Post Match. Pies thump Hawks - all comments please

[Donny]

A few points.

Re. 'burying' the opposition. The team learns far more from a game like our 6 point win against Sydney than from a massacre.

MM doesn't get a lot of ammo from a runaway win.

We have won 12 matches and lost 1 (by 3 points). Yesterday, we beat top 4 team, Hawthorn, by 41 points.

As Damien mentioned, even in our biggest wins there were players who didn't get a lot of the ball or had an 'off day'. (Sh)It happens.

Is the tall poppy syndrome being applied to Swanny ? Many Nickheads left him out of our best 3 in the GB votes and yet his 33 possessions included 16 contested and only Luke Ball had a higher tackle count (7-9).

It was great to see Ben Reid top the 30 possessions but a lot of those were misdirected Hawks' attacks and taking the easy ball out of backline. He had just 4 contested and didn't lay a single tackle.

Overall, we had 11 less hitouts than Hawthorn but 3 of our midfield (Swan, Pendles & Daisy) shared 94 disposals.

Much was made of Hawthorn's outs. Injuries are simply an unavoidable factor in this high energy game. Just about every team has them. If missing players means you lose games, then your list isn't deep enough.

MM has never used injuries to justify a loss.

I didn't see yesterday's game till 8.30 but was, again, in awe of some of our passages of play. I'm loving this season. But, then again, I loved last year as well - and every year since '57.

[3rd degree]

Shae Mac would be a far better option than Dawes

what size hook do you use ?

I can smell the burley!

[neil]

^ and the tuna oil

[Jezza]

Very happy to get the Monkey off our back. We haven't had a good record against the Hawks and it was good to beat them.

Many are saying that Sidebottom, Dawes, Brown and O'Brien are not doing enough for the team, and yes your points are valid but our team wouldn't be as good without these players. Sidebottom is capable of doing anything and having a breakout game. The game against the Western Bulldogs earlier in the year highlights his talent. Dawes is admittedly not in goalkicking form but our forward structure is so much better when he is in the team and so it's a pity that he's out for six weeks.

The progression of some our players this year has been amazing and it's so good to see that our recruiting and developing is working well. Reid must be the improved player in the last 12 months and he is one of our most reliable players. Cloke is now considered the best key forward in the competition and he is consistently bagging 3 or 4 goals every week. Leon Davis's rejuvenation in defence has been a joy to see and I'm so happy to see that the man has worked hard to get back into the side.

I think people have to relax because we are in a position to dominate and I don't think many of us have seen a dominate Collingwood team in so many years. I'm cherishing our dominance and in reality this dominance won't last so enjoy it I say.

Looking forward to belt the Roos next week hopefully and then I cannot wait to test ourselves against the scum in round 17.

GO PIES!!!

[Lazza]

Much was made of Hawthorn's outs. Injuries are simply an unavoidable factor in this high energy game. Just about every team has them. If missing players means you lose games, then your list isn't deep enough.
MM has never used injuries to justify a loss.

Spot on. We had injuries or senior players playing reserves who were coming back from injuries too including Didak, Beams, Johnson, Maccaffer, Goldsack, not to mention long term injuries to Brown and Dick. That is six premiership players missing from last year! Did we whinge, whine and carry on sooking? No we didnt, we just got on with the job with the best possible team available and won the bloody game

I hate excuses...........

[Piesnchess]

My take on the game, and my sons and good mate ari agree with me, is th at it was a good, solid, workmanlike performance, a bluecollar victory really. No passengers, and no real stars, just a solid rock performance that made the dawks look pretty second rate. Yep, good win with no bells and whistles, just taking care of business.

[swooper]

Wow! Imagine if we had lost!!

For the record we beat the team the opposition put on the park and you can not do any more than that. Wins against top 4 sides are huge and to win so comfortably gives us an edge that we haven't had against this side.

