Round 21: the other games. Yes, I know it's better for our ladder position, but...

[The Big Cat]

I was hoping the Dees would win so we’d skip ahead of Pies provided we win on Sunday, but it’s probably academic anyway because if we lose to the pie’s next round they’d leap frog us again anyway. Tonight’s result now puts Melbourne within reach as well.

[cruiser]

If we beat North by about 40 or more points we’ll move to third. That means next week’s game against the Pies is a battle for second place. I hope the SCG sells out for that.

[dejavoodoo44]

Interesting stats from the game.
Kicks: Melbourne 201, Collingwood 217.
Handballs: Melbourne 208, Collingwood 99.

Which I think confirms what you shouldn't do against Collingwood. Don't continually go for short handballs, as it only allows them to up the pressure and force turnovers. And conversely, what you should do is use an accurate kicking game, to take the sting out of that pressure. And since they will be attacking with their own kicking game, everyone needs to do a whole lot of defensive running, to deny them time and space.

It's going to be a challenge, but it's not a style of play that's new to us.

[Ludwig]

Interesting stats from the game.
Kicks: Melbourne 201, Collingwood 217.
Handballs: Melbourne 208, Collingwood 99.

Which I think confirms what you shouldn't do against Collingwood. Don't continually go for short handballs, as it only allows them to up the pressure and force turnovers. And conversely, what you should do is use an accurate kicking game, to take the sting out of that pressure. And since they will be attacking with their own kicking game, everyone needs to do a whole lot of defensive running, to deny them time and space.

It's going to be a challenge, but it's not a style of play that's new to us.

Totally agree. We play our best footy with a high pressure game, and so do Collingwood. It should be a good test to see who can execute a similar game plan the best. Our skill execution should be better than Collingwood, but that's just on paper and we will have to do it on the ground.

It was a great game to watch. Even though I don't like the Pies, the result makes for a great contest next week. I should be a finals type game, if both teams bring their best. Something to get excited about. We just have to make sure we beat NM and not get ahead of ourselves.

[joeykanga]

Interesting stats from the game.
Kicks: Melbourne 201, Collingwood 217.
Handballs: Melbourne 208, Collingwood 99.

Which I think confirms what you shouldn't do against Collingwood. Don't continually go for short handballs, as it only allows them to up the pressure and force turnovers. And conversely, what you should do is use an accurate kicking game, to take the sting out of that pressure. And since they will be attacking with their own kicking game, everyone needs to do a whole lot of defensive running, to deny them time and space.

It's going to be a challenge, but it's not a style of play that's new to us.

It isn't new to us as you say.

Did anyone watch fox post game and notice Buckley attempt to take credit for the way Collingwood is succeeding now.
I swear he tried to say that the basis of the current side had been there for five years and just had that bad year last year.
I don't know if that was meant to be a boast or a slight on his coaching..I think it was an attempted boast.

[Faunac8]

It isn't new to us as you say.

Did anyone watch fox post game and notice Buckley attempt to take credit for the way Collingwood is succeeding now.
I swear he tried to say that the basis of the current side had been there for five years and just had that bad year last year.
I don't know if that was meant to be a boast or a slight on his coaching..I think it was an attempted boast.

Yes Buckley is not doing him self any favours recently that was embarrassing to listen to talk about grasping at straws.
His comment to a fellow commentator recently “ how many games did you play “ was an example of his arrogance.
No wonder he was called FIGJAM
The fact he never won a premiership was just reward for his attitude towards Brisbane when he was drafted.

[Maltopia]

Without getting ahead of ourselves next week will be a great test for us and it would be very satisfying if we can put a stop to the Collingwood momentum.
Probably will be our most important home and away game for the year as long as we get up this weekend.

Bet365 had us as massive $1.23 favourites this morning (crazy), but now they have suspended the market, probably until they see how we do against North Melbourne.

[Maltopia]

Post game, Buckley had the gall to say that the Collingwood team today is essentially five years of strong football apart from one bad year last year (when he stopped coaching). So he is saying he got them to where they are today...

[KTigers]

Post game, Buckley had the gall to say that the Collingwood team today is essentially five years of strong football apart from one bad year last year (when he stopped coaching). So he is saying he got them to where they are today...

I really think it's time for Buckley to "move on" from the fact that he is not the Collingwood coach anymore and is now just another
TV footy show clown. I mean, we all have.

[SCGonasunnyday]

(Grudgingly) credit where credit is due… 11 in a row and you have to say it is not a fluke they keep winning the close ones. They manage the end of games very well. Good news is they are due for a loss and we should be up for the challenge

[707]

2nd place is ours if we are good enough! Our destiny is our own hands which is a positive!

Simple really, beat Norf, Pies and Saints, we'll be second, home final, double chance. It's all up to us, after last night, we don't need any other results now.

[neilfws]

The AFL would have to be happy with that for a Friday night game. Exciting stuff and I have to say, very entertaining and enjoyable as a neutral observer.

I reckon our boys will be relishing the challenge of being the team to end that streak next week.

[joeykanga]

Post game, Buckley had the gall to say that the Collingwood team today is essentially five years of strong football apart from one bad year last year (when he stopped coaching). So he is saying he got them to where they are today...

I said the same in an earlier post. The other commentators didn't seem to know how to respond and left him hanging on that comment and quickly moved on. He's an interesting case study...he's actually insightful at times in commentary but then you see his big ego which now keeps being overfed in his new gig. And I keep thinking Heritier Lumumba and what he did there and remind myself of the real Buckley that contrasts with the side he's trying to now rebrand and repolish in his high profile media role . The way he brushed off all the accusations from Heretier was so smug.

[KTigers]

I said the same in an earlier post. The other commentators didn't seem to know how to respond and left him hanging on that comment and quickly moved on. He's an interesting case study...he's actually insightful at times in commentary but then you see his big ego which now keeps being overfed in his new gig. And I keep thinking Heritier Lumumba and what he did there and remind myself of the real Buckley that contrasts with the side he's trying to now rebrand and repolish in his high profile media role . The way he brushed off all the accusations from Heretier was so smug.

Yep, Buckley can't undo the Lumumba situation and he is so dumb he thinks the smug thing flies. Man, what a peanut.

[Aprilbr]

Totally agree. We play our best footy with a high pressure game, and so do Collingwood. It should be a good test to see who can execute a similar game plan the best. Our skill execution should be better than Collingwood, but that's just on paper and we will have to do it on the ground.

It was a great game to watch. Even though I don't like the Pies, the result makes for a great contest next week. I should be a finals type game, if both teams bring their best. Something to get excited about. We just have to make sure we beat NM and not get ahead of ourselves.

It should be a ripper game!