Game Day. Pies v. Giants. Late changes, comments.

[Donny]

Tonight. Opening Round.

Giants Stadium. 7.30

Collingwood v. Greater Western Sydney.

The Team:

B. Brayden Maynard Darcy Moore Charlie Dean
HB. Scott Pendlebury Isaac Quaynor Nick Daicos
C. Will Hoskin-Elliott Jack Crisp Josh Daicos
HF. Steele Sidebottom Ash Johnson Brody Mihocek
F. Patrick Lipinski Jamie Elliott Bobby Hill

R. Darcy Cameron Jordan De Goey Lachie Schultz

INT. John Noble Tom Mitchell Beau McCreery
Oleg Markov Mason Cox

EMG. Billy Frampton Finlay Macrae Harvey Harrison

Let's hear ya !!

[Clifton Hill-Billy]

Imperative that we win this after the Scum beat Brions there is nothing worse than a weekend where we lose and they win. I'll take another 1 point win. Go pies!

[The Black and White Lion]

Fly's presser was full of positives but interesting pressure point on the key forwards.

Refused to rule out McStay comeback at the end of the year. Stated he's not settled on the forward mix and could go tall or small depending the match. Ash has got the first shot but the pressure is on to hold the spot otherwise he's going to be swapped out.

Hope the mids and fwds can click for a full game. hope we don't go to sleep in the second quarter like we did so many times in 2022 and 23.

Will be a tough game either way if GWS true to their late season form last year. Keeping on top of and ahead of the Greens will go a long way to nullifying GWS through the middle. Reckon we need to find a way to spread their defense and avoid going through Taylor too often.

Had an intense week at work. Execs made some bad decisions. I can't be there in person but my TV is going to cop it tonight

[Piesnchess]

[Pies4shaw]

Time to make a statement. Craig Bellamy's Storm have never lost a first-round game. That's 22 in a row, now, for them - and the latest effort was a shut-out demolition of last year's premiers, even with Munster missing. We need to be feared like that.

[think positive]

kinda surreal!

lets go Pies!!!

smash em this time, no more heart starters!

[Jezza]

Bit anticlimactic that our first game after the Premiership starts away from home, but I guess it makes the excitement of unfurling the flag next week all that more sweeter.

Changes compared to last year's GF team:

IN: Noble, Johnson, Dean, Schultz
OUT: Howe, Murphy, Frampton, Ginnivan

Agree with P4S that making a real statement of intent would be ideal. The vibe I've been getting from the footy media is that most don't expect us to go back-to-back so starting off strongly against a fancied opponent would be the perfect way to dismiss the critics.

A big congratulations to Charlie Dean who makes his AFL debut, and Schultz will be making his first official appearance for the club. Hoping for big games from the both of them.

[stui magpie]

Making a statement would be lovely, I just can't see it. We aren't one of those teams who crush opposition, it's more death by 1000 cuts and we keep them in the game.

I expect GWS to come out high on adrenaline and after an initial surge they make mistakes and we peg them back so it's close to square at 1/4 time. After that, the game starts and should be within 10 points either way. I'd prefer a loss than a sneaky win, just to reality check the players that this really is a new season and we start again, but I'd love a 10 goal smashing. Regardless of the result, I won't be slashing my wrists or betting my house on back to back.

Enjoy the ride, the journey is it's own reward.

[doriswilgus]

It seems too early in the year and too hot to be playing football.I’d rather bask in the glow of last years’s premiership for a few more weeks than to see us sweat it out on some small ground in Sydney that’s used for livestock.😀

But hey,that’s just me,.I still want us to win though,don’t get me wrong.☺️

[swoop42]

Noble is the sub.

[stui magpie]

^

Zero surprises there.

[Jezza]

[Cam]

My guess is we lose by less than a goal and everyone writes us off. Hope we beat them by 50 though.

[Quincy]