The Scouting Report - Round 18 v Collingwood
Overview
Collingwood comes into this game 15th in the Ladder, with a 5 – 11 win record. Collingwood has gone through an upheaval this year, with an interim coach taking over from Nathan Buckley. Since Robert Harvey has taken over we have seen a return to the glory days of the Magpies, Displaying a harder attacking edge, and the ability to attack the corridor hard and fast, utilising their new pace and quick ball users in the corridor.
They still retain that ability to play slow and find short sharp kicks down back and around the wing to relieve the pressure and to stop their oppositions momentum. A very well-drilled side, that has adapted quickly to Harveys more attacking game plan. They look to exploit the corridor and play the ball around outside 50 looking for loose men. They have a “Leave with 6 points” mentality and often look for short kicks inside 50 to maximise their opportunities. They are very efficient at controlling a game and have adapted a system of strong rotations in the middle to eliminate threats in the corridor.
The Lines
Projected starting positions.
Backline
Backline
Isaac Quaynor – Tackles = 2.3, Pressure Acts = 12.6, Ground Ball Gets = 3.6, Disposals Eff = 76%
Isaac is exceptionally clean with the ball in hand and has fantastic vision. Favours the corridor kick and looks to play a quick one-two with his backline to gain extra metres before kicking long, or attempting to hit up his favoured corridor. Very versatile and has an exceptional work rate.
Likely Matchup: Matty Owies.
Projected Winner: Owies 41%- Quaynor 59%
Pressure Tendency: Overuse it and run back into trouble.
Jarryd Roughead – 1 on 1 Win % = 79.2%, Spoils = 6.5, Intercept Marks = 2.1, Metres Gained = 187.3, Disposal Efficiency = 83%.
In Moore’s absence, Jarryd has gone strength to strength, Uses his body very well, and invariably can body the Forward enough to make a clear path to spoil the ball. Uses his arms well to either spoil to touch or advantage and at the very worst keeps the key forwards honest.
Likely Matchup: Harry McKay. Projected Matchup Winner: McKay 76% -Roughead %24%
Pressure Tendency: Kick to Boundary Deep Side.
Brayden Maynard – Tackles = 2.5, Pressure Acts = 11.6, Ground Ball Gets = 3.4, Disposals Eff = 80%, Metres Gained = 484.2
Brayden is often utilised on the 3rd tallest player or the most dangerous small and can compete very well with players taller than him, has a versatile skill set that allows him to roam of his man and look to get the intercept or the ground ball and turn defensive positions into an attack, runs hard up the left side of the ground and is often involved in a lot of the good that Collingwood bring
Likely Matchup: Eddie Betts
Projected Matchup Winner: Betts 41%- Maynard 59%
Pressure Tendency: Kick Down The Flank
Jack Crisp – Tackles = 3.8, Pressure Acts = 18.9, Ground Ball Gets = 5.8, Disposals Eff = 71.2%, Metres Gained = 491.9
Jack is often floated through halfback and the midfield, and is a useful stopper in the midfield line, utilising his ability to lock down effectively while himself impacted the game. Quick and strong and has great vision. Jack is one of the key cogs in their possession-based system and is a barometer of their tempo.
Likely Matchup: Jack Martin
Projected Matchup Winner: Martin 39%- Crisp 61%
Pressure Tendency: Handballs back inside
Jack Madgen – 1 on 1 Win % = 84.2%, Spoils = 1.9, Intercept Marks = 1.2
What you see is what you get with Jack, not the most talented footballer, but uses his talent to the maximum, sticks like glue to his man, and will aim to stifle and create space to run into for his general defenders to mop up. A Workmanlike defender who will hold up an end and make his opposition work for it.
