Round 2 - Footscray V Collingwood - Fri 21/3/25 MCG 7:40PM AEDT

[SonofScray]

Objectively, that was a terrific game of footy too.

Maybe the best contest I’ve sat through since 2022. Top 10 even if I push back the timeline pre Covid.

A result would have been a really stirring and memorable outcome given the context. It wasn’t though and we need to get going again and deal with the Baggers.

[ledge]

Talking about the future midfield , i would think Cooper Hynes is in the mix to take over from Treloar at some stage . I liked the highlights and his body shape . A bit of a Finn Callaghan.

[azabob]

Timmy won his battle but didn’t compete in several critical contests during the first 3 qtrs. If he attacked the ball the way he did in the last qtr for the entire game we win convincingly. In isolation that’s incredibly harsh but I’m a supporter of English and it’s tipped too far the other way now. He simply had to be a stronger leader for the club all night.

This sums up English's game for mine. The biggest frustration for me was his inability to bring the ball to ground in pack situations or he was outmarked by his opponent or another Collingwood tall.

[azabob]

Great effort by the boys, they did not give up even though all looked lost at times during the 3rd and 4th quarter. It felt like from the 20 min mark of the first quarter we were not the better team but we kept working hard. To be down by 15 points during the 4th quarter and to draw level was electric.

The pies were brilliant in sweating on us when we tried to handball in tight and when we were stripped of the ball they were out and more often than not ended up in a scoring position regardless of where they started the chain from.

In the first half Darcy, Kennedy, Richards, Liberatore, Lobb played out of their skins. McNeil and VDM did not stop running and creating.

We went in with a clear plan for our wingers on the night. Sam Davidson seemed to be the one stay at home wingman and did not stop running all night. It took him a while to pick up the pressure of the game, a few times during the first half he fumbled in close. The other wing was rotated between Harmes and Arty Jones and then Baker came on in the last as the activated sub.

Lobb was unbelievable in the first half, not only in the air but at ground level also. I was also impressed with Khamis again, he is so athletic and his ability to time his defensive spoils was bloody impressive. I really hope he can make it. We really struggled with run and carry out of our D50 in the first half Bailey Dale was bloody quiet as was Lachie Bramble. I hope we keep patience with Harvey Gallagher as Taylor Duryea still gives 100% but unfortunately, he looks a step slow now by mind and foot.

I'd like to take the opportunity to call out Bailey Wiliams - he is a bloody good footballer and he showed that again last night. I hope us supporters remember when he goes back to the wing that he is actually sacrificing his game for the benefit of our football club.

The forwards other than Darcy did not look like it. Hard to tell at the ground but it seemed West did a defensive role on Houston and kept him relatively quiet. Naughton looked like he was carrying a leg injury of some sort all night, gave his all as always but couldn't hold his marks which allowed Collingwood to clear the ball a number of times. Posters are saying we missed JUH last night, I actually think we missed Cody Weightman more - it was the type of night were he would've snuck in for 2-3 goals in quick succession.

Honestly unsure how to view the midfield battle. Pound for pound talent wise Collingwood were much better than us and it showed in the last five minutes. Sidebottom and Pendlebury took control of the game and got them over the line (obviously with a little help with from their friends who put the whistle away). I felt English could've imposed himself much more in the 2nd and 3rd quarter in pack marking situations.

A couple of highlights of the night was Darcy's first half, he was simply unstoppable and Frejah's goal in the last quarter was a thing of beauty. I was in the perfect spot to watch it unfold, just outside the 50m line on level 2.

If only, if only, we could've settled after that goal and got the win.

[soupman]

Awesome game to watch and impressive effort.

The Bevo doubters are pretty quiet atm, despite our injuries and picking a bunch of fringe guys we have performed well both weeks, look quick and dynamic on field, have displayed aggressive ball movement and have been able to make the most of our few remaining key pieces.

Azabob raised it above, but very happy with whoever was on Houston (West?). Had no impact aside from his goal, and was barely noticeable in general play.

Well the football world might be waking up to just how good Darcy is and Freijah will be. Both had some real moments, and Darcy is on track to be the most unstoppable player in the league by the end of the season.

Thought English was pretty good, and if he holds one or two of those marks against smaller guys up forward like he should've could've been very decisive. I 100% get the frustrations but thought he deserved credit last night.

Likewise Naughton copped some heat (rightfully) but his second half was great and really showed his determination to lift for the side.

Gallagher made some great strides forward, Khamis was really good (and will need to be with no Lobb), Davidson continues to have moments, Vandermeer and McNeil were quieter but not non factors and i was still pretty happy with their lot.

