Post Match v Wee Gurls.....All comments here thanks

[DaVe86]

wow we still won a game remember that. Every team has off rounds, even the best teams, brisbane loose a few games every year too, sometimes by decent margins. Does that mean they are bad. We had a bad round, thats as far as anyone can read into it so far, and as a consolation we were undermanned. No one can read into how 2005 will go until 2005 starts. Last week we were finals cos we won, this week we are wooden spooners cos we lost, make up ur mind, stay on the bandwagon and support your club.

[labrooy]

Well it is quite obvious that many on this board are looking forward to a GF featuring two of Weagles, Bulldogs, Kangaroos and Carlton as the pre-season form is clearly the be all and end all.

Port Adelaide were pumped at the weekend, Brisbane got thrashed in the first round. Does this mean that they both will be in the bottom 4 or 5 at season's end?

C'mon guys, get some perspective. Nothing counts until the season starts.

[DaVe86]

Lol i can see the headlines now......

"Kangaroos vs Western Bulldogs Grand Final
Free admission, plenty of seats Avalaible!"

[spoljar]

Lol i can see the headlines now......

"Kangaroos vs Western Bulldogs Grand Final
Free admission, plenty of seats Avalaible!"

Free Admission. I would dare say they would actually be paying to watch the match and probably throw in a set of steak knives just to sweaten the deal!

[labrooy]

It would at least stamp out the scalpers. Its a bit hard to sell something nobody wants...

[35forever]

We seem to be in two camps here: A/ Its just a praccy, means nothing, & B/ It's all over, lets look to '06

Obviously neither is right. Good form in the Wizzo is no guarantee of success in the season proper, but its often a fairly good guide to what lies ahead. Perhaps more so for teams that had a poor year before.

In '02 (the round robin) we lost all 3, including two absolute floggings, but made the GF, In '03 we made both GF's, so certainly it's only a guide.

Having said that, in the last 25 years, at least one team that made the pre-season final, played real finals that year (except 94). In fact 3/4 of the teams that have made the preseason final in that time played real finals, with 18 having made the Granny, & six having won it (actually only 2 - Ess. & Haw - 3 each)

And of course there's losing & there's losing. I doubt Chocco Williams will be terribly concerned with PA's flogging, and no ones tipping Brisbane for the spoon despite their 50 point bath. But Collingwood has a major confidence problem, and it showed on Saturday. Skills, confidence & injuries have put us in an unenviable position. We have a team easily capable of making the finals, but 5 minutes into the second quarter on Saturday that team gave up. I thought that up until then they looked quite good, and it was only crappy luck & crappy kicking that put us so far behind.

We cant do much about the injuries, and skills are a reflection of confidence. How do we get it back?

[Johnson#26]

And of course there's losing & there's losing. I doubt Chocco Williams will be terribly concerned with PA's flogging, and no ones tipping Brisbane for the spoon despite their 50 point bath. But Collingwood has a major confidence problem, and it showed on Saturday. Skills, confidence & injuries have put us in an unenviable position. We have a team easily capable of making the finals, but 5 minutes into the second quarter on Saturday that team gave up. I thought that up until then they looked quite good, and it was only crappy luck & crappy kicking that put us so far behind.

Brisbane weren't trying and neither was Port in the last quarter. IMO we are in the same boat. How can you expect to defeat a team who is suited to hot conditions, has better pace then us, and only had 4 good players out?

[35forever]

Brisbane weren't trying and neither was Port in the last quarter. IMO we are in the same boat. How can you expect to defeat a team who is suited to hot conditions, has better pace then us, and only had 4 good players out?

Agreed, we werent trying in the last quarter, but I fear for very different reasons to Port.
I've just finished watching the replay yet again, & my god! The skill errors are truly bordering on comical. Frankly I DID expect to beat the Weagles after the Tigers game. For much of that game, and particularly the last ten minutes, we looked like the team of late '03 who appeared to have an extra gear, and could just cruise away at will. Remember, that could have easily been a 27 point plus win - we missed 4 shots in that time including Willo's supergoal that hit the bloody padding.(Happy birthday today Willo!) The tigers only had 1 shot (from a stupid free) in that whole period and nailed it.

I was quite frankly overjoyed, "imagine this lot with Bucks, Dids, & Cara" I thunk to meself!

But Saturday was bad for them. It was crappy for morale & confidence (particularly the young ones), and it showed up our deficiencies to the world. Worse, it adds to the idea of WCE as a 'bogie' side - despite them being one of the very few we beat last year, we seem to either beat them or get utterly flogged!

There were a couple of moments where things could have turned - (if we'd got the next goal after Brodies snap in the 3rd for eg.) and its true that it probably didnt happen because we were severely undermanned, and its true that much of that problem will go away (with luck) - guys like Johnno & Dids dont have chronic stuff, and Taz & Bucks could quite concievably play out full seasons. Hell, I saw nothing from Bucks last year to suggest that he's not every bit as damaging as in'03, and with him in the side the skill level seems to magically lift. As for Taz, he's only 24 and I think we're yet to see his best. He has the ability to be the next Wank Carey. He played a blinder against the Tigers (despite his set shots), and his marking & leading are second to none.

Therein lies the problem, (and the reason why we keep banging on about it) If the injury gods smile we could have a fantastic couple of seasons to look forward to, if they dont, we're up a certain faecal waterway lacking manual propulsion equipment! If we lost just one or two more (imagine Josh or Jimmy going down now - actually dont!) we'd be in a world of pain.