Likely Matchup: Jack Silvagni
Projected Matchup Winner: Silvagni 57% - Madgen 43%
Pressure Tendency: Kick to the Corridor
John Noble – Tackles = 2.8, Pressure Acts = 12.9, Ground Ball Gets = 3.8, Disposals Eff = 80.9%, Metres Gained = 275.1
A Real competitor and becoming along with crisp a real cog in the Collingwood side. Has the ability to float through midfield and deploy his combination of strong kicking and handball skills and also his turn of pace. Has an high work rate and often looks to bring the ball to the ground and turn his man inside out and deliver a safe kick to the corridor. Will float on Walsh at some stage with Mayne.
Likely Matchup: Zac Fisher
Projected Matchup Winner: - Fisher 46% - Noble 54%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to find the short option which invites more pressure.
Midfielders
Chris Mayne – Disposals Avg. = 23.3, Kick Efficiency = 90.3%, Metres Gained = 248.5, Tackles = 2.7
Chris will float from half-back, protecting the space that Crisp, Maynard or Noble develop in the overlap, and often runs with a player who is deemed a danger on the outskirts of their D50. High work rate for a player, and has great positional IQ, Expect he spends a bit of time when Walsh is moved out wide later in the game.
Likely Matchup: Sam Walsh
Projected Matchup Winner:- Walsh 65% - Mayne 35%
Pressure Tendency: Kicks to the corridor when under pressure.
Callum Brown – Pressure Acts = 16.7, Tackles = 2.9, One Percenters = 0.1, Impact On Opposition = 7.6%, Disposal Efficiency = 74.4%
Slowly building into a good player, deployed all over the midfield and around the half-forward line. A good little and under footballer, who possess great skills with the ball and has good vision, looks to open the game up and provide the quality ball for those who lead to him, a real cog turner who just moves the chains and suits the pies need for control in the middle of the park.
Likely Matchup: Zac Williams
Projected Matchup Winner: - Williams 65% - Brown 35%
Pressure Tendency: Rushes the kick to space to the open side
Will Hoskin-Elliott – Disposals Avg. = 16.1, Kick Efficiency = 63.6%, Metres Gained = 286.8, i50 to Chance Creation = 18.7%
A strong marking wingman is a key in their ability to enter and exit both ends of the ground. Often targeted as the outlet ball from the defence and as the switch in their attacking sets. Offers an option to have one extra in the forward line when they lock the ball in and causes a mismatch with his strength and skill.
Likely Matchup: Tom Williamson
Projected Matchup Winner:- Williamson 44% - Hoskin-Elliott 56%
Pressure Tendency: Tends to bomb it into 50 if no short option
Forwards
Jamie Elliott – Disposals = 14.4, Metres Gained = 201.7, Inside 50s to Chance Creation = 20%, Score Involvements = 5.9, Goals = 2.1
Deployed across half-forward and uses his speed to offer the hit up on the lead, a very strong kick and has good defensive skills too that make it tough for the opposition to get out of their defensive 50. Can be used in the midfield too if they want a line breaker and to run the ball out when chasing the game.
Likely Matchup: Adam Saad
Projected Matchup Winner:- Saad 50% - Elliott 50%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to kick to the top of the square
Brody Mihocek – Goals = 1.6, Mark Inside 50 = 2.1, Shots per Game = 3.8, Score Involvements = 5.2
A Workhorse type forward, who drops deep to get the ball and help his midfield out, often the link man in the attack, and looks to draw Centre Half Back out to create space in behind
Likely Matchup: Jacob Weitering
Projected Matchup Winner:- Weitering 71% - Mihocek 29%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to take on his man and bring the contact
Steele Sidebottom – Disposals = 23.5, Metres Gained = 299.5, Inside 50s to Chance Creation = 14.9%, Score Involvements = 4.7, Goals = 0.3
Steele hasn’t had his usual strong year and is adapting to a more forward role this year. Harvey has seen him strongly rotate from half-forward to the midfield, and is often looking for the short option to set up the inside 50, very crafty and uses his skill set well, if he has space he will hurt you as he has a high footy IQ
Likely Matchup: Liam Stocker
Projected Matchup Winner:- Stocker 55% - Sidebottom 45%
Pressure Tendency: Overuses it and can bomb it into the top of the square
Jordan De Goey – Disposals = 18, Metres Gained = 278.7, Inside 50s to Chance Creation = 28.2%, Score Involvements = 6.4, Goals = 1.4
Dangerous in every sense of the word, the go-to man for the Pies, Will float between half-forward and full forward and when they need some impact on the ball he will be there, a real live wire who under Harvey has had a new lease of life, he will get early time on the ball to get a feel for it and has very limited deficits in his game, will have to be stuck tight too as once he is off the chain he can take a game away.
