Our harshest critics.

[Skids]

I reckon the posters here would be by a mile (including myself at times).

I think we're coming along pretty good when you consider the season so far. Some key points.

* We lead the competition with disposals and our contested possession count is better than that of Richmond or WCE.

* Only 3 sides have had more hit outs (WCE, Melb & Frem)

* We're 4th for inside 50's

As stated in a previous thread, our clearances could be better with our dominance in the ruck, having said that, we are on par with the top 2 sides in this part of the game.

Another area for improvement is contested marks.

Some BIG factors for us in the first 9 rounds has been; losing rotations through early injuries in most, if not all of our games & the inability to field a settled side. We are ranked 18th for rotations.

I get as frustrated as anyone else watching us on game day, but, when you watch the replay, you see the game in a different light. We're not that bad.

Then, you watch other games, all sides make clangers at different stages of games, all sides fail, through poor kicking, to capitalise on periods of dominance in a game (Richmond kicked 4.5 to 1.2 in the 2nd quarter against WCE, effectively, letting them off the hook) and all sides do silly things.

The uproar when we just pipped the Lions is typical of how harsh our criticism can be. The Lions showed on the weekend that they are not a walk up knock over and gave Hawthorn a good touch up, playing the same style of footy they threw at us.

Hopefully we can get a stable side on the ground, if not in the next 3 weeks but definitely after the bye.

We can beat anyone on our day.

GO PIES.

[Culprit]

Good Points Skids, I would suggest most people are pretty happy as expectations were really low. Any win is enjoyed and any loss is looked at more deeply in areas of improvement. All bar Round 1.

[BazBoy]

Agree with Skids and if we turn back the clock to March 2017 Media had us in the eight citing our midfield was the best in the comp and their perceived opinion that Darcy Moore would have a cracker year—-well Moore didn’t reach their expectations but on our mids they were pretty right

Now this year media coolish in comparison to 2017 but despite that we have taken giant steps and have a model that can result in a flag very soon

Our mids have improved but Moore sadly not a good situ —we have a better brains trust and believe Nathan is taking their ideas and suggestions on board

Summing up Bucks will coach a flag

[RudeBoy]

Good post skids.

The other thing to note is that we have already found some good new players in Stephenson, Murray and Appleby, and we have others such as Sier, Wills, Murphy and McLarty, knocking on the door.

Unless we suffer major injuries to key players, there's every reason to be confident that we will improve as the season progresses.

[Pies2016]

Fair call, Skids.
I think the mistake SOME supporters make is that they look at Collingwood in isolation and don’t stop to compare us against the AFL “ average “.

Supporters complain cause we have lost 4 games, at the same time when the “ unbeatable “ Tigers have lost two. It’s set up to be an equalised competition, so how can we expect to keep winning week in, week out.

Supporters also complain about Hine at the draft table and want to compare an inexact science against a 100% hit rate. There isn’t one club going around with 100% hit rate at the draft table. They all have their skeletons.
I accept 3/4 clubs have done it better but surely he has done better than most in recent years. In fact if you look at the emergence of Sharenberg, Degoey and Stephenson this year, it would appear now that he got them right. Freeman’s injuries were hardly Hines fault and Moore and McLarty continue to be a work in progress. Having said that, list management is a different issue.

[Skids]

[Skids]

[Skids]

I'm just bumpin 'it.... there's no games this wekend, so why not?

I was always very optimistic pre season, but never saw the injuries coming again.

Our top 3 Goal kickers from last year (Elliot 34, Faz 29 & Moore 25) have played 9 games between them this year... and who's stepped up?

WHE 39, JDG 36, JT 35 and Stevo 34 .... thankyou very much! Chuck in Checkers with 23 and the big Cox doubling his output from 10 to 20 and BOOM!

Our top 3 contested mark winner from last year were Howe, Moore & Reid, this year it's Cox , Grundy & Howe phenomenal, especially from our big Texan... absolutely amazing this bloke.

How good is Pendles.. not only has he maintained his brilliance, he's shot to the front of our leading tacklers, just a brilliant Captain, who leads by example.

And look at the blokes leading our 1%'s; Langdon, Shaz, Howe, Dunn and Cox... bastard we've lost 2 of them for the season.

[Skids]

Yes, I've been drinking.

[K]

Just drinking, Skids?

[MacPies90]

Guilty also, your honour. Our Footy Family in the Ponny would love to hear me concede this, too harsh by far this season given what we have achieved. Now time to enjoy the ride, and hope it gives us 3 W’s

[Skids]

[BazBoy]

Knives in scabbards me hearty,s.
We are all members of the worlds greatest army

Not time yet to draw blood