Were Collingwood kind of the Bulldogs of the 2007 season?

SwansWay · Joined: 13 May 2015

This is going to sound bizarre but I fondly reflect back more on the 2007 season than our 2010 season and I can never figure out why that is. I can't count the amount of times I've watched my 2007 Collingwood season highlights DVD.

So without the week off to help us throughout the finals we fell short of the Cats by five points, who went on to win by 119 points. I've ruminated a lot over the years, quite pointlessly, wondering if we would've gotten over the Power if one or two things turned out in our favour in the Prelim final. I feel that we could've stolen the flag that year, much like the Hawks did in '08 and the Dogs did in '16.

BBHS · bbhs Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Location: Bellarine

Yep even Mick said the other day on Radio the 2007 team was better than the 2009 team. Missed opportunity for sure. Basically said we where a decent Ruckman (not great ruckman) away from the Flag.

Guy Richards was the first caller on talk back.

SwansWay · Joined: 13 May 2015

I wasn't aware that Mick had said this. Can you believe that we got that deep with Chris Bryan and Guy Richards? I can't. Bryan was serviceable in those finals matches.

SwansWay · Joined: 13 May 2015

Then there was my big Medhurst man-crush!

MatthewBoydFanClub · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Elwood

Two players destroyed us in the last quarter of that preliminary final - Ottens and Ablett. A half decent ruckman would have taken care of Ottens and with Ablett, you just need to restrict the damage he does (like the 2010 PF when Ablett got all his kicks in the backline). I knew Bryan played in the 2007 PF but I had forgotten Guy Richards played in that final. I thought McKee was still playing in 2007. Either way Bryan was a mobile tall, not a ruckman and Guy Richards was a skinny rake who would have trouble beating a broomstick.

BBHS · bbhs Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Location: Bellarine

Yeah Mick Flagged Ottens as the difference in the game. Noted Josh Fraser Missed due to injury. Not sure he was the type to combat Ottens anyway.

Ev5Magpies · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 4:39 pm

Not sure if we would have gotten over Port, Buckley did his hamstring in that game & would've been highly doubtful to play in the GF

Presti35 · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 6:30 pm

Thought the same things many times.

In round 4 of that year, Port beat Collingwood by 18 points at the MCG. It was an upset at the time, but still a win for them. Nathan Buckley did not play in this match.

http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2007/041320070421.html

Sad thing for me is, even if we got into that years GF, Presti would have missed through injury again. If we got over Geelong and we sent Bucks off with a flag though, that would have really been something. Shane Crawford like.

But if he'd really done his hammy again, how gutting to go into the GF without him. Bob Murphy like.

http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2007/040920070921.html

Still, it'd be another WEG poster on the wall. Another "what if" in our history. Crying or Very sad

Dave The Man · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 6:40 pm

Dave The Man · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 6:43 pm

Presti35 · Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 6:50 pm

^

Good point DTM.

Anthony Rocca hurt his leg/ankle from memory. Only had 4 disposals in the PF.

Obvs Jolly wasn't on the list yet, but Fraser was. And he missed the PF with a back complaint.

Bucks5 · Nicky D - Parting the red sea Joined: 23 Mar 2002

I am still filthy about the free kick awarded against Clement to Cam Mooney who subsequently goaled when it was Mooney that knocked the ball over the boundary, not Jimmy. Wrong decision cost us a goal and possibly the chance of winning the Premiership

Johnno75 · Joined: 07 Oct 2010 Location: Wantirna

Ottens was the clear difference in that 2007 PF. I believe stats showed we out scored them by 6 goals when we was off the ground.

And as others have stated both Bucks and Rocca would have missed the GF so the Power was not going to be a walkover that everyone believed.

AnthonyC · Joined: 09 Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne, Victoria

Jezza · 2023 PREMIERS! Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Location: Ponsford End

It's a good comparison, but we had the issue of having to encounter a very dominant team in 2007 unlike the Dogs last year where no standout team was existent and they took advantage of that.

Interesting that Mick believes the 2007 side was better than the 2009 side. The 2007 team had a better finals campaign but throughout the year, the 2009 side was superior especially between rounds 9 to 21 of the home and away season.