Post match v Crows all comments here -

[stui magpie]

For what it's worth, I saw some positives last night, even though I was seriously p155ed at our last quarter.

I liked O'Bree. Yes, he may have missed a couple of targets but he wasn't pat malone on that and he hit a lot more than he missed.

Josh did a great job in the ruck. On the TV, Wall's had been boosting his love child, Matthew Clarke and Luke Darcy made the comment how well Josh was rucking against him.

I liked the running game, moving the ball quickly to the forward line, play on at all costs. It was working beautifully until the blackbirds closed the game down and we didn't have a plan B. Interesting to hear neil Craig say after the game that if they hadn't closed the game down, they were going to lose by 3-4 goals. I can't see many other teams being able to shut down a side the way the blackbirds did last night so it's something we can work on. I agree with another poster that when someone starts that kind of crap, the way to beat it is to man up.

taz, Pebbles and C3 have had a run together against quality opposition. The forward line didn't work last night but it will. Give it time.

Thomas showed me something. I really do like the look of this kid. I'm not quite sure what to make of him, but I like the look of it any way. he sort of reminds me a bit of a skinny Mick McGuane the way he runs.

In all, not the start I was hoping for, but definite signs of improvement from last year. The next 3 weeks are vital.

[johncitizen]

Couldn't agree with you more Stui !

[maggies2003]

In.........absaloutly anyone

OUT..........Ben Johnson

How long is Malthouse going to put up with this undisciplined one dimentional vfl footballer. Cant handball and runs back in to play every single time. Has only one side to his body and does not know how to use it correctly. This bloke must hold the record for out of bounds on the full. I cant believe people actually want to see him in the middle, so what he can break Taz and Roccas hearts even more with another clown who turns it over running at them.


DROP HIM

nuxta, i think your the clown who has no idea about afl football.

[HAL]

Just surf somewhere else.

[maggies2003]

N.Buckley- Good - Was bucks of old, but made a few poor decisions in the crunch.

J.Clement- Poor - Was smashed by Ricciuto before injury.

J.Cloke- Poor - Didnt have the slightest impact whatsoever. Dissapointing considering pre season form.

T.Cloke- Poor - Took some good marks, but basically that was all.

L.Davis- OK - Was exciting when around the ball and created plays.

A.Didak- Good - Was missing for most of the game, but was great in phases.

C.Egan- Smashed - Couldnt mark the ball, was soft at it, deserves a run at willi.

J.Fraser- Good - Did well in the ruck and looks for a promising season.

B.Holland- BOG - IMO he played exceptional and was the best player for us.

B.Johnson- Good - A lot of good touches, occasional clanger and bad decision, but held ricciuto to 1 goal.

P.Licuria- OK - Wasnt licuria of old, but managed to get a few touches and clearances.

T.Lockyer- Great - Played a nice game and provided good passes up the ground.

R.Lonie - Good - Was great in patches and bad in patches, inconsistent.

N.Maxwell - OK - Played an Ok game, but still needs to work on his defensive game, gives too much space.

S.Obree - Good - Alot of touches, but alot of wasted touches. Provided good run.

S.Prestigiacomo - Great - Great defensive game, doesnt give his opponent an inch.

G.Richards - Poor - Dont know about him, doesnt seem to do much.

A.Rocca - Smashed - Half the reason why our forward line didnt function.

D.Swan - Good - Alot of easy possessions, but did well to rack them up.

C.Tarrant - Smashed - The other half to why our forward line didnt function.

D.Thomas - Good - Impressive in stages and pretty exciting.

S.Wakelin - Poor - Gave alot of space and just didnt have the game presti did.

1- BOG
2- Great
3- Good
4- OK
5- Poor
6- Smashed

[Cam]

We didn't get enough out of Didak & Davis. No where near enough. FFS start them in the middle, it's not rocket science. What have the hawks done with Mitchell, oh and now he's a good mid. Funny that.

[sq3]

Johnson did have 2 goals kicked on him by Roo - and he missed others.

Johnson is the worst skilled player on our list and looked like all the 3 stooges combined with his circus antics attempting to pick the ball up and then the attempted bounce - woop woop woop

His foot skills are a joke.

Nuxta was right on the money - OUT - BJ, IN - Harry.

I saw Harry at Carrara and having him amd Max on the HB line would be wonderful - he flogged J Brown.

If Jimmy is right you will then have 3 medium size players that can play on short, medium or tall forwards.

[PeterWH]

First 3/4 quarters were good excepting for the BLOODY errors,the game looked more like a Rugby game....didnt approve of the way that Crows kept handballing and kicking before 1/2 time & 3/4 time.
The game was all over just after 3/4 time,BUT some of the idiotic comments by thet JERK commentator...cant remember the MORONS name....but some of his comments made my BLOOD boil...how can Fox still have this dickhead as a commenator...Hudson wasnt much better either.The goose is Robert DICKHEAD Walls
Any way a game goes for 4 quarters and not 3,so its time to get rid of the errors and play footy otherwise it might just be a long season again.......

[Sultan of spin]

Cant Believe O'Brien and Cara weren't selected, WTF would you pick Egan before these guys? changes for next week:

Out: Clement, Egan

In: O'Brien, Caracella

Burns must also be selected if he is fit.

[Johnson#26]

Nuxta - 100% correct, Johnson will be first if the 'favourites' to be axed.

Harsh. Jonno gave us plenty of run/drive off halfback last night.

[Sultan of spin]

I didnt think Johnson was that bad either was certainly better than a few others. His run off half back is very important especially with R Shaw still out, no doubt he will be in the team next week

[HAL]

And why not?

[DaVe86]

Johnson was back to his running best, but his skills have not improved. In 03...he seemed to get away with not been a great kick, but we all expected him to get even better. Seems he has gone backwards. However his run out of defence has been missing and there is no way he should be dropped. Even if he just handballs or something...he has a spot.

I can see Bucks going to the last line and playing a sweeping role...we need some class coming out of defence.

[favourites 2008]

B.Johnson- Good - A lot of good touches, occasional clanger and bad decision, but held ricciuto to 1 goal.

lol occasional 8!! but other than that he was ok.

[MK]

Reasonable effort by the pies..given that the Crows are probably a 7-8 goal better team. What was a strength at the PIES a number of years ago is now our biggest weakness.
TARRANT-probably the worst kick at goal in the ENTIRE competition.

OBREE-Great efforts to get the pill-thats where it ended.

Richards-6'7"-cant kick over a jam tin.

Lockyer-good game.Is buggered if he has to pin point more than 45 mtrs.

Brodie-Lolly pop,lolly pop ooh la la lolly pop........

Licuria-Gutsiest play alive-kicking ability? ' a scrubber'

BUCKS- the best footballer of the past decade and the best field kick
EVER in any era..kicking for goal on the run...3/10. Always been his achilles

JASON- lion hearted-scrubber.
EGAN- ok I'll give the kid a break.

AND OTHERS.

DIDAK & LONIE.....exceptions. 8/10.


The point that I am trying to make is that a player can have all the skills,flare,G & D, etc etc but if their kicking skills are'nt there -FORGET IT.

Take Lonie....I hear this bloke being bagged on this site over & over & over. But what would any of the above players at the whole club give for his Kicking skills?
The kicking skills at Collingwood has been shithouse for the past 5 years. What in the hell is going on at the club to address this. Absolutely bloody ZILCH.

I think most Pie supporters are pretty pissed off the Forward Line let down & the kicking skills AND SO WE BLOODY SHOULD.