Likely Matchup: Lachie Plowman
Projected Matchup Winner:- Plowman 39% - De Goey 61%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to take the game on at all costs, bangs it on the boot
Darcy Cameron – Goals = 1.3, Mark Inside 50 = 1.5, Shots per Game = 2.1, Score Involvements = 4.3
Tall option for the Pies, who floats down the left flank as an outlet ball, but his primary focus is taking the full-back and dragging him to space. His numbers are deceptive, as his role on the ground is underrated, looks to pressure the full-back into crossing into a channel of uncertainty and stopping his run to the intercept.
Likely Matchup: Liam Jones
Projected Matchup Winner:- Jones 58% - Cameron 42%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to offload the ball under pressure
Josh Thomas – Tackles = 3.1, Pressure Acts = 17.7, Score Involvements = 4.2, Goals = 0.5, Inside 50s to Chance Creation = 20.6%
Another versatile forward who will float and swap with Hoskin-Elliott and offer a wing option and a useful nippy midfielder, takes the game on and offers a lot of pressure in the opposition's backline, forces a lot of turnovers via his ability to close down space fast and crumbs well off the talls.
Likely Matchup: Nic Newman
Projected Matchup Winner:- Newman 47% - Thomas 53%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to move the ball forward
Followers
Brodie Grundy – Hit Out Win % = 57.3%, Hit Outs To Advantage = 33.9%, Clearances = 4.1, Marks = 3.5
A guy who needs no introduction, Brodie is the prototype modern-day Ruckman, often deployed around the ground to the hot spots, and one of the few ruckman who rates as elite for pressure acts, a pure ruck midfielder who effectively makes contests around the ball difficult with his ability to play as a midfielder.
Likely Matchup: TDK
Projected Matchup Winner:- TDK 21% - Grundy 79%
Pressure Tendency: Holds the ball and looks to handball ahead.
Scott Pendlebury – Disposals = 24.6, Score Involvements = 5.9, Marks = 3.9, Goals = 0.3, Clearances = 4.8, Ground Balls = 6.9, Inside 50 to Creation % = 37.7%
The real engine room of the pies, one of the 3 pillars of their tempo, always keeps the ball in motion and dances around the contests. Looks to spread the play to the wings or offload a handball to an inside runner, lives at the feet of Grundy and looks to feed Adams to burst through the pack or Crisp when he is up there.
Likely Matchup: Ed Curnow
Projected Matchup Winner:- Curnow 48% - Pendlebury 52%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to keep the ball moving forward as much as possible so can put people into trouble with a handball.
Taylor Adams – Disposals = 26.5, Score Involvements = 5.3, Marks = 2.9, Goals = 0.3, Clearances = 7.6, Ground Balls = 7.5, Inside 50 to Creation % = 7.1%, Impact on Oppo = 22.1%
The tough man of the midfield, a clearance specialist, and a dynamic player at that. Can burst from stoppages and centre bounces and look to launch early and gain a lot of the ball while impacting his opposite man. A sharker of opposition ruck taps too, as he has fantastic IQ, on form at the moment one of the best midfielders and grossly underrated.
