Collingwood

[LostDoggy]

Some would argue the number of blockbusters you play in helps you in front of the big crowds of the finals?
There is no doubt the exposure you get through more blockbusters, friday night games, telecast free to air games,etc gets you more fans and more money. I believe Collingwood's riches finally won them a premiership. One wonders if Collingwood would be still be the richest club in the league if they had no Anzac days or other blockbusters , our tv coverage and our stadium deals.

[mighty_west]

No doubt Collingwood was the best side all year. GVjr made a lot of valid points on why, just think the draw is one of many that should be considered as well.
No doubt all top 4 sides would have loved 7 games straight at the G prior finals. Surprised no one thinks the lack of interstate or movement in this period contributed to there low injury rate.

That's the big one for me, the best side for the year, i can't remember anytime we have reached a Prelim and actually been the best side of any year.

The draw, where you play your games, televised games etc don't mean too much when you consider in the past decade, Brisbane, Port, West Coast, Sydney & Geelong certaintly didn't go in with the best draws, have the most televised games, play the majority of their home & away games at the G etc etc etc.

Heck, Brisbane, West Coast & Sydney also had to travel every second week, didn't exactly stop their chances of being the best sides & winning the big one.

[Topdog]

Thank you for your interest.
Done your research yet?

Yep proved rather easily that Collingwood had a more difficult draw than us.

[LostDoggy]

Yep proved rather easily that Collingwood had a more difficult draw than us.

By you ignoring all the facts.
They played as many games against top 8s as we did, had less interstate travel, didn't move from the G in the last 10 weeks but they had a harder draw????

[Topdog]

By you ignoring all the facts.
They played as many games against top 8s as we did, had less interstate travel, didn't move from the G in the last 10 weeks but they had a harder draw????

incorrect. Played more against the top 4 too.

[LostDoggy]

incorrect. Played more against the top 4 too.

Which part did I write that was incorrect?
Ok believe what you want to believe.

[Topdog]

The bolded bit. See
http://www.woof.net.au/forum/showpos...6&postcount=35

So you think we played more against other top 4 teams as well?

[LostDoggy]

Responding to the OP: The one thing that I would pick out from Collingwood that is worth something is the forward thinking off and on-the-field management culture. Eddie, hate him or love him (I'm the former, by the way), for all his faults has brought some interesting changes to the succession planning of coaches that may reduce wholesale change in a successful system and hopefully create a more holistic transition, and Malthouse has certainly led the way in the balance and risk management of the playing list -- very pragmatic, not much room for sentiment, and quite low-risk recruitment in picking players with solid physical attributes balanced with reasonable skill, CLEARLY earmarked for well-defined roles in the game plan (unlike Clayton, who was a lot more speculative, resulting in a relatively chaotic and unbalanced, if highly mercurial, list). Even in recruiting they went hard for two class players that met a clear need rather than a scattergun approach for players that 'may' fit the bill.

The gameplan is also player driven in that the leadership group drive the buy-in and adherence to it, which probably also means that those that don't live up to it are marginalised, not by the coaches, but by their peers.

Having said all that, I am not that impressed with the Pies in the overall sense -- this is a club with the biggest fanbase in Australia and clearly the most financial muscle in Victoria, yet this is only their second Premiership in donkeys years. From a resource to success ratio they have clearly underachieved. This year, a few factors fell into place for them (Ball/Jolly recruitment, youngsters developing faster than expected, O'Brien having a career best year, a gameplan that worked), but we clearly had their measure in the last few years so couldn't have been far off -- if our stars had stayed injury free and it was Swan, Thomas and Maxwell injured (rather than Coons, Higgins and Johnno) our respective seasons may very well have been very different. After all, our mature recruits were also some of our best players this year (Bazza, Huddo). With all their advantages, the Pies should be much, much further ahead of the pack than they are.

[LostDoggy]

The bolded bit. See
http://www.woof.net.au/forum/showpos...6&postcount=35

So you think we played more against other top 4 teams as well?

What ever

[bornadog]

Some would argue the number of blockbusters you play in helps you in front of the big crowds of the finals?
There is no doubt the exposure you get through more blockbusters, friday night games, telecast free to air games,etc gets you more fans and more money. I believe Collingwood's riches finally won them a premiership. One wonders if Collingwood would be still be the richest club in the league if they had no Anzac days or other blockbusters , our tv coverage and our stadium deals.

and this is exactly what I hate about the AFL and the unfairness of the whole competition. It bloody well stinks.