The Preview | Carlton V Collingwood | AFL Round 20
Written By Luke Cornell
Oh boy.
In a season ripped and rotten with opportunity, the Blues face the ultimate test in their season reckoning against the best team in the comp…the old enemy.
Everything to play for, everything to lose.
And yet…it isn’t even the biggest game at the ‘G this weekend; go you wallabies!
In all seriousness, there’s a job that needs to be done, and we’ll all do our part.
Long overdue, it’s the Round 20 Preview.
The Best Team In The Competition.
In our last outing against the Pies, we analysed the ferocity of Collingwood’s 1%, the 1% that’s put themselves head and shoulders above many of their opponents this year.
Since round 10, the Pies still hang onto a top 5 ranking in one-percenters, tackles i50, and intercepts; while also climbing to fifth in points scored and 3rd in score involvements.
As much as we despise their daring escapes on field in close moments, these one percenters are a testament to a brand of selfless football even Michael Voss could only dream of.
And it shows, it doesn’t take much for this Pies squad to get fired up in the closing stages; and quite unsurprisingly, it’s all generated from their back half.
Brayden Maynard is back like he never left, executing on an All Australian level in the air and on the deck, ranking top 10 in one-on-one contests won amongst defenders after a lengthy stint out and averaging career highs in metres gained (359).
Darcy Moore was an obelisk that we all just stared at during our last hit-out, as he continues to stamp his name as one of the best intercept defenders this season and the last decade. Gotta hand it to the first season skipper.
It’s a point of difference that continues to suck the confidence out of teams through four quarters of football, their back half feels impenetrable at times.
And why shouldn’t it? Their midfield alone ranks top 3 in centre clearances that balances an impressive depth of players in Adams, Mitchell, Pendlebury, and, on occasion, a sleazy 20 year-old in his sophomore season.
It’s a team that continues to go beyond the expectations of how a great squad is supposed to perform, and believe me, this is too much praise to handle.
So how do you stop an impenetrable force? And what happens when said impenetrable force meets an immoveable object?
The Immoveable Object.
What have we gotten ourselves into, hey.
You can’t beat the jovial feeling surrounding this Carlton Fanbase and community, especially the circumstances come this week.
There’s a weird calmness ahead of the matchup this week, a calmness that is serenaded by the chance to play Collingwood with some actual stakes this late in the season.
Nevertheless, we want to win [oh god do we want to win].
The turnaround from this squad is exceptional. The entries, the kicking, the return of the handball chains, the scoring, all characteristics of a team that has found their mojo.
While it is a fever dream looking over some of these stats in the last week, the most important growth came from our front half.
Under all the scrutiny of this team in the last 4 months, the pressure and intent from the forward line was abysmal both offensively and defensively.
In the last five weeks alone, the Blues have shot up to the top of the league statistically through i50s, tackles i50, pressure, and efficiency i50.
All the tools to rupture a Collingwood back-half, but why is the Pie’s back-six so untouchable?
There’s a clear willingness from this Pies squad to keep the ball alive in circumstances where it shouldn’t suit, highlighted by their top-least ranking in opponent tackles per game.
On top of this, the Pies rank fourth in goal assists, third in metres gained and handballs per game; whilst also ranking first-least in opponent contested possessions per game.
Why does this matter? If you had read every Collingwood matchup where they won by more than 25+ points, it would look as though the other team didn’t even touch them on transition from their back-half.
The message should remain the same this week for the blue-collard boys down there; Fogs, Cunners, and Mots. Pressure, pressure, pressure.
It has been a staple of this Michael Voss era to the naked eye, and the way for the Blues to get on top of their opponent week in and week out.
So why stop now?
Predictions
Be sure to count your hairs at the end of this week.
The fixture is a wonderful thing, getting to enjoy these scheduled moments in a season that could hold so much misery and so much joy.
We’re not in the driver’s seat we want, losing Walsh and Silvagni will hurt no matter the result this week; and doubts still loom around the Captain’s fitness, so where’s the hope?
Next. Man. Up.
Trust in this club, or they’ll let you down either way.
The threat looms near…but who said we can’t add some theatrics to the occasion?