Likely Matchup: Matt Kennedy
Projected Matchup Winner:- Kennedy 40%- Adams 60%
Pressure Tendency: Kicks to Centre Half Forward
The Bench
Oliver Henry – Disposals = 6.8, Tackles = 0.3, Pressure Acts = 8, Score Involvements = 2.3, Goals = 0.0
The new face at the pies, and can play all around the midfield and forward line likes to fall back behind the ball to offer an extra man in defensive situations and looks to go fast when he has possession. An awkward matchup for defenders as he reads the play well and looks to bring it to his advantage
Likely Matchup: Matty Cottrell
Projected Matchup Winner:- Cotterell 51% - Henry 49%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to kick it forward at all costs.
Nathan Murphy – Tackles = 1, Pressure Acts = 6.8, Ground Ball Gets = 1.4, Disposals Eff = 74%, Metres Gained = 151.6
Often deployed out wide to use his take the game on mentality, has very good disposal and is a very good link man and stopper of players, strong aerially and looks to stick close to his man in a run with role.
Likely Matchup: Jack Newnes
Projected Matchup Winner:- Newnes 59% - Murphy 41%
Pressure Tendency: Looks for the safe option down the flank.
Trent Bianco – Disposals Avg. = 12.8, Kick Efficiency = 63%, Metres Gained = 182.7, i50 to Chance Creation = 8.3%
A Willey competitor who has very good vision for a young age spreads the play well and looks to enter 50 early from deep. A modern-day wingman who can run all day and at pace too.
Likely Matchup: Paddy Dow
Projected Matchup Winner:- Dow 44% - Bianco 56%
Pressure Tendency: Bombs it into 50
Trey Ruscoe – Disposals = 4.8, Tackles = 1.3, Pressure Acts = 10.5, Score Involvements = 2, Goals = 0.5
Good engine on him, and shows a willingness to lower his eyes when roaming around at half forward. Good centre of gravity and uses his frame well to hold the ball to get it off in a tackle, and chases all day, Might not get the numbers but will pressure the opposition into making errors.
Likely Matchup: SPS
Projected Matchup Winner:- SPS 62% - Ruscoe 48%
Pressure Tendency: Likes to kick it central from the pocket.
Around Clearances
This is how we would expect to see them set up, Collingwood invariable let the ball drop at feet, and Pendlebury and Adams will extract to one another and look to break through the centre, They will rotate a host of players here like Elliott & Thomas to have some pace to break the midfield line and to take advantage of the 6 6 6 rule.
They like to control it by using their taller wingman and slow the game down, and have a good defensive build around the play.
Ball Movement Patterns
Collingwood like to control the footy with short sharp kicks, this enables them to find holes in the opposition’s midfield and from there it’s a burst usually down their right half-forward area.
The game style requires a lot of running, and since Harvey has been there they are playing a lot faster and look to hit the corridor suddenly with quick play on football from d50 onwards, it usually is built slowly at the back, and once Crisp or Maynard have the ball they go quick and hit up their talented mids and get the ball going fast to create one on ones up the ground.
Kick Ins – The Play
Maynard is the primary kick in man for the Pies and looks to gain the extra metres to enable a Rebound 50, to as close to halfway as possible, their preferred method though is to go short, and gain a switch from a corridor kick in and to catch the opposition in the purgatory of defence and forward pressure. We can see how they move the ball from kick-ins and D50 here.
Scoring Movement & Habits
Once out the Pies favour the Left-hand side of the ground, they have a very strong forward movement that can cause havoc if the Zonal system is not switched on, as we know about the zonal system it requires great concentration and understands of your position on the field and your oppositions tendencies, as demonstrated here, they often deploy set running patterns that create the space in and behind their opposite numbers and create multiple free men on the lead, they have a real make sure mentality and often look to kick once inside 50 from the mark to make sure of the 6 points, They are a hard-running side ahead of the ball and catch many sides out from this position.
Summary
The Magpies are a very strong side, who are vastly different to the side we face in Round 2. They have added a real attack the corridor with pace element to their game and still can control the footy with the short sharp kicks.
