Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley must find a way to beat bogey side Hawthorn
DO bogey sides really exist? Or is it slapdash rhetoric to ignore the fact one team is simply better than the other?
Mark Robinson
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DO bogey sides really exist? Or is it slapdash rhetoric to ignore the fact one team is simply better than the other?
In any case, Collingwood today meets its bogey side and a team better than it.
No just better but significantly better.
In their past five matches, Hawthorn has battered Collingwood on the scoreboard.
They have kicked scores of 18.11, 22.13, 20.15, 21.12 and 20.17. They are averaging more than 30 shots at goal, which means the Magpies simply don’t have the necessary mechanics to a) deny Hawthorn the ball and b) nullify their forwards.
If it wasn’t so serious, you’d think Collingwood’s idea of defence is what keeps spectators running on to the ground.
The problem is not solely the back six. Clearly, its team defence isn’t tough or tight enough. And clearly, Nathan Buckley must do something to rectify it.
The Collingwood coach put it on his players during the week. ‘’We haven’t been tough enough against Hawthorn and that’s where we’ll start and finish,’’ he said.
Well, not exactly.f
It starts with Buckley engaging different tactics and mentality to what he has previously used. He has to. More of the same will produce same result.
Straight away, the Pies should have a more defensive attitude than offensive one. Rather, don’t worry about kicking goals, just stop Hawthorn kicking theirs. Collingwood’s goals will come, but what does that matter if the Hawks ping through another 20-plus?
Defence today is king.
In the past five games, the Hawks dominate every facet of the game.
The differentials are:
Disposals +20.2, contested possessions +3.6, uncontested possessions +14.4, inside 50s +8 and clearances +8. The Hawks are allowed to be free-flowing which means they have too much time and space, which means their kicking game is top notch, which means the Hawks can keep the ball, which means the Hawks will slay you.
Hawthorn has the most frightening combination in footy: High inside 50s and high efficiency once inside 50
Across the five games against Collingwood, Hawthorn scores 35 per cent of the time once the ball goes inside 50. That’s a goal for every three entries.
Champion Data this year labelled Collingwood “Generation Bucks’’. The notion was we would see a ‘’new’’ Collingwood and we have.
They have defended exceptionally well this season, save for Fremantle in Round 1, West Coast in Round 10 and last week against the Bulldogs.
Today is a huge test for Buckley the coach and his young defence.
We’ll see how much Buckley has learned strategically _ he just can’t allow shootout football _ and we’ll see if his team can implement Buckley’s strategies.
Of course, the battle will be swayed by the efforts in the midfield, but the spotlight will be on Collingwood’s young defenders up against Roughead, Breust, Gunstan, Rioli and whoever else Brendon Bolton wheels through half-forward.
The defence has been heralded this year, but perhaps not enough.
The likely back six today will be Jack Frost (14 games), Lachlan Keeffe (31 games), Paul Seedsman (31 games), Marley Williams (28 games), Tom Langdon (12 games) and Alan Toovey (125) games. They average 40 games. Without Toovey, the average is 23 games. Without Toovey, the average age is 22.
They are inexperienced, but it’s working. Buckley should be applauded for not only putting faith in them, but coaching them to perform at the elite level.
Today is a massive task. Seedsman, Williams and Langdon like to run with the ball and it will be interesting to see if that is curtailed somewhat in preference to play more defensively minded football. That’s not to say they don’t attack, but perhaps be more mindful of where their opponents are lurking, especially if there’s a turnover because as we know, the Hawks torture teams on the turnover
There are thousands of elements in today’s game for Collingwood. The defence can’t have easy ball coming in, the midfield has to win its own ball and also apply manic pressure the Hawks when they have it, and Collingwood’s forwards can’t allow Birchall, Hodge Suckling and crew, easy escape routes from half-back.
It’s easier said than done, but if Collingwood doesn’t defend all over the ground, then the Hawks will play with them, as they have in their past five matches.
The Hawks don’t have Lance Franklin any more, Josh Gibson is injured and Sam Mitchell, who dominates against Collingwood, is also injured. But it’s not about who’s missing.
Today is about attitude and by 5pm we’ll know if the Magpies were tough enough for long enough.
If it’s a yes, then Generation Bucks is something to be feared.
Originally published as Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley must find a way to beat bogey side Hawthorn
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