because:
a) as mentioned above, we had many handicaps which won't be there when we played Melbourne
b) Brisbane always play us at grounds that suit them. It is far easier for their dangerous forwards to slip around the back and get goalside dangerously on the Gabba and at Marvel than on the G. I am no expert, but I suspect also that it is easier for them to counter our chains of rapid ball movement through the corridor on both these grounds as well.

[inxs88]

Bayley Fritsch shall be out for the year with a broken foot. Watch this space.