Prelim Final: Swans vs Collingwood 4.45pm Sat 17 September SCG

[MattW]

I didn''t quite take the same away from McRae's performance on AFL360. I confess he's won me over this season with his straightforwardness, modesty and genuine delight in what his team has achieved, so maybe I projected that onto what he said.

I suspect he came up with just one relatively minor thing they are doing differently this time for public consumption (ie taking notice of the slight ground dimension differences).

He was also very complimentary of the Swans and commented that it's gone under the radar a bit how good we are this year. But Gerald seemed keen to move on quickly from this so it almost got lost.

Agreed. He was asked to account for a rather dramatic comment - that he coached badly - and his explanation was that he didn't coach the ground size. It does seem 'one relatively minor thing they are doing differently this time for public consumption'.

I suspect it's true that he thinks he didn't address ground size as he should have. But I also suspect it's true that: 1) there were other substantive reasons for feeing he didn’t coach well which are less simplistic, and 2) it is designed to give his guys confidence that it was his method rather than their ability which decided the game and with better method they can win.

He's super-smart, McRae - a tough adversary.

We'll have a more Swans-focused episode tomorrow, with Isaac on.

[Ludwig]

I managed to substitute this drawing in McRae's inbox, so he could mark out the dimensions of the SCG.



My spies have noticed the Pies training like crabs, so they can cover the wide boundaries.



So I expect Collingwood to do the crab crawl sidestep to keep us from switching play. They're putting Jack Ginnivan in the centre of the line. I think we just run up the corridor.

I've also been flooding the media with Jordan DeGoey Greatness stories. He's told his teammates to sty in Melbourne. He can handle the Swans all by himself. He'll be going into the game with a lot of confidence.

[i'm-uninformed2]

The one real failure that Clarke had in the back end of this season was the second time we played St Kilda. Sinclair was a major reason why we struggled to get over them, and why they were able to move the ball far more decisively than first time. He still played across half-back (in contrast to McRae's attempt to shake the tag by moving Daicos up the ground) and it's hard to tell exactly what the Saints did differently to free Sinclair up. But I guess expecting the tag made a big difference as they were able to plan for it, and other defenders likely worked to put blocks on Clarke so that Sinclair could get free.

McRae and Daicos will similarly be on notice that he can expect a Clarke tag if Daicos plays at half-back. I suspect they'll start with him elsewhere on the ground this time. In that case, Clarke might focus on David Noble instead. He's nothing like as smooth or deadly a kick as Daicos but he's still responsible for a lot of the Pies' drive from defence, even more so if Daicos isn't there.

We have other options to pay attention to Daicos if he plays along the wing or half-forward. I'd back either Stephens or McInerney to be able to run as hard, as far, and as quickly. They just need to get the right mental balance between playing their own game and showing Daicos some respect.

If Daicos does play at half-back, Clarke just needs to be aware that other Pies players will try and get him into the game. We'll find out what Clarke learned from that second Saints game.

I reckon Clarke could run David Noble off his feet ????

But seriously, John Noble does give them a fair bit of drive, though his kicking can be iffy. He’s not nearly as good but he tries to play a similar link and run role to Jake Lloyd. It’ll be interesting to see whether Noble or Quaynor gets Paps, as that’ll keep them a bit more preoccupied than Freo’s non existent forward line which the Pies treated with contempt.

For all the discussion about Nick Daicos, I’d be just as interested in curtailing his older brother. He was excellent in r22 and is very important to them going inside 50.

[KTigers]

To be fair, the SCG has an over representation of brown shoe/collared shirt types with brand new Swans scarves who use the footy as an entree before a night out in Paddington or Surry Hills. Unfortunately the atmosphere is pretty tame and really only lifts in the last quarter if the scores are close. Whether this is a result of the brown shoe brigade or the booming music after goals is hard to say.

Being down in Melbourne for the game last Friday was awesome. THAT was an atmosphere and one that I would love the SCG to have consistently.

