Stu

Thanks in advance for what I know will be an enjoyable podcast! Just like with the Swans game in Round 3, it felt like Goodwin showed the ability to adapt to our opponents, rather than just 'play our way'. This appeared to be a weakness that other teams exploited last year, but one that we seem to be rectifying - do you agree? P.S. One stat that shows how dominant we've been for the past 2.5 years: After beating the Pies, the longest losing streak the Dees have is with Brisbane at 2 games, with the opportunity to rectify that in a months' time. All other current losing streaks are 1 (Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Port). Our best winning streaks are Gold Coast (11), Carlton (8), and Hawthorn (6.5 if we count the draw from 2021 as half).

Essendon do get the privilege of playing there this year - will be interesting to hear if there's any murmurings in the media about the ground capacity it in the lead up to that game.

Is it just me or has Essendon been dropping the ball in tackles regularly all night and no HTB, but they’ve been given about 6 or 7 similar decisions when Carlton drop it?

The QB games were always ones where the form guide meant nothing. We went in favourites the last two years and lost, so maybe we go in underdogs and win. I really hope so. I can’t stand losing to them!

Funnily enough, I can see Richmond getting the “first game with a new coach” win over Port, and Adelaide are a chance against the Lions. I can’t see how Collingwood lose, but boy if they did….

From what I remember, because we didn’t resign JJ on a full contract one year, and then picked him up in the rookie draft he is an unrestricted free agent. If he leaves we will most likely get no compensation.

I watch how aggressively they dive into each contest and I can foresee a few injuries coming along. The last quarter comebacks must also be taxing.

I believe that’s Kye Turner, our SSP from this year. Daniel is uninjured I believe.

Great post! Collingwood are a great team, and McRae seems to have created a positive culture very quickly. I think their game plan relies on constant and immense pressure on the opposition. Because they attack so aggressively through the corridor, they really rely on each player rolling off their direct opponent to pressure any player that gets goal side of someone further up the ground. Brisbane showed how much it can hurt them when you don’t allow implied pressure to cause panic. The lions could have won by more if they weren’t so fumbly (like us). There’s two parts to whether Collingwood win it all this year - can they play at that intensity all year, and have they shown their hand too early that teams will have time to work out how to beat them.

On Kayo, about 10 storeys above Main Beach Rd, Main Beach Qld 😀

I think we need to pick the best 22 players and use our sub for the type of cover we need. The team is clearly very fit based on final quarter performance, so I don’t we’d be at a disadvantage to have Turner or TMac as sub. Gawn and Grundy offer us some flexibility in terms of attacking and defensive cover. If it’s dry and Brown plays I can see him getting some good looks leading back to goal. Port attack quickly and if we get our typical strong amount points from turnover, he will be given the type of space he thrives in.

It's important to remember that Brown was looking sharp before he was injured. The FD may have him on a modified program to get him cherry ripe for the second half of the season. TMac was also (according to reports) looking great in the off-season but it seems like the intensity of games has shown his ankle isn't quite right. Interestingly, the Gabba and Optus grounds were very hard at the respective dates we played there, so that probably hasn't helped. It may be that these two players can't influence games anymore, but it's also possible that they will find fitness and form at the right time of year. The great thing is that we're the highest scoring team without these two having much of an influence. While it sucks that Petty has been injured, it gives us a look at how well other combinations and strategies work. It's over to TMac, BBB, Schache, or Smith to grab whatever opportunity is given them and cement their place over the next 4 weeks.

Before he was injured Brown had 9 goals in 2.5 games. If he’s fit we could bring him in and make McDonald or D Turner sub for extra defensive cover. JVR can play Petty’s role leaving BBB as the deepest forward. There is also Schacke and Smith who offer different dynamics. To make lemonade from lemons, this will at least show us alternative forward setups and how well they work. If Petty being injured for a month derails our flag hopes…they didn’t exist to begin with.

JVR taking some great marks and breaking open packs. Once he develops AFL level endurance he's going to be amazing. He's now kicked a goal in everyone of his 7 games 😊 Regarding centre bounces, I'm confident they set up to get a clean clearance out the front of the stoppage for maximum impact. Teams are working really hard to try to disrupt this at the expense of it being less structured. Around the ground, we are beating teams on turnover and giving up clearance to do this. In 2021 we were a turnover team until Round 20 when we started to score from stoppage, and we saw the effect of that in the PF and GF. I think once we get the centre clearance chemistry right - be it through exposure for the rotating players, or by allowing the big 3 more time there later in the season - teams will have to contend with multi ways we can score against them.

I tore my bicep but it was worth it

When I heard the good news I literally flexed like JVR did after he goaled against the tigers!

No, but yes, but, no, but yes

Definitely not. They’re going to be a very good team in a year or two. But it’s nice to be the experience team that finds a way to win against a plucky young team, instead of the other way around!

A few minutes after the siren went I thought to myself "Gold Coast will get smashed next week". They went at every content like their season depended on it and they had many tired and sore players at the end of the game (we probably have a few too). But as you say, that was their out of the box game and we won. They will often knock off one or two big teams each year (nearly got the pies last year but for a couple of non-calls). It wasn't great, but I'll definitely take it given how much the Suns threw at us.

I noticed someone calling himself @binman messaged in to ask Hoiney about team fitness statistics - there couldn't be two binman's who follow AFL could there?

Full credit to Collingwood for how they mentally approach every moment of every game. But I have doubts that they can play with this intensity for 26/27 games. They strain every muscle and sinew to pressure, smother, spoil any contest, and it took that level of commitment from most of their players - as well as Adelaide kicking atrociously - for them to win this game. It's such a long season, and I just can't see how they can play such a high tempo / high risk style AND seemingly play in so many close, long games AND stay fresh. If I am wrong, it'll go down as one of the best seasons of footy from a team in the modern era.

I think I've realised that my loathing of Collingwood is almost as high as my love for the Dees. I was feeling sick with anxiety watching the game because I want them to lose so bad. I turned it off because I don't need that on a Sunday night :D

I wonder if this part was to reiterate the strategy for how they will setup for D50 ground balls? Clarkson may well look to utilise low, scrubby kicks to generate the success the Tigers had on Monday.

I imagine some time back Stevie made a slightly positive comment about Essendon, and another Dees fan said “if you love Essendon so much, why don’t you marry it?”… and so he proposed and Essendon said yes 😂

Spot on! You’re ready for a career as an AFL commentator.