Post Match. Pies tie Dons. All comments.

[think better]

Harrison was very good when he came on - 7 possessions at 100% and a goal.

Zippy around the ground - should be a walk up starter next week

[mattdally]

Poor start to yesterday's game cost us the win in the end.
Even in the last quarter it was a huge effort to come back from 2 goals down.
I thought they showed tremendous effort and fight, but our skills and decision making late in the game let us down. Checkers, Elliott, Pendles all had moments to change the result. Take the draw and move on.

I'd love to understand where Jack Crisp is at. He looks out of sorts and only had 2 kicks yesterday. That's not his game - his run and carry has been missed for most of this season. Nick D has been ok, but I like him better off half back. Sidey, WHE, Mitchell, Howe all looked gassed in the 1st qtr. Unfortunately age is catching up to them. Maynard also had a down day.

Harrison is a positive. Would like to see him, Fin and Reef rotate through the side getting a full game. Ed Allen also needs to step up in the 2's and put himself in the frame.

Carlton will be a big test. They are good - everywhere on the ground. Let's not concede 6 goals to 1 to start, else it could be very ugly.

[joemamone@gmail.com]

Looking towards the future including the remainder of this season, I would like to see Reef developed as a half back flanker to take over Howe's role. In my humble opinion, he has all the necessary attributes.

[inxs88]

[think better]

^ we had the Beta version of this when Hal was on board

[Croat Pie]

[slangman]

[LaurieHolden]

[Pies4shaw]

^ Well, last year, for example, we accidentally won a premiership within two years of the Coach taking over the reins. That certainly wasn't part of the plan.

[stui magpie]

What has become evident to me is that when our intensity levels drop below manic, good teams get hold of us. The game plan, with the players we have (who include a lot of average roll players) needs everyone switched on 100%. Just a couple of percent off and we don't compete.

This new stat called Pressure Rating is instructive. We rated over 200 in the second quarter when we took hold of the game and in the 180's for the other 3.

The big problem is, I just think it's not sustainable to need everyone operating at manic levels of intensity each week.

[Culprit]

The 5-day break had an impact. We have a tough few games coming up and that's what happens when you win the flag as there are no favours in this draw.

[Magpietothemax]

[shawthing]

[qldmagpie67]

I think the inconsistency of our performances can be partially explained away

1. Our best football is played when applying manic pressure constantly. Last weekend apart from the first 15 minutes of the game we averaged 218 which is elite (we topped out at 268 which is basically unheard of). On the back of that we torn port apart. They never seemed to get back on an even foot with us.
2. The problem with that is it takes massive effort for 2 hours. It’s hard to get 18 players at that level of intensity for that period of time.
3. We did that last season and it takes a toll. Our veterans are a year older and the physical requirements to play at that intensity level week in week out is harder than it was 12 months ago.
4. For whatever reason our kicking skills have dropped off collectively. Last season whilst we weren’t the best team by foot we consistently were around 63/68% eff by foot. This season we topped out at 63.4% which was the port game. Across the season thus far we are running at 60.8%
5. Our mid tier players haven’t gone to the next level. We needed the likes of McCreery, IQ, Maynard to step up and Josh D to go to elite level. Really none of that has happened. While they all haven’t been bad they haven’t set the world in fire consistently either.
6. Our set shot kicking for goal has abandoned us. We aren’t always the best side for goal kicking but last we were in the top 6 for set shot accuracy.
This season thus far we are 14th. We need to make the most of our chances. Yesterday we were at 2-6 at one stage while Essendon were 6-2. Ours should have been at worse 4-4. We need to make the most of our chances.

Finally unlike last year there’s a massive gulf between our best snd worst quarters. Last year we may lose a quarter but we rarely conceded 25+ point leads so consistently.
If my sums are right we have been down by 25 points or more in 4 of our 7 games.

A lot of this can be fixed like field kicking and goals kicking.
What’s going to be harder to fix is the tiring legs and bodies of our veterans.
We have Carlton next Friday night and based off the way our season has gone v now there’s has gone we could be on the wrong end of a massive thumping if we go in with the same side especially the same slow tired legs.
The difference will be if Carlton get us down by 25+ they’ll go on with it they won’t allow us back into the game.

Let’s see how the VFL goes this weekend snd see who pushes for a senior spot next Friday

[Dark Beanie]

Harry DeMattia has been named to play his first game for the Pies in the VFL tomorrow.

https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/1538819/demattia-part-of-four-huge-inclusions-for-anzac-week-clash