Post Match. Pies blitz Bombers. All comments.

[Jezza]

Very satisfying win.

The minor premiership doesn't mean that much in the wider context with bigger things to come, but it's still a worthy achievement that should be acknowledged. First time we've achieved it since the 2010-11 era and before that it was 1977.

First quarter was excellent, and then went into preservation mode after that. We played out the game very professionally and didn't give Essendon an inch. They're grossly out of form, but it was still important for us to show a statement of intent and get some confidence and momentum leading into the finals.

Really impressed with our midfielders, particularly De Goey and Mitchell who stepped up. There's been question marks around our midfield in the past few weeks, but tonight provided some reassurance they'll be up to the task in finals.

Great to see Ginnivan play his best match of the season. Displayed the same attributes and hunger that he was renowned for last year.

Interesting to see that Fin Macrae had the most tackles for us despite only playing a half of football.

Finals are now upon us. Something we've been eagerly waiting for a little while now. No guarantees we'll win the flag this year, but we've done everything in our power to give ourselves the best chance possible in delivering #16.

[stoliboy]

Firstly well done Pies on finishing on top. We’ve given ourselves a double chance and home final and statistically the best springboard for going all the way.

Secondly is was great to win and not have it be a close contest slog or come from behind thriller. More 8 goals to 0 at QT games please.

Some takeaways for me:
- Cox and Ginnivan are in our best 22
- So good to have DeGoey and Hill back
- Frampton was average tonight and at risk when Moore and Murphy are back
- Lipinski makes some poor decisions as well and could be a liability in finals with his turnovers and poor judgement

Whilst we smashed Essendon we only just cracked 100 against a very poor side.

Still we have so much where we can improve and hopefully this run around and win gives us confidence going into the Qualifying Final.

[Jezza]

Minor premiership years:

1890s = 0
1900s = 3 = (1902, 1903, 1905)
1910s = 3 = (1915, 1917, 1919)
1920s = 5 = (1922, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929)
1930s = 1 = (1930)
1940s = 0
1950s = 0
1960s = 2 = (1966, 1969)
1970s = 3 = (1970, 1973, 1977)
1980s = 0
1990s = 0
2000s = 0
2010s = 2 = (2010, 2011)
2020s = 1 = (2023)

[Jezza]

Fly's presser

Were you happy with the response tonight?

"Yeah, absolutely. We came here with a clear plan to improve parts of our defence. We've said that loud for everyone to hear, and then we can be held accountable to it. I love saying things out loud, so then we actually have to deliver them. It was pretty clear anyway, watching last week and the few weeks previous; we need to improve parts of our game and I felt we did that. 3 goals, 13 [behinds]; they missed a few but it's a step in the right direction".

What was the most pleasing thing about tonight?

"Many. There's many parts of our game that we want to be and show our pressure and you know some of those unbelievable efforts. Howie [Jeremy Howe] smothering the ball 50 metres out and Will Hoskin-Elliott spoiling the ball late in the game and looking desperate. I feel like the hunger within our group has been questionable and tonight I wouldn't have thought you could question that part of our game".

Are you back in 'form'?

"Haha. I told you form can go really quickly. I don't believe in form. I don't believe in confidence because their outcomes and our playing group hear this all the time. It might have been the first time I've expressed it. Sorry if I come across a bit angry last week, Josh. What is form? I don't believe in it. Still don't".

What about Jack Ginnivan? You must have been rapt with his performance tonight and the way he's responded in the past month?

"Yep, really pleased with the way he got to positions that we need him. To set the field up, we call it, be there when we need you. Every time guys looked out of D50, they saw him and he got used. That's one element of his game, but he's creative. He got a free kick high which was a great result for us. He's a talking point always because he finishes the goals well and he's important to us. He can impact the scoreboard, so we're really pleased for him".

Was there a turning point in Jack Ginnivan's year after spending a lot of time in the VFL?

"Yeah, I strongly believe it came down to his training standards. There was a real shift. You can get caught up in form again, but at VFL, he wasn't playing above the level. Then he got busy with his training and for a month there, he was our best trainer. Really high intensity in what he was doing and he wasn't getting rewarded for it, but he just stuck at it and opportunity presented, and games like tonight he shows what he's capable of".

Beau McCreery will be returning from suspension for the first final, can you find room for Ginnivan, McCreery and Hill all in that forward line?

"Maybe, I'm not sure yet. We're still here. Beau [McCreery] will be available. Darcy Moore will be available, but we'll have to wait and see".

