Lucifers Hero

Ess won't make finals. They need to win at least 4.5 to 5 of their last 6 games. Just can't see them getting enough wins with Rich, Port, Eagles, Cats in that last 6. We need to beat them to ensure we get enough wins for the 8 but they are no longer a threat, imv.

Hoping for a small win to the Saints. Will keep their %'age in check. %'age doesn't matter for Ess as they have the draw to protect their position unless they in a battle with Coll to make the 8!

Pies have been awful for a long time. In the last 2 months their scores (in points) have been: 44, 62, 50, 49, 45, 57, 59, 48. The compressed fixture, travel and injuries have hurt them over the last 3-4 weeks but there is no reason for the poor form in the early days of hubs. I don't think they can improve enough to play finals.

We won't get that chance unless we make finals as the only team above us that we have not played is the Saints. Our recent wins have been exceptionally strong so if we make finals the top teams won't beat us as easily as they did earlier in the season. What has been very impressive for a few months were our massive 4th quarter scores vs: Hawks, Crows, North and Pies. Even against the Lions we kicked 3.1 to their 0.5 in the final quarter. So the Port game aside, we are in great form. Feeling very optimistic.?

May I ask the source/author of that quote, please? I don't put too much store in it as we played 4 games in 16 days. Our defense held up fine. The author doesn't give us enough credit for a 10 goal shellacking! On the subject of changes: Time to really settle the team so minimal changes, allowing for 'resting' to ensure team fitness for the next lot of condensed games post Alice.

Wise and diplomatic, od!

A few days ago I said the last two spots in the 8 would most likely be claimed by the Dees, Giants or Pies. I'm ready to put a line thru the Pies. Reason being they can't score. In the last 2 months Collingwood scores (in points) have been: 44, 62, 50, 49, 45, 57, 59, 48. The compressed fixture, travel and injuries have hurt them over the last 3-4 weeks but there is no reason for the poor form in the early days of hubs. They had an excellent game plan/system but it has broken down and seemingly not easily fixed. Now they don't have the players to compensate for the broken system. On my earlier logic (post #62 in this thread) it leaves Giants and Demons as front runners for 7th and 8th. Too much can go wrong (and my mfcss) prevents me from saying we will be in the finals. But we are the form side of the other contenders (Bulldogs, Ess,) with a superior %'age. Suns and Blues out of the running imv. Finals, here we come...

We all have different tolerance levels. I don't expect much from any of them, Garry included. I prefer him to all the Ch 7 commentators who are drunk on the sound of their own voices! Except Daisy. She is numero uno! Bring back Denis Cometti! Whateley is ok when he doesn't sound like he is calling a horse race.

Lions is probably the only dynasty that have a lot of brownlows. Ablett won a brownlow with the Suns and Hawks weren't a dynasty club when Mitchell won. Most recent brownlow winners are: Fyfe Mitchell Martin Dangerfield Fyfe Priddis Ablett (Suns) Only two of their teams finished top 4 in the year they won. Add in the year Judd won at Carlton and you see my point about ometimes it is easier to win a Brownlow in an average team without many stars to steal votes. I hope that Petracca does go all the way but expect other demons to poll well.

At this rate Petracca et all will be taking votes off each other. Sometimes it is easier to win a Brownlow in an average team without many stars to steal votes. Recent winners tell the story.

Gus seemed to spend quite a bit of time patrolling the middle between the 50m arcs, often unmanned. (Would love to see a heat map if some one can access them). I had a sense that Coll didn't use the corridor much because he was there and can really hurt them if the ball is turned over near him. If my perception is correct it was very good defensive tactics by the coach.

professional football analyst = oxymoron Nearly all ex-player commentators carry on like fans! So do commentators that have never played: Bruce, Hudson, Eddie etc etc Garry is no different.

I rarely have a different view to your good self '55 but I don't see that Garry carries on like a DL nuff-nuff (who pop up in many threads). I just don't share the view that he consistently takes an anti-demon view of things. They aren't the words posters on here have used but that is what is implied. He would benefit from being less melodramatic/emotional but a lot of what he says or sees is accurate.

