Collingwood vs. Brisbane

[Neil Appleby]

Well I know we have lost 4 on the trot and it is really too easy to make excuses but.......here goes.
Against North and Essendon we came up against the two best performing teams in the comp over the past 2-3 years; no disgrace in getting beaten by them.
Against Freo we were totally pitiful....but, inexperience and being mentally flat after the blockbuster explains a lot there.
It was a game we'll look back on as one we should have bagged.
This week I thought we were terrific for 3 quarters and 23 minutes.
With the clock showing 7 mins to go a few incidents happened that caused the blow out; remember that at this time we were only 9 points down with Brisbane looking flat and tired.
1. Buckley gathers on half F. flank and kicks poorly towards Rocca.....ball easily cleared...goal follows.
2. Buckley gathers in centre, handballs poorly to Scotland....goal shortly after.
3. Lockyer(MM must have wanted his guts for this one)defends from the right pocket and kicks directly to a Lion who goals.
Game over.
Bucks was just buggered...easily BOG again.
Lockyer played fine....just a bad decision at a crucial time.
Against Freo the skill level was back to 1999 levels and our decision making was terrible.
Having said all that, I think we'll whip the Tigers this week.
Like their supporters, this team is definitely filled with Front Runners....Collingwood by 40 points plus.
We're due...and there were good signs this week.
Now on to a few player selections;
1. Davis back to the Twos....not ready.
2. Scotland impressed...to hold spot.
3. Watto did better...to hold spot.
4. Wasley....Scotland a better long term prospect; back to the twos.
5. Tuckey on the bench.
6. Sav in for his last chance before we cull him and try for an end of year trade.
7. Mal Michael...tempting but maybe a run in the twos first...he has missed 6.
Lets get out and roar the place down on Saturday....a few early goals will shut the front runners up.
It's tempting to sit at the Punt Rd end but being an AFL member I'll probably end up there again if they let me back in!!
Floreat Pica.

[NT - Pie]

I actually totally agree with you Neil. I think Tarkin has consistently been our best player. He has the poise of a much older player. My concern from the Brissy game was how many possessions Buckley got and how quiet Williams and O'Bree were. That game should realistically been a draw. Maybe even Buckley needs a rest during a game. Leon Davis seems to fall over in every game back to the twos. Bring back Patto for a laugh and a couple of goals he always seems to kick.

[Greg J]

I always reckoned that at least Patto was always good for a goal. But I think our team has progressed beyond that. We need players who can dominate their opposing player, not just hold their own and kick a goal or two.
Leave Patto in the twos until he dominates that competition, before thinking about promoting him.

[ytry4]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Neil Appleby:
<B> Now on to a few player selections;
1. Davis back to the Twos....not ready.
2. Scotland impressed...to hold spot.
3. Watto did better...to hold spot.
4. Wasley....Scotland a better long term prospect; back to the twos.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't quite think we have two Scotland's!

[This message has been edited by ytry4 (edited 09 May 2000).]

[Damien]

Don't go there NT Pie......Patto is an insurance policy that we will hopefully not need to make a claim on this season. He was retained by MM in case of emergency only.

Interesting to note that we have used 28 players so far this year, level with Carlton, only the Eagles have used less on 27. St Kilda and Adelaide have used a whopping 36 already.


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Damien

[Sly]

Watching Leon Davis in the Seniors, he actually reminds me a bit of Mal Michael when Mal first started playing.

From memory, Mal's first game was against North and Mellington kicked 4 goals on him. The game just looked too quick for him, but the innate ability and talent was there. Over a month or so, Mal adapted to the pace.

I see the same traits in Neon Leon. He has freakish ability and the capacity to do something a little "special," but occasionally it looks like the game's moving to & fro a bit too quickly for him to act and react.

I'd give him some serious leeway in terms of maybe 4 or 5 games straight because I think he'll adapt. He's a class act and just needs to fit in with the pace of the game.

What Collingwood and Y2Malty have to decide is whether they want to retain him as a specialist crumber or somebody who's given the leverage to run up and down the ground at will.

Unless he rotates out of the Forward-pocket and into the position of Rover with Adkins (which I've advocated for a while), I'm not sure what everybody's expectations of him are.

In his first two games against the Hawks and Adelaide, he was slotted as a specialist crumber but was scragged out of both games. In his next two, against Fremantle and Brisbane, he was given the discretion to run up the ground.

What do we - what does Collingwood - want him to be? A goalkicker in the mold of Jeff Farmer or Ronnie Burns, or a small midfielder type?

Give him time to adapt to the pace of the game - and considering the leverage given to some players, I think we can afford Neon this luxury - and he'll adapt and fulfil expectations.



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Sly LeKoupa.
The Last Remaining Bad Guy.<B>
The Collingwood Rant.
Don't believe the Facts until you've read the Rants!</B>
The Unofficial AFL Ranting Board.

[Neil Appleby]

Ytry4,
You misunderstand my fourth point.
I mean...Wasley should be dropped. Scotland will occupy the spot for a speedy type; the difference being Scotland uses the ball so much more effectively.
Wasley appears to be,like Patto, an emergency.
We are NOT so desperate that Patterson should even be considered....full stop.
Scotland will develop into a classy regular;
Wasley, will always be on the fringe.
O'Bree is due after a couple of quiet ones.

[ytry4]

Sorry about that Neil...