1st Preliminary Final: Collingwood v Hawthorn

[Punk Rooster]

The most blatant free was where Burgoyne was tackled a full 360 and still threw the ball out and was called play on. Sick of the throw being allowed in football

Locky didn't mention that is his running commentary...

Hawthorn- lost the game in the second quarter ala North Melbourne style (1998), by missing easy shots on goal and failed to put the Pies away. They ran out of legs, and when the game was there to be won, they could no longer penetrate inside 50. Some very silly mistakes cost them a win- Guerra giving away 50m in the first quarter to ensure a goal, Schoenmakers dropping a simple mark, and any of those easy set shots inside 50 in the second quarter. Buddy Franklin looked to go ok to me, thought Tarrant just had the better of him on the night.

Collingwood- found a way to win, when perhaps they shouldn't have. Have been in great form for most of the year, but are they showing signs of fatigue? The stars of Collingwood failed to shine for most of the game- Swan did not impose himself until the last quarter, and a few of his team-mates are in the same category, and Ben Reid was not fit. Blair, Jolly, Wellingham, Tarrant and Cloke where the only players who could hold their head high at half time. The Pies capitalised on the Hawks innacuracy, by keeping themselves in the game- just. They were always a chance 3 goals down, and in the last quarter, players who had minimal impact earlier, had now lifted. Ball and Swans snaps out of contested possessions, and Davis' goal on the run was what created victory out of defeat.

Umpires- inconsistent, but let them game go in the last quarter, which made for a cracking contest. I like umpires to pay obvious frees, regardless of the flow of the game- it is the technical ones that they seem to like paying that frustrate me.

I thought Collingwood were a bit soft tonight, especially in the first half. Several times we weren't fully committed to 50/50 contests and squibbed out of backing in with the flight of the ball - Hawthorn were far gutsier tonight. Lucky we weren't too far out of it when the game finally opened up in the last quarter.

yep- being second to the contest is not conducive to winning a game of footy!

[Aerie]

I thought Clarkson summed it up when he said Hawthorn didn't go hard enough for long enough. Two players stood out to me with this - Bateman and Gibson. Bateman got the ball enough but was completely stuffed, Gibson didn't put himself in the positions to get the ball.

Schoenmakers and Puopolo tried hard but skills aren't good enough and that cost Hawthorn as well.

The non-decisions with Hodge up forward and the holding the man when the Collingwood player shepherded the ball through was also costly.

Swan was brilliant the whole game. As was Lewis. Brilliant effort by Collingwood. Was a sensational game to watch.

[Dogwatcher]

Interesting thing that I've noted is those complaining about the umpiring, here and elsewhere, are not of the teams involved on the night.

Bad luck Hawks. I didn't think we deserved to be there and we have lots of question marks heading into next week's big one.
We scraped through, that's what good teams do.

[Punk Rooster]

Interesting thing that I've noted is those complaining about the umpiring, here and elsewhere, are not of the teams involved on the night.

Bad luck Hawks. I didn't think we deserved to be there and we have lots of question marks heading into next week's big one.
We scraped through, that's what good teams do.

a hard one- Collingwood and Geelong the best two sides this year.
Geelong in strong form at the moment, Collingwood are not, yet Collingwood have secured a berth in the Grand Final.
We didn't deserve to win last night, but we deserve to be in the Grand Final.

[JK]

Schoenmakers and Puopolo tried hard but skills aren't good enough and that cost Hawthorn as well.

Schoenmakers was a first round draft pick so would have been selected for ability, which means he's in strife because he was exposed massively right throughout the finals series.

Puopolo's lack of ability would have been well known before he was drafted - He was drafted to be a terrier and IMHO he has played that role beautifully this season - His frontal pressure was excellent again last night and he did an excellent job on All Australian Davis. TBH I dont think he's as suited to a forward setup other than in small bursts, than he is down back, but I think the Hawks personnel (or lack thereof) meant he became one of their "roll of the dice" moves in the final series.

I wonder if Clarko considered sending Pup down back to follow Davis once Mick moved him?