Love them or hate them, the Pies crowd create a brilliant atmosphere for their team, one we can only dream of.

I often think visiting fans tend to overcompensate with their cheering. They know they are outnumbered and try and make up for it by
cheering extremely loudly. There is a bit of belligerence and a bunker mentality in there too and this spurs them on as well. The result of
all this means I'd expect 12,000 Magpies fans will be just as loud as 32,000 Swans fans on Saturday.

[liz]

I reckon Clarke could run David Noble off his feet ????

Aargh. I've turned into Alan Richardson.

[mcs]

The hyperbole in full swing about the length of the SCG from the Victorian journos.

This was in an article today in the Age online version:

"The smaller dimensions of the SCG mean the ball can fly from the centre to full-forward in one kick, bypassing the typical need for a contest at centre half-forward."

I never knew 2.5 metres had such a profound impact on kicking ability as it obviously does at the SCG.... the old wives tales die slow in the VFL world.

The article hardly improves however, with this gem:
"In the Magpies’ favour on Saturday is that the clash will almost certainly be a sellout - and playing before huge crowds is something this side has become accustomed to, particularly in recent weeks."

Maybe I'm imagining it, but wasn't our game against the pies a month ago basically a sellout, and wasn't there 70+ thousand at the G when we played Melbourne....

Meanwhile, the bloods machine just keeps on keeping on in the background, ready to rip some magpies to shreds come Saturday.

[Nico]

I reckon Clarke could run David Noble off his feet ????

But seriously, John Noble does give them a fair bit of drive, though his kicking can be iffy. He’s not nearly as good but he tries to play a similar link and run role to Jake Lloyd. It’ll be interesting to see whether Noble or Quaynor gets Paps, as that’ll keep them a bit more preoccupied than Freo’s non existent forward line which the Pies treated with contempt.

For all the discussion about Nick Daicos, I’d be just as interested in curtailing his older brother. He was excellent in r22 and is very important to them going inside 50.

Quaynor struggled against our forward pressure last time. He fumbled and got found out when he didn't have the space to move as he is used to.

[SwanSand]

Quaynor struggled against our forward pressure last time. He fumbled and got found out when he didn't have the space to move as he is used to.

This is going to be similar but different set of circumstances.
Collingwood had a virus go through them before they played us. De Goey was missing. Nick came across Clarke and was tagged for the first time ever. The hype was there but they had not beaten anyone substantial by then (except Melbourne) as per the pundits.
Now - they probably are walking tall after reaching Prelim, De Goey is fit and firing and Nick would be shielded better than last time. They have come close to beating Geelong in Qualifying final and they are now playing in Prelim. It also seems like they have the firepower needed to win - Good backline, good fast running players across, good Kickers, Game changers in De Goey and Elliott.
The only problem with them is that they have done their best work at MCG in front of their fans. And their front line is good but not amazing.

Swans - On the flip side, we are in trouble with our break and having played only once in 3 weeks. But most of our outfit is professional and is better drilled in terms of defensive effort. We are likely to give even contribution like against Melbourne. And we have great players across the whole park. It will be dependent on small moments within the game. But hopefully we are well drilled as our team has handled pressure and expectations well over the last 8 - 10 weeks.

[crackedactor 01]

This is going to be similar but different set of circumstances.
Collingwood had a virus go through them before they played us. De Goey was missing. Nick came across Clarke and was tagged for the first time ever. The hype was there but they had not beaten anyone substantial by then (except Melbourne) as per the pundits.
Now - they probably are walking tall after reaching Prelim, De Goey is fit and firing and Nick would be shielded better than last time. They have come close to beating Geelong in Qualifying final and they are now playing in Prelim. It also seems like they have the firepower needed to win - Good backline, good fast running players across, good Kickers, Game changers in De Goey and Elliott.
The only problem with them is that they have done their best work at MCG in front of their fans. And their front line is good but not amazing.

