West Coast v Collingwood - Finals week 2

[sydney-dog]

Thomas will not be James Hird's boot lace

He is a one way player who will eventually get found out, like a Milne, unless he works extremely hard and becomes a midfielder

My view, he bludges too much and hopes for a turn over, if that turn over eventuates, he ends up with the footy in his hands

Summary, good player when his side has won the footy, does not win the contest ball himself, needs to be more than a HF before he is compared to a J Hird

On the game last night

The tightness of the game made it very exciting, we will all remember the game going in to Extra time, however the quality of the footy was very ordinary, both sides played very defensive, the skill execution was very ordinary

[Dutchy]

The tightness of the game made it very exciting, we will all remember the game going in to Extra time, however the quality of the footy was very ordinary, both sides played very defensive, the skill execution was very ordinary

Exactly right, the last 2 Friday nights have been ordinary footy but been good only cause of the closeness...interesting that WCE have now lost 3-4 real close ones while Port have won 3-4 close ones and look where each of them are now?

exactly why Port are over rated

[sydney-dog]

Dutchy

before last night the Eagles had lost their past 3 finals by 1pt, 3pts and 4pts

games of footy are remembered for many reasons, last nights game will be remembered for the extra time, however, that does not make the game a quality game.

the Eagles were extremely poor last night, the Pies were marginally better, the skill errors by players under very little pressure, was as bad as I have seen from a top 8 contest all year

The Pies are very excited, they should be, they have one a final in WA, however, on that form last night, they will be easy pickings for the Cats

The Eagles, they need a quality small forward

[Booney]

The tightness of the game made it very exciting, we will all remember the game going in to Extra time, however the quality of the footy was very ordinary, both sides played very defensive, the skill execution was very ordinary

Exactly right, the last 2 Friday nights have been ordinary footy but been good only cause of the closeness...interesting that WCE have now lost 3-4 real close ones while Port have won 3-4 close ones and look where each of them are now?

exactly why Port are over rated

But we did WIN those games,right?

[Rik E Boy]

I know they had important outs and the loss of Hansen was a body blow for them but I cannot recall a softer effort from a West Coast side. Rowan Jones (18, I think I've got this right) did not go into one contest all night. In the fourth quarter Cometti finally called 'Rowan Jones opts out of the contest'..he was doing it all game long. Later on this blouse actually got a wrap from Bruce...get those eyes checked Macca because Jones was 5hite plain and simple.

Ditto for Embley and Wirrpunda - two experienced premiership players who gifted Collingwood goals in such a tight match. At least Wirrpunda appeared to realise the magnitude of his blue and upped the workrate after he did it to try and get that goal back. This task appeared beyond Embley who was clearly short of a gallop. Worsfold said he wouldn't be playing injured players but Embley and Hansen were not fully fit and the management of the players at West Coast has been appalling all season. If Judd had given his operation weeks ago a younger player might have had an extra ten matches going into this game. McNamara showed glimpses and perhaps some more games could have been put into his development. Very short-sighted West Coast Eagles. They may have permenantly damaged two great players in Judd and Cousins by rushing them back.

Meanwhile, for the winners..that ruck set up is an absolute shocker. Even with Fraser back next week Ottens and Blake will dominate. While it is true that the Collingwood midfield roved effectively to losing rucks all night and won the clearances handsomely, it must be remembered that Geelong actually know how to tackle. West Coast's tackling last night was non-existent. Collingwood are also very poor by foot and you can bet that the Cats coaching staff would have noticed this and every Pie will be totally under the pump whenever he is anywhere near the ball next Friday. All the hype about Sean Rusling was comical after watching the guy drop about five marks last night. I was even starting to believe it myself and started fretting about the unavailability of Egan to cover the three talls. Cloke is the key next week but Geelong can reduce his effectiveness by winning the clearances and owning the corridor.

Another thing I noticed is that Collingwood aren't particularly proficient at holding on to the ball when the opposition flood back.

Now if a middle-aged pi55pot who hasn't played a game in his life has noticed these things I think that the Cats coaching staff will have plenty to work on. What worries me about the Pies though are the smaller fowards Didak, Medhurst and Davis..a traditional area of concern for Geelong. Also, the hunger factor will be pretty close to even.