One huge negative is their 3rd last for tackle efficiency, and sides who look to move the ball at pace has stung them, particularly in the final 3rd, The game plan to beat the pies is to stifle their space and take away their short options, as they lead hard to the ball, if pressure is applied and you go quickly the simple case is at the moment the Pies cannot tackle hard enough, if you allow them early to gain a foothold and feel confident on the ball they can manage the game on their terms and they can lock the game away down the back by peeling their rotations down the back like Grundy & Hoskin Elliott and shut up shop.
Moving the ball on the outside and making them kick long is the key, so high forward presses and flood the wing, once the ball hits the deck the quick hands can be the deciding factor.
Backline
Isaac Quaynor – Tackles = 2.3, Pressure Acts = 12.6, Ground Ball Gets = 3.6, Disposals Eff = 76%
Isaac is exceptionally clean with the ball in hand and has fantastic vision. Favours the corridor kick, and looks to play a quick one-two with his backline to gain extra metres before kicking long, or attempting to hit up his favoured corridor. Very versatile and has an exceptional work rate.
Likely Matchup: Matty Owies.
Projected Winner: Owies 41%- Quaynor 59%
Pressure Tendency: Overuse it and run back into trouble.
Jarryd Roughead – 1 on 1 Win % = 79.2%, Spoils = 6.5, Intercept Marks = 2.1, Metres Gained = 187.3, Disposal Efficiency = 83%.
In Moore’s absence, Jarryd has gone strength to strength, Uses his body very well, and invariably can body the Forward enough to make a clear path to spoil the ball. Uses his arms well to either spoil to touch or advantage and at the very worst keeps the key forwards honest.
Likely Matchup: Harry McKay.
Projected Matchup Winner: McKay 76% -Roughead %24%
Pressure Tendency: Kick to Boundary Deep Side.
Brayden Maynard – Tackles = 2.5, Pressure Acts = 11.6, Ground Ball Gets = 3.4, Disposals Eff = 80%, Metres Gained = 484.2
Brayden is often utilised on the 3rd tallest player or the most dangerous small and can compete very well with players taller than him, has a versatile skill set that allows him to roam of his man and look to get the intercept or the ground ball and turn defensive positions into an attack, runs hard up the left side of the ground and is often involved in a lot of the good that Collingwood bring
Likely Matchup: Eddie Betts
Projected Matchup Winner: Betts 41%- Maynard 59%
Pressure Tendency: Kick Down The Flank
Jack Crisp – Tackles = 3.8, Pressure Acts = 18.9, Ground Ball Gets = 5.8, Disposals Eff = 71.2%, Metres Gained = 491.9
Jack is often floated through halfback and the midfield, and is a useful stopper in the midfield line, utilising his ability to lock down effectively while himself impacted the game. Quick and strong and has great vision. Jack is one of the key cogs in their possession-based system and is a barometer of their tempo.
Likely Matchup: Jack Martin
Projected Matchup Winner: Martin 39%- Crisp 61%
Pressure Tendency: Handballs back inside
Jack Madgen – 1 on 1 Win % = 84.2%, Spoils = 1.9, Intercept Marks = 1.2
What you see is what you get with Jack, not the most talented footballer, but uses his talent to the maximum, sticks like glue to his man, and will aim to stifle and create space to run into for his general defenders to mop up. A Workmanlike defender who will hold up an end and make his opposition work for it.
Likely Matchup: Jack Silvagni Projected Matchup Winner: Silvagni 57% - Madgen 43%
Pressure Tendency: Kick to the Corridor
John Noble – Tackles = 2.8, Pressure Acts = 12.9, Ground Ball Gets = 3.8, Disposals Eff = 80.9%, Metres Gained = 275.1
A Real competitor and becoming along with crisp a real cog in the Collingwood side. Has the ability to float through midfield and deploy his combination of strong kicking and handball skills and also his turn of pace. Has an high work rate and often looks to bring the ball to the ground and turn his man inside out and deliver a safe kick to the corridor. Will float on Walsh at some stage with Mayne.
