Tonight's Match

[Donners]

There were three major problems that I saw in this game:

- Basic skill errors. Yes, the conditions were tough, but they are the same for both sides. It was quite ridiculous to see the ball bouncing off people's chests time after time, not so mention some of the hilariously skewed kicks (Sundqvist's in the final quarter a fine example).

- Poor decision making. There were two main issues here: constantly going wide and having too many players around the ball. The former was just stupid, because it allowed Collingwood to bottle the ball up - that is, if the Sydney player didn't put it straight out on the full. With the ball so tough to mark, why not bomb it into the forward line at least a couple of times? Even if you don't hit a forward target (always a chance with O'Loughlin and Hall there), there's a decent chance a defender won't be able to take a clean mark, and then the crummers have a chance.

As for the latter, one of the reasons for the former was that there weren't enough Sydney players ahead of the ball to kick to, so the players constantly had to go wide. The reason Collingwood always seemed to have numbers ahead of the ball was because all the Sydney players were in a pack around it! Not only did we not always win the ball, when we did there was nobody to kick to. More often than not, having too many players around the abll actually made it more difficult for somebody with the ball to get clear. That's the sort of thing you expect to see in under-9s, not AFL.

- The coaching. Actually, just one area in particular - Collingwood had the sense to drop a ruckman for a smaller player because of the conditions, so why didn't we? Meiklejohn is simply not of AFL standard yet, and he has no place in the team unless it is absolutely vital. With LRT already there and the conditions not suiting big men, he was not just of no use, he was an outright liability at times. Though I'm sure many people will hate me saying this, Danny McPherson would have been the best choice to take his place. These conditions are best handled by a grunt, and you know he would always be in there at the bottom of packs trying to clear the ball and kicking long and straight whenever he got clear.

Ultimately, I think 18 points is pretty flattering. Put in a performance like that against Melbourne, and the season is gone.

[chammond]

Though I'm sure many people will hate me saying this, Danny McPherson would have been the best choice to take his place.

Had to laugh at that. When I saw the weather forecast yesterday arvo, my first thought was that we'll be desperate for someone who can kick long and straight in wet conditions. Frosty would certainly have fit that bill!

Also had to chuckle at the anti-Mathews brigade. He was probably best-on-ground, but still cops a hiding from the 'fans'. Just confirms to me that some of our 'experts' post here without even watching the game. Or maybe they're just trolls, who knows?

Thought O'Keefe tried hard and kicked a couple of critical goals . . . but then he dropped or fumbled just about everything else! Maybe he was trying too hard?

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by Charlie
Mathews had a shocker? He had more of the ball than just about anybody... I reckon it was his best performance for the year. Sure, he stuffed up a couple... but point me to a player wearing red and white who didn't.

Sure he got a lot of the ball, but in general, did nothing with it. His handballs often dropped at teammates ankles, putting them under even more pressure. IMHO Benny has really stepped up this year, but last night his skills were back to the bad old days. Just a blip on the radar I'm sure...

[chammond]

Sure he got a lot of the ball, but in general, did nothing with it.

Most possessions of both teams, and more marks than any other Swan.

I've got no problem with you not being a Mathews fan, but what you're saying defies credibility.

I've watched the game a couple of times, and yes he made some mistakes . . . about what you would expect from a player who continuously wins the ball in atrocious conditions.

IMO, Mathews biggest problem is not his form, nor his ability, but the fact that he is a quiet achiever, who does his job, and racks up possessions, without any flamboyance. Then when he does make a mistake, that's all anyone remembers.

[swan_song]

I thought Mathews had a "reasonable" game compared to most of his teammates...
Collingwood (*hoik* *pfffffffffffffit*, *ptang*) played better in practically every aspect of the game last night. Simple as that. We were not in their class on the night! Let's get over it, move on...
Look forward to who we can pick up in the draft to bolster us for the coming years, when we may have a truer shot at it...

[Joel]

Originally posted by gossipcom

They played crap, deserved to lose and if they play like that again especially in the finals they won't go very far.

Come on mate, that is crap. We played great football in the first half, and kept it steady in the second half. If we'd played that badly we wouldn't have won. We played smart football, you guys didn't.

[sharpie]

Nic Fosdike

Im interested to see if anyone else agrees with me that Fossie was decent last night. Saw him a few times attacking the ball, seemed to get quite a lot of it, even if his disposal let him down, but so did everyone elses.

[Joel]

Originally posted by robbieando
I suppose such a great club like Collingwood can take the army to Brisbane and WIN.

Not bloodly likely

If we play Brisbane again this season, I can tell you now, they will not get the jump on us like they did the other week.

[Bron]

Game is on again on foxtel NSW extra at 1.30pm .... I need to see it without the emotion to see if the first quarter was as bad as I thought. At least I feel better about last night, I couldn't watch the hawthorn debacle.

[BAM_BAM]

Re: Nic Fosdike

Originally posted by sharpie
Im interested to see if anyone else agrees with me that Fossie was decent last night. Saw him a few times attacking the ball, seemed to get quite a lot of it, even if his disposal let him down, but so did everyone elses.

I do Sharpie.

[Plugger46]

Originally posted by Joel
If we play Brisbane again this season, I can tell you now, they will not get the jump on us like they did the other week.

Pfff, they will blitz you again. You won last night and good luck to you. But you just wait til September buddy, and we will kick the living suitcase out of your mob. It's 1-1 this year. Flags are not won in August, Collingwood supporters should know that better than anyone.

Just watch those pies fail again, when it really matters.....

[hammo]

Upon reflection Matthews had a fair game - it's just that a few of his crucial mistakes stuck in my mind.

[gossipcom]

Originally posted by Joel
Come on mate, that is crap. We played great football in the first half, and kept it steady in the second half. If we'd played that badly we wouldn't have won. We played smart football, you guys didn't.

I was referring to the Swans not Pies when I said "They were crap"

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by Joel
If we play Brisbane again this season, I can tell you now, they will not get the jump on us like they did the other week.

ROFLMAO

Boy has this site gone to the dogs over the last week! Collingwood allegiance aside, that is the biggest piece of BS I've ever heard on this site since LS graced us with his presence.

Unless of course I can use that same excuse to relate to last Sat. nights game. BWAHAHAHAAAAR!!!!! hang on, who am I kidding. I'm not that fickle.