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

[Aprilbr]

I think everyone is aware of it 707. We try not to talk about it too much though. Best not to freak out the team before the game
on Saturday.

Well they are the Evil Empire so its not surprising that a Collingwood Grand Final experience coincides with the death of monarchs.

[rojo]

Is everyone aware of the fact that since footy has been played in the 1860's, and up until last week, four British monarchs have died, 1901, 1910, 1936, 1952 and that Collingwood made the GF in all of those years, four out of four.

Elizabeth has died, will Collingwood again play in a GF in the year of a monarch's death?

No! As Brisbane beat its supposed 'hoodoos'. Go Swannies.

[Swannette]

Is everyone aware of the fact that since footy has been played in the 1860's, and up until last week, four British monarchs have died, 1901, 1910, 1936, 1952 and that Collingwood made the GF in all of those years, four out of four.

Elizabeth has died, will Collingwood again play in a GF in the year of a monarch's death?

I’d rather think about the karma created by the Temper Trap playing at the GF. I loved dancing to them on the mcg after we won in 2012! [emoji16]


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[Hotpotato]

Is everyone aware of the fact that since footy has been played in the 1860's, and up until last week, four British monarchs have died, 1901, 1910, 1936, 1952 and that Collingwood made the GF in all of those years, four out of four.

Elizabeth has died, will Collingwood again play in a GF in the year of a monarch's death?

The minute QE passed I couldn’t think of anything else, but the Pies are just another bunch we can beat with all our systems aligned . Thanks

[MattW]

On the AFL website today, Matthew Lloyd suggested that we should consider looking to go smaller by dropping McDonald and bringing in Campbell. His argument was that McDonald and Buddy had both done little in the previous two games, and the ball was likely to be on the ground a lot in the preliminary and we needed to counter the Pies' speed. A big call by him but I would personally stick with McDonald who does a lot of unsung running and helping out work, as well as being a marking lead up threat.

'Player of finals' can lead Pies to flag, Dees who went backwards

I cannot anticipate any circumstance where I would credit any suggestion or comment Matthew Lloyd made about the Swans.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm not overly concerned about playing Collingwood; I think the Swans best can beat them and anyone else.

They did have several key danger players in the Freo game - and I think, not necessarily just those that everyone talks about. I have faith that the coaches know who they are and who to match up on them.

Just about at the stage of getting that slightly sick feeling now, where a win would be so good, and a loss so disappointing. And if we get to the GF - that feeling again, only worse! I should be used to it by now, having sat through 3 GF losses.

I agree with the first two paragraphs and am suspicious of the instinctive confidence I have about the game.

[Ludwig]

The last time Collingwood were in the GF, 2018, is the same year of the movie The Dead Queen.

Pedro e Inês (2018) - IMDb

[Industrial Fan]

Oddly they also made the grand final in 77 when Elvis died, however they didn’t make the grand final in 2016 when prince died.

[neilfws]

Ha, looks like the Pies have fallen for the "tiny SCG fallacy":

Bringing the SCG to Melbourne: How Pies are planning Swans takedown

For those who haven't read it: ground size is one of those factors that gets talked about a lot, but probably doesn't make much as much difference as some people think.

From the SCG to Kardinia Park — do ground sizes contribute to the end result in AFL games?

I'd suggest that if the Pies are looking for reasons to explain their loss last time, the 2.5 metres at each end are not high on the list.

[mcs]

Well to be fair, they only play away from the MCG about 3 times a year at most :P

The funny part is they've only just thought to do this now. Surely most clubs do it whenever they are going somewhere with significant different dimensions in play during training.... or perhaps not.

Almost as funny as the desperate pies fans today wanting the game at ANZ so they can go and watch - even though its another 10% smaller than the SCG in playing surface, so even more unsuited to their team's style of footy (if you believe it really matters that much).

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Collingwood's original name was the somewhat obsequious "Britannia" so there's clearly a long standing affiliation.

[giant]

Ha, looks like the Pies have fallen for the "tiny SCG fallacy":

Bringing the SCG to Melbourne: How Pies are planning Swans takedown

For those who haven't read it: ground size is one of those factors that gets talked about a lot, but probably doesn't make much as much difference as some people think.

From the SCG to Kardinia Park — do ground sizes contribute to the end result in AFL games?

I'd suggest that if the Pies are looking for reasons to explain their loss last time, the 2.5 metres at each end are not high on the list.

Was funny listening to McRae on 360 tonight, for a guy who has been totally transparent and upfront about his team all year, it was very strange hearing him trying to put down their loss last time to the size of the ground. For the first time, I found myself wondering if he truly believed what he was saying. Very odd indeed.

[mcs]

Was funny listening to McRae on 360 tonight, for a guy who has been totally transparent and upfront about his team all year, it was very strange hearing him trying to put down their loss last time to the size of the ground. For the first time, I found myself wondering if he truly believed what he was saying. Very odd indeed.

The narrative may work for them and if they get the win on Saturday night - well done for it. Whatever gets the player group up to the challenge.

But it is a really odd narrative. McRae tonight, then one of the toothless ones (can't remember who) saying they were 'confused by tactics' last time and they just need to play a simpler game plan.

Almost like they are desperately trying to convince themselves last time was simply a 'one off' caused by outside factors, and so if they play their game it'll suddenly work, rather than saying 'we need to change things'. Time will tell of course - and I may well be very wrong, but I sense there is a lot of mind games going on here aimed solely at the Pies playing group, not anyone else. Almost trying to convince themselves that they can win on Saturday night....

Very strange indeed. It may be a mind games masterstroke, but I sense a significant level of fear that they don't think they can match us if we play near our best.

I'm very happy if we continue to hear zip about our tactical approach to Saturday, and more nice stories like the one on Parker today.

[Aprilbr]

Swans will stay right out of tactical discussions in the media and mind games.

Come Saturday afternoon, however, it will be intriguing to see how players line up. Will Clarke go to Daicos? Probably yes. If so, will Daicos go into the centre or elsewhere? Who will line up next to De Goey? Mills or Rowbottom? How will Buddy counter Moore's run out of defense? Just a few matchups to watch.

[liz]

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.

[liz]

Swans will stay right out of tactical discussions in the media and mind games.

Come Saturday afternoon, however, it will be intriguing to see how players line up. Will Clarke go to Daicos? Probably yes. If so, will Daicos go into the centre or elsewhere? Who will line up next to De Goey? Mills or Rowbottom? How will Buddy counter Moore's run out of defense? Just a few matchups to watch.

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.