Yep, if we can all just get past our fear of Collingwood, which trust me I know is hard, there’s little to suggest Collingwood will win this year’s flag.
First and foremost, their forward line is severely flawed without an imposing big man. They need to run and spread it in every time. If you have speed, which we have, you can neutralise them. If you have endurance, which we have, you can cover them. Finally, if our midfield pressures hard, they will find space in midfield on turnover, particularly in the first quarter when Collingwood like to establish scoreboard pressure.
Stephenson, Elliot, De Goey. These are the dangers. The latter may not even play again. Flossy for Stephenson, Grimes on Elliot. Baker, Broad, Astbury, Houli and Short won’t have too many problems and should be able to lend aerial support and link up.
Collingwood’s midfield is dangerous but so is ours. If our pressure game is on and Dusty exploits the lack of hard tag (Greenwood out) then we can match their inside 50s.
I would sit on Sidebottom. Scrag him, get in his face. Graham is the man. Soldo can smother Grundy.
Finally, collingwood’s backline comes down to Moore and Howe. Roughead is a spud who Lynch will exploit. Most importantly, we aren’t Geelong with a slow, inept attack. We routinely score 90+ points a game. We will separate Moore and Howe and make them accountable to their men.
Who will take Nankervis down there? We can seriously threaten Collingwood with something we didn’t have last year - two extra talls.
Collingwood have no small backs worth a damn. Rioli, Castagna and Bolton will have plenty of opportunities. If we play them high and run into space, Moore and Howe won’t get a look at it.
I think we’ll play Collingwood in the grand final. My heart is fearful, but only because of the PF trauma. My head says we can win comfortably.
If we actually look closely at our team, we are much better than last year.
1) Dusty cherry ripe and running amok
2) Bolton adds class
3) baker down back, courage and verve
4) Soldo as primary tap ruck, giving us clearances. Yep, you heard right. Clearances!
5) Nankervis as relief ruck and angry tall forward. What a luxury.
6) Lynch. Lynch. Lynch. Riewoldt plotting all kinds of evil under less scrutiny.
7) Prestia in the form of his life.
8) the trauma of last year will steel our boys like you wouldn’t believe.
We ain’t dropping this cup. It’s ours.
