Dr. Gonzo

The two wins would be last year when we scraped home and at the scg in 2019 our first win of the season. Slim pickings, I just envision Papley giving us headaches.

I'd rather play Pies in the QF over the PF if it comes to that. Last week still fresh in the players minds and they know they have the double chance so won't be as nervous about losing to them (if that makes sense). Sydney worry me because they are smartly coached and always play us tight, I don't think we've had a comfortable win against them since we shellacked them under Bailey.

I was taught two things love Melbourne and hate Collingwood - my hate for then has waned over the years mainly due to the pity for losing so many GFs and our lack of playing them in big games. Essendon, Hawthorn and West Coast were more hated. After this year and especially last week they are back to the top of the hate lost, cannot stand them and hate the thought of losing to them. Anyone who wants an understanding of the psychology of the club should read the book, Kill For Collingwood. It is a history of the club written in the early 80s and really delves into the early history of not just the club but the suburb it grew from. It is understandable why they have such a vile culture. The worst part is their arrogance when they have only won 4 flags since the 1930s! 4!

I know, was shattered when they didn't go for Ross Lyon

How much involvement will JT have though? He is more drafting than trading, Josh Mahoney used to be our trading guru - is that Alan Richardson now?

Why would we be screwed? Our midfield is strong enough that they should be able to break even at minimum at centre clearance. In fact we have lost centre clearances a number of times the last two years despite having a dominant ruck and midfield! You just need a big body who can compete and bring the ball to ground for our mids and running players. Just compete around the ground and don't get outmarked. We are blessed to have Max with some of his around the ground work but the ruck position is the most overvalued position in footy.

I agree about Longmire although Collingwood have a good record against the Swans and also travel well historically. I think it will be a(nother) close game.

I wouldn't say we whacked Adelaide at the G. We got out to a 25 point lead before half time, they reeled it back in then we held them at arm's length before Fritsch kicked 3 goals in the last few minutes to blow the margin out to 41 pts.

Last year I was confident that if we were within 5 goals at halftime we would win. This year I don't know if 5 goals is a big enough lead for us to take into the 2nd half!

Yep and the short run up is another key as you've said - Max marks it 20m out then turns around walks back almost to the 50! You don't need that long a run up, just give yourself enough room to kick over the mark and pop it through. Short run up, straight run up, keep the ball still and relax should be the mantra. Who would've guessed the best goalkicker in the games history would know a thing or two about what it takes? Would love to get Dunstall down to training to sort them out (unlikely Plugger would do it).

Exactly right, no one should be missing from 30m out directly in front. No one. I don't care how fatigued you might be that is a layup, like shooting ducks in a barrel.

I remember watching Darren Bennett as a kid, held the ball straight, no bent elbows, bent over to hold it as close to his foot as possible to minimise the ball drop (less variance for the ball to move between hand and foot) and more power through the kick as the foot hits the ball at a lower point. There is a technique to it which can only improve through repetition, watching the way Gawn and Petracca kick their set shots is mind boggling for professional athletes. The other thing I've noticed as a novice/amatuer is you get better accuracy when kicking to a target rather than kicking through a target - so it's easier to aim a kick at the goal umpire (who stands in the centre of the goals) rather than to try and work the ball through the goals. Petracca is an excellent field kick (look at his pass to Kossie in the first quarter against Freo as an example) but he's in his own head with the goalkicking because he neglects his natural kicking motion. They need to relax and focus on repeating a good technique but it can only be improved with practice!!!!

We must win both to finish top 4. I think we will.

No point if he can't kick goals. It's no good taking marks if you can't convert.

With Max on around $800k and Grundy on $700k we would have $1.5m of a $13m salary cap tied up in ruckmen! No way that is proper list management. Not only that but ruckman are not all that important - not compared to midfielders and key forwards/defenders. Grundy was great at racking up possessions but what influence does he actually have on games? He's not that strong of a contested mark or goalkicker so he doesn't offer us a point of difference to Max. Would much rather find a cheap option in the rookie draft/VFL or get a guy like Meek back from Freo in the Jackson trade.

That means we're still paying him $700k a year for 5 years? And he's already 29? Nah Save that money and throw a huge contract at Harry McKay next year.

If the Pies lose this week they could be 5th after the weekend. A truer reflection of where they are at.

It's pretty clear Jackson's gone even before we met with Grundy. It's now just a matter of what we can get back for him and what we use that on. I still don't get it from Freos point of view but I guess they can't pass the opportunity to get high level talent in the door when it presents. Oh and I'm not keen on Grundy at all. Let Collingwood suffer with that contract stuffing their cap for a few more years.

Their record at the G this year is 4-1. I think it's wishful thinking that they'll just roll over again, they are playing very good footy and the additions of De Koning and Stengle have been great for them

They've been deliberating for 45 minutes. I reckon he gets off.

At times it wasn't even that Gawn was playing second tall. At the first siren Jackson was ruck, Gawn FF and Brown was .....on the bench! Whats the point they may as well have started Max ruck, Brown FF and Jackson on the bench (like they often do). Max has played much more time forward in recent weeks, is that because we are lacking tall forwards or to protect Max before September?

Collingwood players have heads like holes!

No

I didn't think it was worth a suspension

50k would be a poor result. Carlton are playing an elimination final of sorts and we are playing for our spot in the 4! If all we can draw is 50k I'll be disappointed, the club should be hoping for at least 70k again.