Do folks really think he goes out of his way to damage or discredit us? People may want him to sound like a poster in the typically one-eyed, DL "Game Day" thread. I visit it at times in the breaks and it is like a madhouse in there and I wonder if we are all watching the same game... But he has a job to do. His OOT comments come from a place of passion and frustration. His comments after the Port game were savage but equally savage comments came from our President. The Ox can also be quite savage. Tbh, if someone is to criticise us I prefer it is one of our own who understands what we go thru. Imagine if any other commentator was as vocal as Garry. We would be more filthy. He beams when we win and looks sullen when we lose - just like us fans. Yeah, he annoys me sometimes but at least we have a voice in the media.

Anyone else have the sick feeling Geelong will win the flag ???

Ha, ha. As if this is a surprise! Predicted it before he was even selected.

For those surprised by Hannan's omission; he was ill apparently. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/gawn-ruled-out-of-magpies-clash-20200814-p55ls8.html

I just listened to the audio and you are quite right; the written report showed only the Brayshaw on the wing part. I suspect Lewis wants to keep both Viney and Brayshaw but when it comes down to a choice he would trade Brayshaw. I hope our coaches find a way to keep both. Won't like it but would understand if Brayshaw decides to go. Owes it to himself to become the best he can be. I think Hudson may also be a geelong supporter so yeah, maybe there was quite a vested interest there.

Agreed. Buckley has a system proven to beat us. But with some of his prime-movers out De Goey, Stephenson, Howe and Treloar, I don't think he has the players to implement it. They are very good at spreading from the centre then fast play to a leading forward: Stephenson, Elliot, Cox etc. Thieir fwd line looks pretty ordinary today and now we have May and Lever They also plant an extra tall in our def which could be a problem. An even bigger problem is they exploit Viney's 'no right side' mercilessly. We need to watch that we don't get caught by them on these tried and true methods. The key will be what our coaches learnt from the losses earlier this season to those Buckley like tactics. Won't be happy if they haven't developed counter tactics or stubbornly stick to 'our way' even when it clearly isn't working.

Taylor Adams is the danger man. We will need to take him out of the play. Job for Harmes? Let our other midfielders take care of their hobbling/aging midfielders.

They believe that Oliver isn't damaging, despite his elite stats. That was fairly true until about 3 weeks ago. They haven't seen the 'new' Clarry at work. They are in for a big surprise!! He will thrash their hobbling midfield.

iirc Lewis was 'stood down' as an assistant coach when covid hit? I assume he no longer is connected to the club... Hudson: “What would they get for Brayshaw?” Whateley: “A lot. I reckon there would be a big cue for Brayshaw.” Hudson: “What’s a lot?” Whateley: “I reckon you would get a pick inside 12 or you would get a starter, you would definitely get a top 14 player for your own team and you might get a combination.” Lewis: “That’s enticing.” Not surprised there would be a queue for him and that they think we would get a top 12 draft pick and/or a very good player. It is only on DL that he is not valued by many. Only a few on here have not wavered in their believe in him year in and year out. Sigh... Tbh I'd rather keep Gus than get any draft pick even top #12. We need max synergy from the midfield as a whole and not just the best of each player. We have the rest of the season to ensure Gus wants to stay. Desperately hope he is in red and blue in 2021.

Selwood gets the oil treatment just before the siren at the start of games. I figure it is so he can slide down and milk all the head high frees. For others the oil hinders op tackling. Ops should tackle and roll them around in the dirt early in a quarter to rub the oil off.

Predict us to win. But it will come down to game plan. Collingwood consistently beat us on the outside and spread quickly ala Port and Lions loss. They are also good at the possession/control game in the back half ala WCE and Geelong loss. However, I think it is like the Hawks; they have a successful game plan but I don't think they have the players to implement it. Lets see what our coaches have learnt from the those earlier loses.

On the Coll side: In: Jamie Elliott, Scott Pendlebury, Ben Reid, Darcy Moore, Will Hoskin-Elliott Out: Brayden Sier (quad), Jaidyn Stephenson (omitted), Jordan Roughead (concussion), Tim Broomhead (omitted), Chris Mayne (omitted) Every chance Pendlebury and Hoskin-Elliot underdoen and other Key injuriey outs: Howe, Treloar, DeGoey Stephenson out is interesting...who is going to kick their goals! We have a much better team than they have and 2 days extra rest. Dees to win.