I like the look of Fanning, (were gonna need a decent nickname for him) and think he could be the answer to our long term rucking woes, and I predict huge seasons for Dids & Lonie. I have a sneaking suspicion that 2 of the 'serial duds', in Lokan & Willo, could also take huge steps this year. (I think not playing Lokan on Saturday was a mistake, his run was sorely missed in the absence of Johnno & Dids), either that or they're gone.

I also see a lot to like in Tex. Provided they stop wasting him in what is already a bloody solid backline, and get Daics or someone in to teach him how to kick. (not that he cant, but imagine if he could kick like Diver LLoyd?! He looks like a young Matty Richardson (except with talent) and should be trained up as a specialist FF. He's not yet 21 and could easily be a 10 year player.

I dont think we're in too much trouble yet, and as Johnno has said, we'll know by Anzac, the religious amongst you might think about praying to your various deities for an injury free run.

(Side note - I HATE the Anzac concept as it means we hafta play Essendon twice every year forever!)

[Big T]

Certainly our "kids" lack of progression is a concern however at least we have a variety of them and not 20 "nugetty, hard working" duds like we did in the 90's.

My concern is the fact that the Pies are the glamour team of the comp now and just playing at the Pies seems like a great life. Best training facilities, best sponsorships, best exposure, less hard work seems to be the caper last year and maybe this year.

But I still think we will improve on last year, even for a bunch of spoilt pretty boys and a coach with a bad attitude at every interview.

[foreigner]

We lack structure and don't play as a team, saying nothing about our disposal skills. MM tends to put all the youngsters in to the fire at once rather than easing them into the team - letting them gain from their seniors. This may hold them good later on - but will not help their confidence any bit.

We need to learn to play as a team and play for each other - like we used to in 02/03. All the superstars will not help if they can't paly as a team. When you play as a team - all the players game lift and you don't need 18 superstars be the premier. I haven't seen this happen in any of our recent games.

[Lazza]

Look, I admire genuine optimism but not misplaced, blind optimism along with unrealistic expectations. This only leads to setting up ourselves for failure. Our established young players have not gone up to the vital next level as yet and our new recruits have a very long way to go. True that the injuries to some senior players have had an impact but gee our second tier players are way off the mark at this early stage. The inevitable problems of adequate depth raises its ugly head yet again.
I still live in optimism that Collingwood can make the 6 - 8 position but in reality, this will be a tough task with our current list unless they improve 200% in a matter of weeks. I live in eternal hope with fingers crossed.

Esto Collingwood Perpetua!

[35forever]

Some good points there. I certainly agree that many of the recruits have had it a bit too easy, and many of them seem to try to do too much with each posession, rather than looking for a man on upfield, and doing the team thing. What the hell is the dropping easy marks business that has crept in lately? I saw at least half a dozen chest marks dropped that my granny could've taken, and she's dead! It happens in spates too! Either we're moving the ball with military precision or were looking like the 3 stooges. Dont want habits like that in the kids. Whats the answer?

[skaman]

I noticed in a few reports that Rowe wasnt in our best players. I thought he was pretty good and definitly looks the real deal. Have to agree with neon. He has to do more meat and potatoes stuff, not just the speccy things.

[35forever]

Well, neon's just type of mercurial player who's never gonna get thirty possies a game. What he needs is less silly mistakes & more spectacular one percenters - great tackles, smothers, etc. That stuff can lift a team as well as any Daicossian goal - witness Johnnos goalsquare tackle on Burgoyne in the '02 final.

As for Rowe, he's certainly showing excellent signs, but I'm not convinced yet. I'm also unconvinced about Maxwell, Swannie, Richards, C2, or Tex.
But I'm very keen to be convinced about all of them! Rowie & Tex dont need to do much to sell me. One great game would do it. Saturday was close with Rowie, as last week was for Tex.

Just give me one more guys!

[eddiesmith]

Blind optimism at its best here. This is some of the funniest stuff Ive ever read.

Tex reminds me of a young Richo (but with talent) WTF is that? Tex is the biggest load of crap to pull on the Collingwood jumper. Richo is a gun, Walker will never, ever get near the levels of Richo, thats why Richo destroys him each time. Richo is a poor set shot, but he is a hell of lot better than Tex.

Tex is a load of shit, ****. The shit that comes from Collingwood supporters is a joke. F/S, Trades, you expect the world from. They could win a brownlow yet you would still criticise. A great game from one of these, and its oh he could have been better, he should be dropped, he is a dud, no future, why did we pick him up?

Half a qtr from this favourites, and its what a game, he is a star, what a great player, unstoppable force

Last week v Richmond, for 3 1/2 qtrs I never saw him on the ground. The only way I knew he was even playing, or out on the ground was I was sitting near the bench and saw him and when he went on and off. Suddenly he kicks 2 goals within 10m of goal and he is a superstar? He did **** all for the game, yet people saw something special.

Last year, every Collingwood supporter in my section wanted him dropped, to never return, I agreed. But the fools on the net are blinded by something, I dont know what.

Will he improve? Who knows, we gave Ben Kinnear so long, and so far Walker looks no better, he should get longer. But for people crapping on about how good he is now? Get a damn clue.

Its hypocritical. Make excuses for you new favourites, abuse the shit out of others when they play well or they never get a chance because of the perfomances upfield, but ignore that because that doesnt suit your arguement.

If you judged Walker on the same level you judge our Trades, F/S selections, he would be worse than Kinnear on that scale.

Its a joke