Post Match. Lions beat Pies. All comments.

[derkd]

The result itself was fairly predictable, given our outs, the location, and the unbalanced importance of the game to each side.

However, we are definitely in a form slump at the wrong end of the season. Our problem is the midfield. Last night, our midfield was carried by Pendles, with little support from anyone else. Mitchell did his usual on his hands and knees palming the ball out of packs, but we had virtually no drive from fast running mids. Obviously JDG will help rectify this, but let's not forget we were losing centre clearances even when he was in.

There is no quick fix to our problems, because we simply do not have the weapons at our disposal to make a big difference. Nevertheless, I, like others, have been puzzled why Carmichael has not been given more senior games, after his promising debut last year.

I hate picking out players for criticism, but am I the only one who thinks Lipinski is a tad soft?

Regardless of what happens against the Bummers, I'm hoping that the week off before the finals will be the tonic we need to freshen up and return to our early season form.

By the way, I was one who predicted Cox as our sub.

Agree, I said in the pre-game, Collingwood would lose by 35+. I genuinely surprised that people on here are so shocked we lost. I am not sure what result people were expecting.

As i said we were roundly beaten up in Brisbane earlier in the year WITH our 'stars' and much better form.

Yep we are out of form, maybe because as a team we have nothing to play for.

The worry i feel is that this side won't be fixed with the likes of Degoey (already way out of form), Moore (out of form) and Nick Diacos coming back in to the side.


The week off could be a god send for this side to re-focus. I hope. Lots needs to be fixed.

I notice the "we win different" talk on here has stopped at last, thank goodness for that... can't stand mindless parrot talk.

[shawthing]

Marvel is an utter shithole ground, its shit, we rarely do well there, cannot stand the dump, have not been there in over ten yrs. Back at our home next week, with some major inclusions, be very different scenario, totally. Im not afraid of meeting Granpas Fagans Bears later, on the G in a big Final.

Marvel is great. I’ve never understood this whingeing but it is consistent with our (and Richmond’s) supporter base to rattle on with such nonsense.

Always find it an absolute breeze to get in and out of. Both The G and Marvel are fantastic venues for different reasons.

Mate that guy always throws his toys out of the cot after a Collingwood win. It's always the ground or the umpires or those evil players on the other team. Never a Collingwood problem. The fact is we are the ones who lose these matches. Great teams will win anytime, anywhere. Injuries have exposed our lack of depth, and our much vaunted system has been totally worked out. Stick a fork in us.

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

7 Excited that Carlton are everyone (else’s) favourite team. Hated that we were premiership favourites. Out of curiosity when was the last time the Blues won a final?

2013 but doesn't count as they finishd 9th

2011 but doesn't count as they only beat the team who hasn't won't a final for 18 seasons and counting

So 2001

[shawthing]

McCreery needs to get involved more, what happened to those bone crunching tackles we saw in the 1st half on the year?

Not after last night. The MRP will give him at least a week if not two.

[perthmagpie]

Pessimists vs Optimists!
I would be interested in the GPS stats for last night and compare to previous months. Our work rate and intensity was high and you can measure this by tackles and smothers. But our sprints seem to be down. If our pressure reflects the right effort then is our deficit in running due to tiredness or the tail end of pre finals loading?

[Pies2016]

Just a comment on the Lions. I thought last night was the perfect example of why they play Marvel so well but struggle at the G. Their small forwards are very elusive and quick and they get a great return from the first chaos kick that comes out of the Marvel square. The G doesn’t give up that “ shot on goal “ kick as easily, so their forwards tend to be either drawn up the ground kick chasing or choose to stay back closer to goal where the opposition can set up in front of them. I wouldn’t underestimate how bigger difference the game could look if we were to play them on the G in September.

[Mr Miyagi]

@pies2016 I reckon we would have won last night at the G.

[PyreneesPie]

Don’t be mistaken last night wasn’t a lack of personnel it was a exposure of players weaknesses
The blue print has been there for months not a few weeks it was masked by other teams inability to make the most of there opportunities

Mitchell Adams Lipinski Sidey all are too slow and there disposal by both hand and foot is well below the standard needed to play the game style the coach wants
They all just give the ball off to whoever doesn’t matter how much pressure that team mate is under and it’s turned over and we get exposed defensively pushing to hard up field
Last night Sidey first 3 disposals went like this. out on full from a hack kick when he had time but panicked, second was a missed kick to a team mate 20m in the clear hit a lions player on the chest led straight to a lions goal third was a handball which hit Pendles on the toes when he had 2 lions players on him.
Mitchell was equally as poor his first 4 touches either missed the target or where turnovers
Lipinski missed 5 kicks to Team mates in the clear 2 off the instep of his boot
Adams disposal has never been his strong suit but the last few weeks it’s hitting new lows