How's Jamie Elliott?

"Jamie got a corky in the buttocks; the glute sorry. He'll be fine".

Nick Daicos definitely won't be playing in the first final?

"I know what you're trying to get me to say, but 'definite' is a word that we don't like to use because we don't want to put ceilings on things. He's progressing well. At this stage, I'd say he's up against it, but he's progressing well".

Finishing on top of the ladder and being minor premiers, do you see that as an achievement in and of itself?

"Of course. At the start of the year, you're here to qualify and we've won 18 games. You can't deny that 18 games in this tough 24 round competition. The first time it's been 24 rounds and it's a marathon and the bumps and bruises, the losses and the resilience to get up and go again. You have the challenges from the opposition taking things way from you. This is a tough competition, and it's so even there's small margins. You know it, you see every game we know it's small margins. There's not a massive gap between us and others, we know that. But to qualify in this position, we're absolutely proud of our efforts. Everybody, the whole club should be proud of our efforts. We thank our fans for turning up. A record amount of people have come watch us play this year. Collingwood supporters out there, we love you so much and record membership. Looking down at the barrel because we're going to need you from here on in and I know you can make a difference".

How have you assessed Brayden Maynard in the past fortnight as captain? How have you seen his leadership growth?

"He said to me when I was first arrived that he wants to be more of a leader. He wasn't sure what that looked like. He's an unbelievable competitor, and we all see that. He's just grown this last 12 months since he's been given a title, and some may need a title. Others just do it because of instinct, or [because] of the way they've been brought up. Brayden has been given a title and he's grown significantly in his leadership qualities on and off the field. Tonight was his first game as captain that's he won and he inspires many of us".

How important was the early first goal from Jordan De Goey in setting the tone for the rest of the match?

"Really important. It's funny how you look slow sometimes. We've got challenges, are we too slow? But then if your system is not in good shape then you get exposed. We went to work on that part of our game, and it's not finished. I still believe our best is in front of us, but you get some parts of your game right and then you can move the ball differently and you can defend better. We're getting to work on those parts, and then you get see our expression of D50 or our explosion and use our numbers up. It's a real weapon of ours".

Have you got your game back in good order now?

"Well, you never know do you? Because what's in front of us is still uncertain. It always is. This is the game we play. You turn up every week and there's an uncertainty attached to it. We're really pleased with the way we played tonight in major parts and I'm sure we'll look at the tape and there's many things we can do better. We live in that space that our best is in front of us".

Will do some heavy match simulation in the bye week in preparation for the Qualifying Final?

"Not sure yet. We've had a brief discussion, but until we know when we play we'll work out a schedule around that".

Did you see enough from Fin Macrae to think that you could call on him in the 22 during September?

"I'm really pleased for Fin. What a great story of perseverance, playing great footy at VFL level, [and] waiting for his opportunity. I probably communicate with Fin more than anyone on our list. We have a chat nearly every week. I'm really clear with where he stands with us. He's part of our future. Some just have to wait a bit longer, and I thought he contributed tonight. I'm going to have to watch the tape to see at what level and I love the tackle on the far side and his tenacity around that. We get to see what he's good at. I'm really rapt for him. He gets an opportunity. I think he's going to play in our VFL final on Sunday. He's that sort of kid. He says, 'can I play'? I said 'yeah, okay if you want to. Go and play and play well' because I know he will. He's been a good story of perseverance".

What's your initial assessment of Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron and how it played out in the ruck and whether you want to keep going with playing two frontline rucks?

"I think our best model in the last 18 months+ is when they're both playing at their best [and] they're both in the team. If their form drops off, we have to look for other things and Mason's form dropped off ever so slightly and Darcy's form has dropped off ever so slightly. They seem to work better together, but they need to be at their best. It's going to be hard to change at this time of the year, I would have thought? We'll still have to wait and see".

https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/video/ ... 2971507001

[RudeBoy]

A sensational first quarter, after which the game was won. Well done to our boys for stamping their authority for the whole competition to see. Rest assured, the Dees will be shitting themselves at the thought of facing us in 2 weeks.

To my mind, we need to make an important change to our forward line for the finals. Playing Cox and Cameron, with one resting up forward, means we don't need McStay. On a night where the ball was mainly in our forward line and most of our forwards kicked multiple goals, McStay was hardly sighted, apart from a scraggy goal on the goal line. I don't recall him taking a single mark.
I'd rather see McCreery in as another speedy forward.