Likely Matchup: Zac Fisher Projected Matchup Winner: - Fisher 46% - Noble 54%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to find the short option which invites more pressure.
Midfielders
Chris Mayne – Disposals Avg. = 23.3, Kick Efficiency = 90.3%, Metres Gained = 248.5, Tackles = 2.7
Chris will float from half-back, protecting the space that Crisp, Maynard or Noble develop in the overlap, and often runs with a player who is deemed a danger on the outskirts of their D50. High work rate for a player, and has great positional IQ, Expect he spends a bit of time when Walsh is moved out wide later in the game.
Likely Matchup: Sam Walsh
Projected Matchup Winner:- Walsh 65% - Mayne 35%
Pressure Tendency: Kicks to the corridor when under pressure.
Callum Brown – Pressure Acts = 16.7, Tackles = 2.9, One Percenters = 0.1, Impact On Opposition = 7.6%, Disposal Efficiency = 74.4%
Slowly building into a good player, deployed all over the midfield and around the half-forward line. A good little and under footballer, who possess great skills with the ball and has good vision, looks to open the game up and provide the quality ball for those who lead to him, a real cog turner who just moves the chains and suits the pies need for control in the middle of the park.
Likely Matchup: Zac Williams
Projected Matchup Winner: - Williams 65% - Brown 35%
Pressure Tendency: Rushes the kick to space to the open side
Will Hoskin-Elliott – Disposals Avg. = 16.1, Kick Efficiency = 63.6%, Metres Gained = 286.8, i50 to Chance Creation = 18.7%
A strong marking wingman is a key in their ability to enter and exit both ends of the ground. Often targeted as the outlet ball from the defence and as the switch in their attacking sets. Offers an option to have one extra in the forward line when they lock the ball in and causes a mismatch with his strength and skill.
Likely Matchup: Matt Kennedy Projected Matchup Winner:- Kennedy 47% - Hoskin-Elliott 53%
Pressure Tendency: Tends to bomb it into 50 if no short option
Forwards
Jamie Elliott – Disposals = 14.4, Metres Gained = 201.7, Inside 50s to Chance Creation = 20%, Score Involvements = 5.9, Goals = 2.1
Deployed across half-forward and uses his speed to offer the hit up on the lead, a very strong kick and has good defensive skills too that make it tough for the opposition to get out of their defensive 50. Can be used in the midfield too if they want a line breaker and to run the ball out when chasing the game.
Likely Matchup: Adam Saad
Projected Matchup Winner:- Saad 50% - Elliott 50%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to kick to the top of the square
Brody Mihocek – Goals = 1.6, Mark Inside 50 = 2.1, Shots per Game = 3.8, Score Involvements = 5.2
A Workhorse type forward, who drops deep to get the ball and help his midfield out, often the link man in the attack, and looks to draw Centre Half Back out to create space in behind
Likely Matchup: Jacob Weitering
Projected Matchup Winner:- Weitering 71% - Mihocek 29%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to take on his man and bring the contact
Steele Sidebottom – Disposals = 23.5, Metres Gained = 299.5, Inside 50s to Chance Creation = 14.9%, Score Involvements = 4.7, Goals = 0.3
Steele hasn’t had his usual strong year and is adapting to a more forward role this year. Harvey has seen him strongly rotate from half-forward to the midfield, and is often looking for the short option to set up the inside 50, very crafty and uses his skill set well, if he has space he will hurt you as he has a high footy IQ
Likely Matchup: Liam Stocker
Projected Matchup Winner:- Stocker 55% - Sidebottom 45%
Pressure Tendency: Overuses it and can bomb it into the top of the square
Jordan De Goey – Disposals = 18, Metres Gained = 278.7, Inside 50s to Chance Creation = 28.2%, Score Involvements = 6.4, Goals = 1.4
Dangerous in every sense of the word, the go-to man for the Pies, Will float between half-forward and full forward and when they need some impact on the ball he will be there, a real live wire who under Harvey has had a new lease of life, he will get early time on the ball to get a feel for it and has very limited deficits in his game, will have to be stuck tight too as once he is off the chain he can take a game away.