[mighty_tiger_79]

going on last nights game by both sides whoever wins today should be favs for next week

[JK]

going on last nights game by both sides whoever wins today should be favs for next week

Provided a team can stay relatively healthy, I reckon coming into the finals these days off close/tight victories is the way to go, so I reckon Collingwood are still well on course to be reigning premiers depending on who and how many don't come up - Jolly would be a big loss thought.

[Q.]

going on last nights game by both sides whoever wins today should be favs for next week

Provided a team can stay relatively healthy, I reckon coming into the finals these days off close/tight victories is the way to go, so I reckon Collingwood are still well on course to be reigning premiers depending on who and how many don't come up - Jolly would be a big loss thought.

I'm still unsure whether that outpouring of emotion will be good or bad for the team.

Collingwood looked very nervous in the first half, constantly fumbling and making skill errors. I'm hoping that they'll go into the GF having shed some of those nerves and replaced it with steely poise.

[ORDoubleBlues]

What a game. Do feel a bit for Hawthorn but there was certainly a few goals they should have got that cost them and thought the gods were for them when Reid was struggling with injury as well as Jolly and they kept the underated Dayne Beams very quiet but as has been said, you can't let great sides off the hook.
Sean Burgoyne - Has definitely still got it and his decision making under pressure is almost flawless. Just seems to have that fraction longer to decide what he want's to do with it - even when he's got 2 guys hanging off him.
Jordan Lewis - in some eyes he's probably their forgotten man of the 2004 draft at pick 7 (Roughead at 2 and Franklin at 5) but personally remember one of his first games in 2005 against the Lions where you could just tell he was going to be a fantastic player and he certainly hasn't disappointed and was fantastic last night.
David Hale - From the footy I've seen, possibly his best game for the club.
Scott Pendlebury - a great of the modern game who just keeps delivering. In what was one of the Hawks only draft failures of recent times, imagine if they'd picked him at no.3 in 2005 instead of Xavier Ellis!!!!!
Dane Swan - possibly the most important game he's played.

[Dogwatcher]

Great commentary ODB, you just missed one name all mentioned were fantastic. Cloke.
The Cloke we really wanted when we picked the other two.

[Q.]

Great commentary ODB, you just missed one name all mentioned were fantastic. Cloke.
The Cloke we really wanted when we picked the other two.

People will remember Buddy's magnificent goal, but Cloke's contested mark (and conversion) was equally as massive.

[Dogwatcher]

Interesting thing that I've noted is those complaining about the umpiring, here and elsewhere, are not of the teams involved on the night.

Bad luck Hawks. I didn't think we deserved to be there and we have lots of question marks heading into next week's big one.
We scraped through, that's what good teams do.

a hard one- Collingwood and Geelong the best two sides this year.
Geelong in strong form at the moment, Collingwood are not, yet Collingwood have secured a berth in the Grand Final.
We didn't deserve to win last night, but we deserve to be in the Grand Final.

Yup, I understand your point.
Gotta admit, I'd written them off last night.
Systems weren't working, players were fumbling and so many were down on form, I didn't think they could do it.
But our last quarters have been excpetional this year and this one was another example.

[MatteeG]

As a hawks fan- Just disappointed we couldnt get a goal in the first few mintes of the last quarter. We had it down there deep but couldnt get one. The Pies surge was always gonna come, but I just think an early one may have sat them on their haunches.

Pretty proud considering the lack of height we have had during the finals series. The Shoe has copped a lot of crap but he has been thrown to the wolves during the finals. Changa was terrible- get the dreads back! Cant help but think Savage and or Breust may have been handy...

Lewis amazing. Defence did well most of the night and Burgoyne was silky.

Congrats pies. Great teams find a way and you did that. Swan lifted when he was really needed. Cloke stepped up in the last and Luke Ball goes hard for 4 quarters. Wellingham on the other hand you are a squib. Dayne Beams the Tat on the leg is feminine!

*Now back to my sulky corner*

[brod]

Was surprised that Breust was dropped for the last couple of matches, had a great season I thought.

[Baron Greenback]

Great commentary ODB, you just missed one name all mentioned were fantastic. Cloke.
The Cloke we really wanted when we picked the other two.

Cloke's last quarter was massive.
Very impressive.

[hearts on fire]

Probably one of the best games of footy i've seen, if not the best!

Disappointing Hawks dropping off at the end, reckon they could've gave the Cats a real good run this week