That classic line the comes out to beat player with is in full use again "didn't do enough today". They can't all get 30 touches can they? So far on here someones had a crack at Sharrod of not doing enough recently (3 weeks is a long time in football) and at Jarrod Blair who clearly had his best game this season yesterday. Some of us seem to live in a delusion that one day all 22 players will play at their best all at once. Similarly I have my 15 trained monkeys trying to type out a best seller for me, it will happen I tell you!

Let's point out some of the players the hawks did have today. Franklin, Hodge, Mitchell, Burgoyne along with some very nice younger players. I have never seen as ineffectual a 40 possession game as Hodge played. The Hawthorn game plan inflates stats and importance. From the moment Franklin missed his first shot at goal you could see his head wasn't in it. That said you have to wonder why he doesn't play midfield all day every day. Watching him run with the ball in one hand is scary.

Our defence is magnificent (all of them) they have run, drive and skill at this stage equal to anything the AFL can throw at them. Considering that they are made up of a group of players who were never up to it (read the critiques) they're turning out ok. Ben Reid's kicking is phenomenal and as his confidence grows he is turning into the prototype Luke Hodge type quarterback player. He makes the switch and changes the whole direction of a game. Leon's transformation is miraculous and more credit need to be given to the coaching panel for this. His ability to deliver the ball and to read player is still elite. For those with Big O issues find the tape and watch his spoil deep deep into the 4th 1/4, when all around him had stopped there was Harry going 100 Miles an hour to spoil. There is nothing less than 100% with Harry.

Finally let's all celebrate Trav. You have to feel absolutely wrapped for him. While the media and others (!) were taking shots at him he has quietly developed into an elite power forward. A player as rare as hen teeth and one who is just starting to hit his straps. As big as Franklins failure to fires yesterday was Clokes 3rd big game is a row. To hear the crowd rise as he lifts into a contest is awesome.

Well done Pies, bring on the Roos and then a similarly disappointing performance against the blues would do me fine!

Excellent post

[jack_spain]

Well Dawes' injury now becomes a huge negative out of the game. Our much vaunted structure will certainly be tested.

[Collingwood Crackerjack]

All this criticsm of DAWES is unjustified.

Not entirely mate, but I take your point.

I'm just amazed how much Steele Sidebottom has been immune to the blow torch on Nick's.

I thought some of his efforts today were disgraceful (nigh on pure laziness). He is coasting, and has done for most of the season. I thought after the finals series last year he was going to be the next big thing in our midfield. Right now Blair gives us a lot more (and Blair's form is well down too).

I really am surprised that people can't see what the issue is here; Sidey is being asked to play what I consider the hardest role on the field, the opportunist small forward pocket.

How good did Neon look when he played the same role last year? And he had played the position for years. a little patience please

[Pies4shaw]

^^^ Yes, I thought Sidebottom was very good yesterday in his role.

[MJ23]

^^^ Yes, I thought Sidebottom was very good yesterday in his role.

yeah said this on another post. Even Didak has trouble playing this role at times. Sidebottom is a natural on baller also.


what I was very happy with was the tackling efforts. Much more in line with our best last year and against a team that is hard at it.
Good signs.

[Piesnchess]

Young Sidey got the ball a lot, but his disposal wasnt too good, he turned it over a bit. Then again, as i always say, its easy for us SITTING in the stands. !

[MJ23]

Young Sidey got the ball a lot, but his disposal wasnt too good, he turned it over a bit. Then again, as i always say, its easy for us SITTING in the stands. !

yeah he did turn it over, probably more noticeable as he is normally so good.
If you watch the game again you will see he also got some very tough handballs away to a target.
As I said, he is covering the ground really well and running the games out as well as anyone. He will be ok

[Bob Sugar]

Thought we were ordinary, we were ordinary last week to but i put that down to the bye, we're probably going through a heavy training load ATM (same as the cats/all the top teams).

[AN_Inkling]

Beating another top 4 team by 40 points is not ordinary, by any definition.

Their outs were barely more significant than ours, so the win stands on its merit.

We are back to 2010 form. No absolute stand out players, other than Cloke, but winning it on intensity, system and a quality team effort.