Likely Matchup: Lachie Plowman
Projected Matchup Winner:- Plowman 39% - De Goey 61%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to take the game on at all costs, bangs it on the boot
Darcy Cameron – Goals = 1.3, Mark Inside 50 = 1.5, Shots per Game = 2.1, Score Involvements = 4.3
Tall option for the Pies, who floats down the left flank as an outlet ball, but his primary focus is taking the full-back and dragging him to space. His numbers are deceptive, as his role on the ground is underrated, looks to pressure the full-back into crossing into a channel of uncertainty and stopping his run to the intercept.
Likely Matchup: Liam Jones
Projected Matchup Winner:- Jones 58% - Cameron 42%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to offload the ball under pressure
Josh Thomas – Tackles = 3.1, Pressure Acts = 17.7, Score Involvements = 4.2, Goals = 0.5, Inside 50s to Chance Creation = 20.6%
Another versatile forward who will float and swap with Hoskin-Elliott and offer a wing option and a useful nippy midfielder, takes the game on and offers a lot of pressure in the opposition's backline, forces a lot of turnovers via his ability to close down space fast and crumbs well off the talls.
Likely Matchup: Nic Newman
Projected Matchup Winner:- Newman 47% - Thomas 53%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to move the ball forward
Followers
Brodie Grundy – Hit Out Win % = 57.3%, Hit Outs To Advantage = 33.9%, Clearances = 4.1, Marks = 3.5
A guy who needs no introduction, Brodie is the prototype modern-day Ruckman, often deployed around the ground to the hot spots, and one of the few ruckman who rates as elite for pressure acts, a pure ruck midfielder who effectively makes contests around the ball difficult with his ability to play as a midfielder.
Likely Matchup: TDK
Projected Matchup Winner:- TDK 21% - Grundy 79%
Pressure Tendency: Holds the ball and looks to handball ahead.
Scott Pendlebury – Disposals = 24.6, Score Involvements = 5.9, Marks = 3.9, Goals = 0.3, Clearances = 4.8, Ground Balls = 6.9, Inside 50 to Creation % = 37.7%
The real engine room of the pies, one of the 3 pillars of their tempo, always keeps the ball in motion and dances around the contests. Looks to spread the play to the wings or offload a handball to an inside runner, lives at the feet of Grundy and looks to feed Adams to burst through the pack or Crisp when he is up there.
Likely Matchup: Ed Curnow
Projected Matchup Winner:- Curnow 48% - Pendlebury 52%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to keep the ball moving forward as much as possible so can put people into trouble with a handball.
Taylor Adams – Disposals = 26.5, Score Involvements = 5.3, Marks = 2.9, Goals = 0.3, Clearances = 7.6, Ground Balls = 7.5, Inside 50 to Creation % = 7.1%, Impact on Oppo = 22.1%
The tough man of the midfield, a clearance specialist and a dynamic player at that. Can burst from stoppages and centre bounces and look to launch early, and gain a lot of the ball while impacting his opposite man. A sharker of opposition ruck taps too, as he has fantastic IQ, on form at the moment one of the best midfielders and grossly underrated.
Likely Matchup: Patrick Cripps
Projected Matchup Winner:- Cripps 49%- Adams 51%
Pressure Tendency: Kicks to Centre Half Forward
The Bench
Oliver Henry – Disposals = 6.8, Tackles = 0.3, Pressure Acts = 8, Score Involvements = 2.3, Goals = 0.0
The new face at the pies, and can play all around the midfield and forward line likes to fall back behind the ball to offer an extra man in defensive situations and looks to go fast when he has possession. An awkward matchup for defenders as he reads the play well and looks to bring it to his advantage
Likely Matchup: Jack Newnes
Projected Matchup Winner:- Newnes 61% - Henry 39%
Pressure Tendency: Looks to kick it forward at all costs.