Changes for our first final:

In: Moore, Murphy, MCreery

Out: Frampton, McStay, Macrae

Sub: WHE

[BazBoy]

The second half. Did anyone think they played a bit preservation mode

[Bucks5]

Yes the intensity dropped off half way in the 2nd quarter when we were 10 goals up.

It would be human nature to try and avoid injury when the game was won. More so on the eve of the finals.

[think positive]

A sensational first quarter, after which the game was won. Well done to our boys for stamping their authority for the whole competition to see. Rest assured, the Dees will be shitting themselves at the thought of facing us in 2 weeks.

To my mind, we need to make an important change to our forward line for the finals. Playing Cox and Cameron, with one resting up forward, means we don't need McStay. On a night where the ball was mainly in our forward line and most of our forwards kicked multiple goals, McStay was hardly sighted, apart from a scraggy goal on the goal line. I don't recall him taking a single mark.
I'd rather see McCreery in as another speedy forward.

Changes for our first final:

In: Moore, Murphy, MCreery

Out: Frampton, McStay, Macrae

Sub: WHE

Agree with all, great we have the depth to do this.

[Mr Miyagi]

I’d rather have our problems than Essendon’s. Bit hot in their rooms after the game!

[piedys]

The win was fine but not convincing. Remember the Giants beat this team by 126 points last week so a 70 point win shouldn't be seen as a "we are back" statement.

We have a lot to improve on if we are to compete with and defeat the Dees or Port possibly. I'm not getting carried away with tonight at all. The last 5 weeks I hope we have been holding back somewhat.

This QF feels like a GF, win this and we can go all the way because we will have to put in an outstanding display worthy of a premier. Lose it and it becomes far too tough.

Here we go, it will all become clear shortly.

Nothing to gain from winning by 100 mate. Cue was in the rack. My gut tells me that everything has been leading to this moment. Extra training loads maybe, 5% off in motivation.

Top 2 has realistically been sewn up for the last month. My gut says we will surprise whoever we play in the first final then ride that momentum and effort, hopefully with Naicos back in the prelim.
Time will tell.

Okay, solid first half; mission accomplished.
Second half... I'm not sure I buy into these "conserving energy/bruise-free football" type mindsets floated by other posters post game.

The reality is a Dopers borderline VFL side they fielded had more scoring shots than us after half time; they kicked 0.6 in third term, many of them gettable.
By the final siren we had 5 more scoring shots overall than they did.
To me, that didn't equate to a 12 goal win by any stretch.

Apparently Dons 3.13 was their lowest score since 1999?!
This was more by accident than design of course, but it goes in the record books nonetheless.

Melbourne [Bris or Port] certainly won't be kicking 3.13 against us in the QF; you can carve that in stone.

And totally disgraceful that James Stewart wasn't given a farewell game down back under these circumstances, after the year he has had.
He might be worth looking at rookie-listing shortly?

Don't count on this many players missing come Anzac Day 2024:
Dopers Outs: Draper (inj), Stringer (inj), Wright (inj), Caldwell (inj), Kelly (inj), Guelfi (inj) / Shiel + Ridley

Anyhoo were are now back to where we were in 2019 and 2022; home QF at MCG, and our destiny in our hands; reload and let's go...

[Haff]

Minor premiership years:
1960s = 2 = (1966, 1969)
1970s = 3 = (1970, 1973, 1977)

Thank god I wasn’t born yet!

[Skids]

So, that's all the qualifying shenanigans out of the way. Nice 2 week break then, let the games begin.

[Damien]

People are overrating the performance of Cox.

He had the least amount of hit outs of all 4 rucks and despite having 11% more TOG than Cameron statistically wasn't any more notable.

Neither are giving us enough individually so most likely we'll include both albeit Frampton as defensive depth/2nd ruck might be more useful against certain opposition.

Everyone is very down on Darcy Cameron, but I don’t think Coxy was brilliant last night either. He did his best work in the second half last night which was basically junk time.

Agree, against Gorn, we need them both to share the load. Neither will be dropped.

[slangman]

We did what we needed to do.

Fantastic achievement to finish 1st in such an even competition and credit must be given to the football department for implementing a program that has for the vast majority been the envy of the league.

There are plenty of areas of improvement and some players whose level need to increase in the next month to give us the best opportunity of winning the premiership.

Onwards and upwards to September Glory!!!

[Johnno75]

Of the years we have won minor premiership only 1969 and 1973 we haven’t made the GF, on that probability most likely we are playing in the last game of the season.