Swans - On the flip side, we are in trouble with our break and having played only once in 3 weeks. But most of our outfit is professional and is better drilled in terms of defensive effort. We are likely to give even contribution like against Melbourne. And we have great players across the whole park. It will be dependent on small moments within the game. But hopefully we are well drilled as our team has handled pressure and expectations well over the last 8 - 10 weeks.

Just watched the first quarter of the Adelaide Swans game were our pressure level was recorded as 300 and we kicked 9 goals. I hope we bring that type of pressure next Saturday and good luck to any side that can handle that pressure.

[mcs]

That is my hope too crackedactor. If we bring that sort of manic pressure, they can try their very best all day long - because I think they the Pies will get their famous wobbles. I'm still not convinced they have any effective Plan B to fall back on.

You would think by the media love-in at the moment that their forward line has been blowing teams away at will. The truth is none of the sort - if we control a reasonable amount of the midfield battle and restrict their chances to below normal levels (as we did a month ago), I can't see how they will kick a winning score, unless they can pull off every arsey goal possible, and get some help from those in green along the way. Not a scenario that I want to think about.

If we play anywhere near our best, I can't see how they will be able to match it.

[i'm-uninformed2]

That is my hope too crackedactor. If we bring that sort of manic pressure, they can try their very best all day long - because I think they the Pies will get their famous wobbles. I'm still not convinced they have any effective Plan B to fall back on.

You would think by the media love-in at the moment that their forward line has been blowing teams away at will. The truth is none of the sort - if we control a reasonable amount of the midfield battle and restrict their chances to below normal levels (as we did a month ago), I can't see how they will kick a winning score, unless they can pull off every arsey goal possible, and get some help from those in green along the way. Not a scenario that I want to think about.

If we play anywhere near our best, I can't see how they will be able to match it.

Agreed. Collingwood are playing well, and I don't under estimate the challenge - particularly with the inclusion of De Goey, who really is in exceptional form.

There are two things Collingwood does particularly well - they are very good at intercept footy, and play with high pressure. They then hope to scramble the ball forward whatever way they can seeking territory, and then set up behind the ball to do it all again.

Whilst their madness can work, it doesn't necessarily lend itself to high scoring. Dare doesn't always equal damage on the score board. We've been a two goal a game team better than them over the season.

I think two players have 'small' but important roles this week. Gulden - because he has the ability to make the right kick forward of centre and curb the influence of Howe and Moore. And Hayward - because when we might be under a bit of pressure, he can take those crucial marks along the wings that allow us to control play when we need it, as well as his capacity to get back and close space forward of the ball when they're on a surge.

[neilfws]

The hyperbole in full swing about the length of the SCG from the Victorian journos.

Gerard Healy is doing his best - as he always does when the topic comes up - but no one wants to listen.

The SCG myth Healy has moved to dispel

[Aprilbr]

Its all about Collingwood in the media down here this week. There is nobody else playing in Sydney. The Pies are the greatest team in history if you listen to talkback on SEN. [emoji1][emoji1][emoji1]

[Nico]

Its all about Collingwood in the media down here this week. There is nobody else playing in Sydney. The Pies are the greatest team in history if you listen to talkback on SEN. [emoji1][emoji1][emoji1]

And the newspaper that is for people who can't read is all over the Pies, with only one small article quoting Luke Parker. I live in Montmorency in the heart of Pies supporters. The close by shopping centre at Greensborough sold out of HUNS very quickly today. We might as well throw the towel in now.

[KTigers]

Its all about Collingwood in the media down here this week. There is nobody else playing in Sydney. The Pies are the greatest team in history if you listen to talkback on SEN. [emoji1][emoji1][emoji1]

Yes, here in Sydney we are all very excited about Collingwood playing themselves on Saturday arvo at the SCG.
It makes all that time spent in the Ticketek queue yesterday so worthwhile.