Nathan Murphy – Tackles = 1, Pressure Acts = 6.8, Ground Ball Gets = 1.4, Disposals Eff = 74%, Metres Gained = 151.6
Often deployed out wide to use his take the game on mentality, has very good disposal and is a very good link man and stopper of players, strong aerially and looks to stick close to his man in a run with role.
Likely Matchup: Lachie Fogarty
Projected Matchup Winner:- Fogarty 52% - Murphy 48%
Pressure Tendency: Looks for the safe option down the flank.
Trent Bianco – Disposals Avg. = 12.8, Kick Efficiency = 63%, Metres Gained = 182.7, i50 to Chance Creation = 8.3%
A Willey competitor who has very good vision for a young age spreads the play well and looks to enter 50 early from deep. A modern-day wingman who can run all day and at pace too.
Likely Matchup: Paddy Dow
Projected Matchup Winner:- Dow 44% - Bianco 56%
Pressure Tendency: Bombs it into 50
Jack Ginnavan – Debut
Playing across half-forward with the ability to play across the midfield line too, has a great show of IQ in the VFL games played and knows where the goals are. A tricky customer who uses a great turn of pace to beat a defender and can kick a goal from anywhere with supreme feet. Very quick both on the ground and upstairs.
Likely Matchup: SPS Projected Matchup Winner:- SPS 59% - Ginnavan 41%
Pressure Tendency: Holds the ball too long.
Around Clearances
This is how we would expect to see them set up, Collingwood invariable let the ball drop at feet, and Pendlebury and Adams will extract to one another and look to break through the centre, They will rotate a host of players here like Elliott & Thomas to have some pace to break the midfield line and to take advantage of the 6 6 6 rule.
They like to control it by using their taller wingman and slow the game down, and have a good defensive build around the play.
Ball Movement Patterns
Collingwood like to control the footy with short sharp kicks, this enables them to find holes in the opposition’s midfield and from there it’s a burst usually down their right half-forward area.
The game style requires a lot of running, and since Harvey has been there they are playing a lot faster and look to hit the corridor suddenly with quick play on football from d50 onwards, it usually is built slowly at the back, and once Crisp or Maynard have the ball they go quick and hit up their talented mids and get the ball going fast to create one on ones up the ground.
Kick Ins – The Play
Maynard is the primary kick in man for the Pies and looks to gain the extra metres to enable a Rebound 50, to as close to halfway as possible, their preferred method though is to go short, and gain a switch from a corridor kick in and to catch the opposition in the purgatory of defence and forward pressure. We can see how they move the ball from kick-ins and D50 here.
Scoring Movement & Habits
Once out the Pies favour the Left-hand side of the ground, they have a very strong forward movement that can cause havoc if the Zonal system is not switched on, as we know about the zonal system it requires great concentration and understands of your position on the field and your oppositions tendencies, as demonstrated here, they often deploy set running patterns that create the space in and behind their opposite numbers and create multiple free men on the lead, they have a real make sure mentality and often look to kick once inside 50 from the mark to make sure of the 6 points, They are a hard-running side ahead of the ball and catch many sides out from this position.
Summary
The Magpies are a very strong side, who are vastly different to the side we face in Round 2. They have added a real attack the corridor with pace element to their game and still can control the footy with the short sharp kicks.
One huge negative is their 3rd last for tackle efficiency, and sides who look to move the ball at pace has stung them, particularly in the final 3rd, The game plan to beat the pies is to stifle their space and take away their short options, as they lead hard to the ball, if pressure is applied and you go quickly the simple case is at the moment the Pies cannot tackle hard enough, if you allow them early to gain a foothold and feel confident on the ball they can manage the game on their terms and they can lock the game away down the back by peeling their rotations down the back like Grundy & Hoskin Elliott and shut up shop.
Moving the ball on the outside and making them kick long is the key, so high forward presses and flood the wing, once the ball hits the deck the quick hands can be the deciding factor.
