2017 Rd 7: pre game protestations Carlton vs Collingwood

[Thryleon]

Until they beat Geelong their form was very average, it's 50/50 in my book.

I can't say I've watched every game, but I paid enough attention to know that almost every match they have played this season was winnable for them with poor execution being the difference between winning and losing for them.

That doesn't mean we can't beat them, but I'm not sure they're as bad as people assume based solely on results.

They are doing much better than I expected them to, but thankfully haven't been winning much.

[shawny]

As its not a home game I'm going to buy tickets but would love to sit closer to our cheer squad.

Does anyone know which end our cheer squad will be at being an away game?

[laj]

I can't say I've watched every game, but I paid enough attention to know that almost every match they have played this season was winnable for them with poor execution being the difference between winning and losing for them.

That doesn't mean we can't beat them, but I'm not sure they're as bad as people assume based solely on results.

They are doing much better than I expected them to, but thankfully haven't been winning much.

Pies, effort against Essendon, who we beat with some comfort in the end, was awful and they were just as poor against St.Kilda, with the Saints awful kicking kicking keeping them close. They just beat the Swans by a point, who we beat well last week. They beat Geelong but for some reason, while the Pies have been poor for a few years, they've managed to beat the Cats 6 of the last 8 games. Then again we had a comfortable win over Geelong last year too.

They've been no better than us this year.

[DJC]

David Rhys-Jones; what a legend!

“Eddie (McGuire) hates Carlton. He hates them with a passion and there would be nothing better than to see Eddie’s face look like he’s been sucking on a lemon at time-on in the last quarter,’’ he said.

“It would be a bit like that face he had when Juddy (Chris Judd) beat Swanny (Dane Swan) for the Brownlow that night (in 2011).

“We might parade our 16 cups and they can’t match that. Collingwood has always been the one to beat for me, you want to beat them no matter where you are on the ladder.”

[Gointocarlton]

David Rhys-Jones; what a legend!

Indeed, its what I suggested in my earlier post. If Kerr or H were to debut this week, the pre game jumper presentation will be very interesting.

[Thryleon]

Pies, effort against Essendon, who we beat with some comfort in the end, was awful and they were just as poor against St.Kilda, with the Saints awful kicking kicking keeping them close. They just beat the Swans by a point, who we beat well last week. They beat Geelong but for some reason, while the Pies have been poor for a few years, they've managed to beat the Cats 6 of the last 8 games. Then again we had a comfortable win over Geelong last year too.

They've been no better than us this year.

They have kicked more behinds than goals in every match they have played this year.

All it will take is a week where they actually take their opportunities properly, and they will look like a pretty good side and the opposition will be the ones ruing their missed opportunities instead.

Whilst I don't think that this is an indicator of anything that will happen this year, I look at it, and realise, that these guys have been competitive if not good during this season. 

12.14 vs Western Bulldogs 15.10
11.14 vs Richmond 14.15
11.14 vs Sydney 11.13
7.13 vs St. Kilda  9.15
11.16 vs Essendon 15.10
15.17 vs Geelong 11.12

Im under no illusions as to where we are at, but it looks as though the Pies have been traveling better than us in terms of hitting the scoreboard regularly.

Our record by contrast:

14.5 vs Richmond 20.12
9.10 vs Melbourne 13.8
7.15 vs Essendon 6.6
12.10 vs GC Suns 17.6
6.11 vs Port 20.17
15.7 vs Sydney 11.12

Purely as a numbers exercise, we are scoring at an average of 20.17 scoring shots per match.  The pies have been averaging 25.86 scoring shots per match.
We have been allowing scoring shots of 24.7 scoring shots to our opposition per match, whilst the Pies have been averaging 25 scoring shots against. 

This has no bearing on the rate in which either of us will hit the scoreboard nor does it take into account scoring efficiency or even junk time scoring where the opposition allows a bit more leeway for teams to hit the scoreboard because the game is done but it does tell a story that they have been traveling better than we have in terms of hitting the scoreboard, and they seem to have been just as frugal as we have in terms of conceding.

So they should, they are a much more mature outfit, and they have been more consistent than us.

At the end of the day, neither of us know what is happening, but I don't live in a fools paradise and know that this will be a tough but winnable match, vs an opponent that hasn't been that good, but has had no real bad games either.

[Gointocarlton]

... this will be a tough but winnable match, vs an opponent that hasn't been that good, but has had no real bad games either.

Agree, I see this as no different a task to our game vs Sydney. Sydney haven't been putrid, they are always a tough opponent. We however planned and executed well, we need to do the same this week.

[flyboy77]

Geelong's midfield gets exposed badly if either Selwood and/or Danger get shut down.

Greenwood wiped Selwood and even Danger was quite ineffectual.

After those 2, the Cats midfield is very ordinary.

We have much more depth and options in this regard.

I doubt they'll get 32 scoring shots against us.

Even the Cats' backline looked ordinary once the ball kept getting pumped in fast and furiously.

If we produce the same intensity as we did against Sydney we'll win comfortably noting their backline is a major weak point.

[PaulP]

David Rhys-Jones; what a legend!

McGuire also hates the Swans and GWS, and on any given day probably every other AFL club.

I don't deny the doctrine of the arch nemesis (although I think its era has passed), I just  think it should be put on the back burner. This is "Old Carlton". From the supporters point of view, it's good for a bit of fun and pointless argy bargy, but that's pretty much it. If the players and club think that a gimmick like this will motivate them, then something's wrong, especially in the modern era.

[LP]

Indeed, its what I suggested in my earlier post. If Kerr or H were to debut this week, the pre game jumper presentation will be very interesting.

If we take too many 1st game kids, combined with a bunch of 1st season players, we'll be back to the Port Adelaide situation and get a smashing which does nothing positive for anybody!

I can't see BB making that mistake twice, no matter how much pressure he is under from the club to play the kids! :o