Pre-Match: Pies v. Cats - All comments please.

[Joel]

So, we need to win, otherwise our very, very slim chances of making the finals are pretty much gone.

Can we do it?

[Johnson#26]

Of course we can! We are a real upset chance. We have as good a midfield, their forward line relies on Graham, Riccardi, Ablett, Chapman and the midfield. Without Kelly their forward line is dimmed and we will neevr have a better chance to get back on track. We have said that all season, but this is it - crunch time! Graham isn't THAT good and if we have the right match up he'll be kept quiet.

The only place where they may have the upper hand is backline. Scarlett and Harley on to Tazza and Pebbs. Cam Cloke would have been handy but without him or Davo it's time for McKee and Richards (If fit) to ruck with Fraser up forward.Maybe Lonie could go up forward? I don't know, but we need to do something differant.

[Donny]

No upset at all, Johnno. Check the odds.

Cats coming back from the west. Pies on a roll and near full strength.

We need to do something different? From what?

[piedys]

So, we need to win, otherwise our very, very slim chances of making the finals are pretty much gone.

Can we do it?

joel, mate i reckon we can start every pre-match thread with this statement from now until the season ends! It's stating the obvious, but remains unfortunately true nontheless.

Can we just go out there and kick the snot out of those overated handbags?

Dyso

[Doc63]

It was a preety hard game over in the West. Their legs will be heavy. I think we're a real chance this week. We'll find out how good Scarlett & Harley really are this week. I dont think they can keep Taz & Rocca quiet for long enough.

[David]

Didn't work with Melbourne (Perth tiredness syndrome) but then again they are last quarter specialists....... what happened to Geelong last time they came back from Perth?

[Cam]

If we play with the same gameplan as the Hawthorn game we will smash them. Our defensive side is enough to contain them, Presti will keep Bumbling Graham far enough away from the goals. Wakelin or Clement can handle Kingsley. Cole will get their permanent small forward option.

Taz will have his hands full dealing with Scarlett, but Scarlett loves to run off, which will be hard to do if Taz is running around. Harley will cover Rocca, time for Ant to have a big one.

Ling is a worry, he will go after Didak or Burns, maybe Burns. Brodie will fix up Gaz Jnr. If Ling gets Didak expect Burns to create havoc forward and mid. Leon is hard to match up on if he plays midfield. I can see Buckley kicking 4.

Lonie might go to Riccardi. Fraser may get BOG again if he drifts forward.

Seriously we have too much talent across the board for these guys.

[piedys]

Seriously we have too much talent across the board for these guys.

But Cam, they hit so HARD with their handbags........

Dyso

[Johnson#26]

If Buckley goes forward they won't be able to match him. Bucks with 3 goals.

Don't forget they reguarly play well against us. We haven't smashed them all game for a long while.

[Johnson#26]

Collingwood vs Geelong: Match Preview

http://www.magpies.net/nick/match/match ... om=&ucat=4&

Team for Friday:
B: Clement, Prestigiacomo, Waklein.
HB: Johnson, J.Cloke, Cole.
C: Didak, Buckley, Woewodin.
HF: Lonie, Rocca, Lockyer.
F: Holland, Tarrant, Davis.
R: Fraser, Licuria, Burns.
INTER: Richards, McGough, Maxwell, Rowe.
EMERG: B.Shaw, R.Shaw, Mullins.

After coming off a morale boosting victory against Hawthron, Collingwood is primed to make its assault on Geelong, a team who is firmly cemented in the eight. But a victory to Collingwood would keep its finals hopes alive and that alone is enough ammunition to come home with a win. With a crucial match coming up against Brisbane, the Pies must strike now.

In defence, Ben Graham is the key to a Cats victory. With his strong hands and big kicking boots, Graham simply must be watched. Simon Prestigiacomo is the man for the big job, with his close checking expected to be too much for the former skipper. Little man Paul Chapman is another to watch. Richard Cole is the man most likely to man up on the sneeky Cat and will provide run off halfback. The experianced Peter Riccardi is always a threat and must be watched. The ever reliable James Clement will go to Riccardi, as his strong hands and run will hold him in good stead. Kent Kingsley will also be watched closely. Shane Wakelin will be the man to follow the former Roo, with his strong hands and reliable strength keys. But the biggest man to watch is Gary Ablett Junior. Ablett may only win six or seven touches a game but what he does with those possessions is something special. Ben Johnson, who has been quiet in recent weeks, will relish the challenge. Johnson provide run and drive and will force Ablett to be accountable.

In the midfield, a big battle looms between the old sparring partners - Nathan Buckley and Cameron Ling. Back in 2002, Buckley wiped his blood on Lings jumper and was suspended for one week in a controversial incident. Ling has had the better of Buckley in the past and Bucks will look to push forward to shake the tag. In other match ups, Scott Burns will be pitted against Joel Corey, Paul Licuria will go against James Bartel and Shane Woewodin will face the pacy David Wojinski. In the ruck, Josh Fraser will be helped by the return of Guy Richards - who missed last week with a groin injury. The two youngsters will go against Steven King and Cameron Mooney, who have both been in good form. The Cats lost star James Kelly with a broken leg, which damages the Cats chances.

Up forward, Chris Tarrant and Anthony Rocca will be followed by two of the best defenders in the league - Matthew Scarlett and Tom Harley. Scarlett was beaten by Tarrant last time they met - a fact he will be keen to avenge. Harley will take Rocca, in one of the best match ups for the night. Leon Davis and Alan Didak were in excillent form against the Hawks and Mark Thompson won't let them go easily. Darren Milburn will be assigned to Didak while David Johnson will take Leon Davis.

The game will be packed with highlights, with pace and strength a plenty but Collingwood will be able to stave off the Cats with Rocca and Tarrant leading the way. They will need Buckley to push forward on Ling to shake the tag. In a final prediction, with Geelong returning from a gruling match against West Coast in Perth, Collingwood should defeat them by 17 points.

[Cam]

Why have you got McGough in there? Didak and Davis are much better midfielders than him and they proved it with passion last week.

Finally playing Dids where he belongs marked the beginning of the end of McGough. If he starts in the square like last week Dids can get the ball AND deliver it AND kick goals on the run. McGough can get the ball but helicopters it forward. Surely he won't get another game until his kicking improves or it rains 3 inches and accurate kicking doesn't matter so much. You would never play McGough at the Dome.

[Cannibal]

Agreed, Cam; MCG is a talent we need to nurture but the Dome is no place for him. Midfield will be tough, given Geelong's strength there and, if anything, I'd rather bring in a tough nut in Shacks.

However, I expect only one change - Richards, if fit, back in for McKee. Why would MM change a side that's just won by 11 goals, unless it's absolutely necessary? That doesn't make sense to me, even though it would be terrific to have Maxwell in the backline.

[droche 2004]

Starting to get some depth now!!

[Joel]

If Dids repeats the performance, he can stay in the middle. When on song, he is unbelievable in the middle, especially when he rund forward and kicks goals (as he did last week).

Same with Leon. He did well in the first half last week, and if he can keep it up, even as a burst player off the bench, we will be better for it. Having said that, I think Leon likes starting games, rather than coming off the bench. It allows him to get some early touch.

[Johnson#26]

You would never play McGough at the Dome.

Remember round 18 last year when he was the key influence in getting us back in the match? Round 18 2003. Next week against Brisbane he kicked Tazza in the head and his season went down hill from there.