Pies match thread

[liz]

I think that is a statement that the NAB Cup and its rules is just rubbish. I hope upon hope these rules never get brought in, they are just bull@@@@, for the first time in all my time in watching footy, I was confused, especially with those rubbish 50 metre penalties when collingwood got 9 points but the same thing happened to us and we get 6??? Bring on the real stuff!

I'm not a particular fan of the 9 point goals, though they are inoffensive enough in the NAB Cup, I suppose. But if we're going to have them, I really like the change they've made this year. It used to be that if you got a 50m penalty, and scored directly from it, you would get 9 points even if you kicked it from the goal square. At least now they are making players actually earn the extra 3 points by insisting that they have to kick them from outside 50m. And I like the fact that players get a choice too.

There are stll too many being given, though, and I fear this might carry over into the season proper. The one against Jude was clearly a 50m penalty (and a bit of a brain fade from Jude). And the one to Malceski was fair enough too, though maybe tough on the offending player (also J Bolton I think!) as he was already committed in the air and couldn't have done much to avoid the contact. But the one against JPK, while technically there, was tough, no idea what the one to Krakouer was for, and we got a couple of very soft ones too - the not giving the ball back on the full is a rubbish reason to give a 50m penalty unless it is obvious the offending player is trying to waste time. Jude got one courtesy of this particular rule.

[Nico]

Mattner's the new whipping boy. I loved his defensive work, some great desperation lunges and stretches prevented what would have been Collingwood shots on goal. His main problem, and I suspect where many fans get such a negative impression of him, is his offensive game. He is liable to taking one step too many and getting pinged, he loves to bounce every 5 steps but does it with his head down, rendering him unaware of his surroundings and the opportunities up field, and seems to be quite error-prone at the kickins. At the moment I have him battling Dre for a spot in the 22, both can play on medium forwards, take the kick-ins and run and carry out of the defence.

No doubt about his work ethic. As I said last week other sides now go to his left side when he has possession which causes him to go back on his right, where he is a dunce on his right foot. Leo Barry was exactly the same. A lot of the time he seems to play negative and go backwards, but as was obvious last night, that is how we play the game. We will switch play as often as possible and it worked well much of the time, except when we either over possessed or went to someone under the pump for a turnover. Mattner made some errors early but redeemed himself as the game went on.

[Nolie]

.
....TDL...2 weeks in a row has been as soft as butter. It looked to me at the game he dropped his head when he dropped amark in the first quarter (i think got dragged) and in the last quarter had 2 metres on an opponent and should have taken a chest mark and taken the bump for 50 metre penalty but at the last moment took his eyes of the footy, looked at the player and went with the finger tips. Those acts don't get you a game in the big time. I happy to be corrected on these.

.

I think you are being a bit harsh but I only saw the second, end of third and last quarter. He seemed to do a couple of good things.

[unconfuseme]

People! ... PRE-SEASON!

This is probably as good as we have gone in the past 10 years!!! ... cup half full ... and the positives are;

1. Nearly every draftee and trade from last year has confirmed the stellar form they displayed at times during 2010 ... can expect more consistency from them all in 2011.
2 OK, so Jude is a year older ... he will take more than a couple of games to get into stride, but, his ethos, experience and skill will win us crucial games this year and in the future!
3. Seaby ... missed a season! ... some rust, but plenty of encouraging signs and provides more tall options
4. LJ ... similar scenario, only played a bit over a dozen games in 30 months ... showed enough to suggest he will also provide more options forward.
5. TDL ... 2nd year blues? maybe, but what that really means is the opposition has started rating you ... takes a defender with him and and applies defensive pressure inside 50 ... takes pressure off our other spearheads gives us more scoring options
6. Uncle Julius (my name for Byron - players call him "BD" btw) ... a mostly uninterrupted pre-season and now showing the latent talent - a revelation who will give us another dimension in the backline this year.
7. Bird, Bulldog, fit and well and highly regarded within the playing group - ready to contribute again
8. All of the newbies have shown something
9. All the players who have been missing/restricted during pre-season look likely to have full recoveries and will be coming back keen and fit.


Seriously, we have a wealth of talent and more to come back ... I expect we are in for a huge year!

With apologies to the memory of Big Kev ... I'm excited!

[Primmy]

Oh dear. Jesse. What is going to be his fate?

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Oh dear. Jesse. What is going to be his fate?

What do you mean?

[AnnieH]

People! ... PRE-SEASON!

snip

Seriously, we have a wealth of talent and more to come back ... I expect we are in for a huge year!

With apologies to the memory of Big Kev ... I'm excited!

Agree 1,646.443%.
(I used a calculator.)

[satchmopugdog]

I'm excited..mostly by Rohan's game, plus my continued virtual love affair with Josh Kennedy and the re-appearance of my old love child Craig Bird(gotta love that side-step)....settle Satch settle

Even a Pies supporter friend of mine grudgingly had to admit we looked all right on Friday night

[BigD]

After that effort, despite the loss, I'm really looking forward to the real season starting. I think we're in really good nick at the moment and well positioned for a great year.

[Cant turn right]

Just watching the replay now, such a good game for preparation for the season proper. I liked that the commentary in the pre-amble was focused on us for a change.

[AnnieH]

Just watching the replay now, such a good game for preparation for the season proper. I liked that the commentary in the pre-amble was focused on us for a change.

Even the commentators find it difficult to say something nice about the colliwobbles.

[Chilcott]

Went to the game and was very impressed with the way we played. For what it's worth, here is my summary.

Positives
Gary Rohan continues to improve and his second half was very good. He has lightning pace, tackles hard and good skills. Would be damaging down back, but I think we would be best served having him in the forward line.

Reid & Johnston - Reid still needs a season or two of development, but looks like he'll blossom into a very good CHF. Although still young and hasn't played many games, LJ hasn't impressed me like Reid. I will reserve my judgment on LJ at this stage.

Our midfield will be our strength this year. Kennedy, Hanners, Jack, McVeigh, Goodes, ROK are all guns. With Mummy, Pyke and Seaby in the ruck we will get plenty of clearances. Based on Friday nights game and last weeks, I would have Pyke and ahead of Seaby. But that'll probably change in a few weeks.

Negatives
Hate to say it, but I can't see Jude Bolton having much of an impact this season. He looked slow and lost on Friday night. Luke Ball ran away from him with ease and Ball is slow himself.

TDL will be important for us this season, but he needs to show a bit more courage. Not a fan of blokes who duck their head (did it right in front of me) and I hope he doesn't do it again.

Our forward line needs some structure. I'm looking forward to the return of Bradshaw and White into the forward line.

Can't see Bevan getting too many senior games, especially with the emergence of Sumner and with Nick Smith due to come back into the line-up.

With LRT, Nick Smith, C Bolts, Kennelly and Mumford to come back in, we are looking like a top 4 side.

[stellation]

Even the commentators find it difficult to say something nice about the colliwobbles.

Then you clearly weren't watching and listening to the commentary!

[giant]

Then you clearly weren't watching and listening to the commentary!

I turned the commentary off - it was just excruciating. Course it made for fairly tense viewing conditions with my Pies-loving missus providing her own commentary but I've more practice at tuning out to her than to Bruce and Dennis.