Of the real fringe guys, Dolan again was quiet and while I'm content he is shaping a little bit it is very little and if there is someone else in the mix able to contribute more they should be considered. Jones hasn't got near it for both games and I expect he will be dropped, I like the idea of him but he doesn't add anything atm. Sanders continues to be very timid and non direct, although I think he is doing enough to stay until better players come back. I think he needs to work on being more decisive and direct, but not sure getting 35 touches at VFL level are going to be that valuable, he had a great preseason from all reports and that hasn't converted to AFL yet. I think he needs to do it at AFL level and figure out how to bridge the gap between dominating against fringe guys and struggling with the real ones. Duryea is a concern, probably gets another week, especially if Lobb is out and we need an older head down back, but his spot is increasingly up for grabs.

[Uninformed]

Agree with Aza and Soupman. Would add that someone, McNeil or VDM, must have done a job on Quaynor. He had no influence at all and can be very damaging running off HB.

Also, Sanders was very diligent in has efforts to tackle and I thought he still added something without being Freijah-like as yet.

[Eastdog]

Am I expecting too much from a second year kid in Sanders? At this stage, I don’t really see him surviving all the players coming back from injury.

Too much expectation on Sanders. Only in his 2nd year and could still turn out to be really good player for us. Players in the top 10 of the draft nowadays tend to go on and be pretty good.

[SonofScray]

Will turn out to be a very good player.

[GVGjr]

So a question or two for the Melbourne based supporters
Did you go on Friday night and if so how did you?
1) Rate the experience when compared to games at Marvel?
2) Rate the lead up to the start of the game with the way the club presented our 100 year history?

[Boots]

With a couple of days of hindsight, this game has really become one of those games that rekindles belief. I’m enjoying the discussions of Freijah’s emergence, Sanders’ performance (for the record, I’m in the “he’s just green, he’ll be right” camp), English’s role in the ruck, even when they get acrimonious. I’m if anything more impressed with how well the side did while held together with duct tape. It was absolutely a performance to be proud of. I have more faith in this side than I have since the start of 2021.

[Bornadog]

So a question or two for the Melbourne based supporters
Did you go on Friday night and if so how did you?
1) Rate the experience when compared to games at Marvel?
2) Rate the lead up to the start of the game with the way the club presented our 100 year history?

I thought the club did an excellent job with the pregame and start of the game. The club spent the whole week promoting it and engaging with past champions and what the club means to the supporters. Fantatsic to sit in the stands and people chanting Footscray, Footscray in front of a record H&A crowd of almost 80k

[Prince Imperial]

So a question or two for the Melbourne based supporters
Did you go on Friday night and if so how did you?
1) Rate the experience when compared to games at Marvel?
2) Rate the lead up to the start of the game with the way the club presented our 100 year history?

1. I think Marvel has a better viewing experience and better atmosphere for similar crowds compared to the MCG. However, walking through Yarra Park with its beauty and the smell of the grass is a much better feel than the ugliness of Docklands. I wish we had more games there.

2. Fabulous, I actually had tears in my eyes!

[Uninformed]

Only watched on TV, but thought the club got the lead up and history pitch perfect. Enjoyed watching it a few times over.

[Bornadog]

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award

Footscray v Collingwood

8 Tom Liberatore (WB)8 Sam Darcy (WB)
8 Nick Daicos (COLL)
3 Steele Sidebottom (COLL)
2 Lachie Schultz (COLL)
1 Jeremy Howe (COLL)

[jazzadogs]

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award

Footscray v Collingwood

8 Tom Liberatore (WB)8 Sam Darcy (WB)
8 Nick Daicos (COLL)
3 Steele Sidebottom (COLL)
2 Lachie Schultz (COLL)
1 Jeremy Howe (COLL)

My initial instinct was "those votes don't add up" but it's just an obscure mix.

5 daicos
4 Darcy
3 libba
2 Schultz
1 side bottom

5 Libba
4 Darcy
3 daicos
2 side bottom
1 howe

Or variations of the above. Fairly accurate reflections of the game. Libba and Darcy definitely our best, and Howe did a good job of hanging off our forwards in the second half.

[azabob]

So a question or two for the Melbourne based supporters
Did you go on Friday night and if so how did you?
1) Rate the experience when compared to games at Marvel?
2) Rate the lead up to the start of the game with the way the club presented our 100 year history?

I went and loved it.

The MCG is so superior to Marvel in most ways. The caveat being the weather was perfect.

I wonder if Marvel opened the roof if it would not feel as sterile?