The lack of speed from all 4 kill us as well
When a team is rebounding from there defensive 50 whoever is playing on those guys just runs straight off them generally into the corridor the ball gets switched inboard our HBF all rush up the ball goes over them and we are exposed
The loss of JDG and Nick D has really exposed our lack of pace in the middle

So we either completely alter the game plan or we change personnel
We don’t have time to change game plan so move the magnets

Adams doesn’t leave the forward 50 he stays put away from butchering the ball in the middle
Pendles moves back to HBF and IQ goes onto the ball. His speed and foot skills we be more valuable there.
Mitchell stays in the centre he’s still our most reliable ball winner at the bottom of the pack
Lipinski misses out altogether. Bring in HH and play him as a small forward and use McCreery around the contest. His breaking speed away and body size would be very useful
WHE plays on 1 wing he’s a decent mark and good kick
Sidey goes to sub and can think himself lucky to retain that spot

Cox starts at FF Howe goes back to try plug the losses of Moore and now Murphy (likely concussion) i
When JDG is back either him or Elliott are are in the middle at all times they work best in traffic we have available

We can’t expect to win a finals game with so many slow players in the middle it’s that simple

Very much agree with your analysis of our issues. How Lipinski is still getting selected I have no idea. Sadly, he has contributed very little post shoulder injury and is shirking full on contact, perhaps to protect the shoulder.

I really like your suggestions for amping up the speed of the mid-field. Fly has no option but to send Howie back to shore up the defence and I'll be really disappointed if they don't make this change next week.
An uncluttered forward line of Checkers and McStay surrounded by skilful, smaller forwards and the wings assisting as well, with Adams doing some grunt work in the vicinity would work well just as well as the present set up I reckon, especially with better delivery from from the middle of the ground.

[jatsad]

Club officially in crisis. Carlton ended our season and exposed us as frauds. We’re not making past the 2nd week of finals

Get your hand off it.
Were we in crisis last week?

Number of significant outs, Murphy goes off and the floodgates opened.
They are definitely waiting for finals, it is painfully obvious. We had nothing to play for, they ad EVERYTHING and at a ground they love and we don't, it all added up.

They now have a clear path to the GF with all home finals. If we get there, and it's at the G, well let's see then.

[PyreneesPie]

Have you actually seen the presser? McRae's body language was shocking. He had NFI and was actually fishing among the journos for answer. If you think

Yeah, I was hoping for some steady, logical, calm reassurance, but he seemed to be in panic mode. The losses of recent weeks is probably the first time he's really been put under the pump and it was disappointing to see him floundering. His replies to questions were the same as last week, but said with far less conviction.

[Raw Hammer]

It’s pretty simple: no Nick Daicos, no Collingwood.

He generates all run and quick play and link ups. When he’s held or missing, we’re middle of the road. No secret that Fly has had him at his disposal from day one. Without him we look like arse.

[Cam]

I'm not worried about anything until the first final we play. We will find out then what we have. I'm glad the media have gone away from us and are not highlighting everything we do to help opposition strategists. Howe as a defensive/offensive forward on their best interceptor is a nice upgrade to what we had going earlier on in the year. Ginnivan is a star with the speed of his decision making which is a point of difference to Bobby Hill's weapon which is speed of leg. Cox to first ruck is the move. Having Josh Daicos in at centre bounces was interesting too last night. The Brisbane small forwards Cameron, Bailey, Ah Chee and McCarthy are tough to keep hold of though.

It's still a wait and see. Don't invest too much in the worrying side of things until after the QF.

[Pies2016]

Just on Lipinski, nobody was complaining about him when he was 6th in last years best and fairest or found the pill 25 times and laid 8 tackles seven days ago.
There is no doubt he is down on his best but two consecutive shoulder reconstructions can do that to the best of players. He does seem a bit timid on occasions and that’s likely due to self preservation with the finals looming.
If we can see it, then the coaches can see it, so they will decide if he warrants being omitted or not.
But based on his history at the club, let’s be convinced first, there are alternative players who will likely perform better than his efforts from 7 days ago and for the entire 2022 season.

[Pete 70]

Good post Cam. I agree.

[DT]

Last night went a bit better than I expected.

Preseason I tipped Brisbane as premiers as they are an experienced team.

But if we play them again it will be at the MCG, which we play better at, and also with our three best players in too!

I think we have settled McStay into the team which is a good thing. I agree that McCreery is not playing very well, but know that it can turnaround quickly.

We did not show our hand to Brisbane last night, so the result does not particularly concern me, nor does a lot of ill informed media commentary.

McRae has a growth mindset and is looking for ways to unlock the full potential of this team. I think we are suffering from fatigue a bit with some of our players and we will get them back.

The midfield does not have to be super quick - it does need to win centre clearances and around the ground stoppages. I was pleased that Crisp and Adams had more time in yesterday as they will be match hardened for finals.

The reality is that we don't know what will happen in the finals series but based on the last two years I am confident that we will put in a very competitive effort.