Can't wait.

regards,

REB

[JK]

Well said Richard ... Particularly the bit on Jones ... It's always amazed me how this bloke keeps getting a game, surely he doesn't have too many left in him at that level???

[sydney-dog]

I have never rated Jones,
Hansen is a concern, he sneezes and gets an injury
Wirrpunda, he has a shocker

the eagles need another key forward, crumbing forward and another tall defender

[GWW]

The tightness of the game made it very exciting, we will all remember the game going in to Extra time, however the quality of the footy was very ordinary, both sides played very defensive, the skill execution was very ordinary

Exactly right, the last 2 Friday nights have been ordinary footy but been good only cause of the closeness...interesting that WCE have now lost 3-4 real close ones while Port have won 3-4 close ones and look where each of them are now?

exactly why Port are over rated

Actually Port isn't rated at all by anyone but our own supporters (Walls etc dont rate us). Most of us dont think we'll win the flag but its been an awesome rebuilding year. I'm not sure who you think rates us so highly, because i dont know anyone in the Victorian media who does.

[Dutchy]

glad someone agrees with me about Jones, so many times last night there was 50/50 balls and he left his teammates go for the ball...

[sydney-dog]

Jones also gets caught holding the ball on so many occassions, he lacks awareness

[Pup]

glad someone agrees with me about Jones, so many times last night there was 50/50 balls and he left his teammates go for the ball...

Jones has always been a whipping boy for the Eagles.

Friday night he was terrible, but he has been a great servant for the club. If injuries are kept to a minimum next year, i cant see Jones getting many games and will probably retire at the end of 2008.

[JK]

glad someone agrees with me about Jones, so many times last night there was 50/50 balls and he left his teammates go for the ball...

Jones has always been a whipping boy for the Eagles.

Friday night he was terrible, but he has been a great servant for the club. If injuries are kept to a minimum next year, i cant see Jones getting many games and will probably retire at the end of 2008.

Yes, he is their current day Josh Wooden, probably just has/had better players around him than Josh did.

[RustyCage]

The tightness of the game made it very exciting, we will all remember the game going in to Extra time, however the quality of the footy was very ordinary, both sides played very defensive, the skill execution was very ordinary

Exactly right, the last 2 Friday nights have been ordinary footy but been good only cause of the closeness...interesting that WCE have now lost 3-4 real close ones while Port have won 3-4 close ones and look where each of them are now?

exactly why Port are over rated

SD - The last two GFs were crap games to watch, close yes, but crap games. Good to see both teams out now.

Dutchy - We'll see this week if Port are over rated.

[Dutchy]

Dutchy - We'll see this week if Port are over rated.

Nup dont think it will be a true test, maybe if you beat Geelong in the GF Ill conceed....Roos were spoon favs remember...

[GWW]

Dutchy - We'll see this week if Port are over rated.

Nup dont think it will be a true test, maybe if you beat Geelong in the GF Ill conceed....Roos were spoon favs remember...

Sounds like you're backing down a bit Dutchy, i'm not saying Port are certainties for this week, i think its a 50/50 game in fact, but if Port is as bad as you say surely you'd be very confident after beating the Hawks.

The reality is that Port was also wooden spoon favourite to a few people in the media, although i accept not as many people tipped us for the spoon as the Roos.

[Dutchy]

Dutchy - We'll see this week if Port are over rated.

Nup dont think it will be a true test, maybe if you beat Geelong in the GF Ill conceed....Roos were spoon favs remember...

Sounds like you're backing down a bit Dutchy, i'm not saying Port are certainties for this week, i think its a 50/50 game in fact, but if Port is as bad as you say surely you'd be very confident after beating the Hawks.

The reality is that Port was also wooden spoon favourite to a few people in the media, although i accept not as many people tipped us for the spoon as the Roos.

not backing down at all. I just think a lot of things have gone Ports way this season, and good on them for taking full advantage of it which will more than likely see them playing in a GF...

Port were no where near wooden spoon favourite, remember how they finished last year? many were actually tipping them in the 8....while no one entertained that thought for the Roos let alone the last 4 standing!