Round 5 - Collingwood Match Preview
By No32
I would like to preface this preview with what Anzac Day means to me (apologies for length, as I have much to say).
April 25th is a sacred and celebrated day in our history and to different people it means many different things. My first real exposure to and Anzac Day event of any kind was 1989, I was 13 years old and playing off in the Match Play final of my local club’s T.A.Stacey Trophy. T.A.Stacey was a local digger from WWI, and a from a highly respected family. I was playing against one of the top players at the club and I was not favoured to win that day. I remember it vividly, a 13 year old whippet teeing it up against the current Club Champion and also a former winner of this trophy… The day started out early with a bronze tower with a lite flame, playing of the last stand (or what ever the song is), the cries from the Master Sgt, the clacking and cracking of sharp movements by soldiers and their gleaming rifles. Was I nervous.. I have never been so nervous to see at an event like this on Anzac Day for prestigious club event a crowd of well over 50 people to follow 2 amateur golfers go head to head.
I got off to a nervous start with a couple bogeys, then rolled in a 20 footer on the next to peg one back. Over the next 6 holes I was hitting it in places elephants go to die, yet somehow my short game was firing as I made the turn square. The back nine started much the same was as I ended the front, up and down after up and down then I chipped one in from off the green on 13 to draw level, then on the 14th rolled one in from 20ft to take the lead for the first time… it was back and forth until we got to the 17th.. all square where my opponent ripped one over the tree invested dogleg and near the green, pretty much a sure thing birdie. What do I do, play safe or take it over the top… I went half way and hit it through the fairway, I then hit my second from the rough to about 25ft, he then chipped up to 4ft… I was standing over the put and I could feel and see the ball rolling into the hole…. as I stood over it, everything felt just perfect.. anyone who has played golf or sport at a higher level will understand what mindstate this is… it’s rare and one which brings you back for more… as I stroked that Titliest 1# Tour Balata I started walking towards the cup and said as the ball was 6 feet from the cup “Yeah Baby”, I looked up at my opponent to give him a quick wink as he watched that ball go into that hole faster than a rabbit down a burrow… he duely missed his 4 footer for me to be 1 up with 1 to play… I won the last with a birdie also to win 2 Up….. the moral of this story is, I was a young golfer going into battle against a more decorated and favoured opponent, I could have easily been blown out of the water early, but I grinded and battled away to get myself into a position to win… I never gave up and I gave everything I had out of that golf course…. regardless of me winning, I won respect from the 50 or so people watching me that day as they saw a 13 year old with the determination, will and hunger of someone of greater years…
One last thought also goes out to my Brother In Law who was killed in action on March 23rd 2003, he was a US Marine Sgt and posthumously he was recognised and honoured with bravery awards and commendation for the lives he saved and protected all the while forsaking his own. He was shot 3 times during the process of grabbing about 12 wounded Marines from the 1st Marine Div in the Battle of An Nasariyah, yet each time they pinned him down (his own men) to stop and seek help for himself he pried himself from their holds and ran back out under fire to grab another soldier in a fireman’s carry and bring him back to safety… this went on for over and hour and when he finally ran out of steam they barrelled him onto the back of an AAAV to transport back to safety… unfortunately while retreating 3 RPG’s slammed into the side of the AAAV… his last act upon this earth was split seconds before the RPG’s slammed into the AAAV he grabbed a young marine next to him by the neck, picked him up and threw him to the front of the AAAV.. for no reason. If he had not done this, that young marine would not be alive today. My daughter Saige was born on the day of his military funeral at Camp Lejeune, Nth Carolina and he middle name is Michael (after him). I wear his dog tag around my neck everyday with the one my sister also had made for me. Even though he was an American by birth, he was a brother by spirit and he embodies much of what we call the Anzac Spirit. Rest in Peace, Lest we Forget, Semper Fi Brother
http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/bitzmichaele.html
What day to play and watch football. Many people are calling for this game to be shared amongst other teams so they get to play on Anzac Day. Sorry but a tradition has been created, much like Anzac Day you cannot break with tradition, its about 2 rivals going head to head as they have for well over 100 years. There is a reason its a sold out game every year because regardless of where each side is on the ladder it will he a hot, hard, tough and torrid match only rivalled by the Grand Final… you will never get that from a Kangaroo’s vs. Melbourne, not even Carlton vs. Collingwood. There is something about the EFC and CFC faithful which makes and has made this match/game unique. So Wayne Carey, sorry bud but this should not be alternated around… this is Anzac Day don’t mess with what is rightfully in place….
Key Match Ups
Scott Lucas vs. James Clement – The in form forward of the competition vs. the 2 x All Australian Back Pocket. Clement has not been in the form he would like so he is well overdue for one of those trademark stop jobs on a big forward and to also create drive out of the back line. And he will need to use all his bag of tricks to combat the rampaging Scott “My Left Foot” Lucas. Look for Lucas and Lloyd to move around the forward 50m arc to bring Clement away from his general post about 20-30 out from goal where he starts his commanding role moving up onto the half back line. They want to drag him away from there so they can kick it over to a leading Johns/Davey or Hird.
Patrick Ryder vs. “pick anyone” – Paddy could play anywhere due to match ups… he might start on Travis Cloke and run with a create for himself, and keep Fletcher free to do what he does best. He may also take a turn in the ruck. Look for Nick Maxwell to play forward as play a defensive forward role on Ryder, of which he has been serviceable over the past few weeks and can kick a goal also.
EFC Ruck vs. CFC Ruck – As no Hille the No1 duties fall to Jason Laycock, with Kepler Bradley serving as backup and look for either player to play small bursts forward to stretch the Collingwood defence. Collingwoods ruck stocks are not feared nor in form, the Smokey in this rucking factor will be Chris Bryan as he was a shock delisting from Carlton… He could be the PSD pick up surprise packet and how many times have debutants starred or played a key role in Anzac Day victories… plenty
THE X FACTOR
James Hird, James Hird and James Hird. This will be his last Anzac Day match and for a man that has more than a few Anzac Day medals in his cabinet he will once again be lifted to another level of play, beyond his years and peoples expectations. Collingwood know it, We know it, everyone knows it… James Hird owns the Anzac Day games and Collingwood will throw everything they have at him to wear him down… but like a cunning fox in a cunning den he will surface the victor one more time
The Messiah, no preview is complete with mentioned the Great One. He played an excellent role last week without kicking goals, he worked hard up and down the 50m arc and wings, presenting and delivering with precision… look for a big game from C-Money
THE Y FACTOR
Mark Bolton, Y Y Y and Y. I in fact to do not believe he will play on Anzac Day, my mail is that Bachar Houli will make his debut in place of Bolton with a late change 50 minutes before the bounce. For match ups by naming Bolton and Bradley we have added another tall, in fact one too many, so with Jetta and no Winderlich and Johns came in last week, Bradley in this week for Hille. Houli would be a perfect slot onto a wing and across half forward… If you think of what this day will be about and what it will mean to a play like Bachar if he was to play his first game you can bet he will tackle and chase harder than anyone on debut, even Alwyn!! So with Bachar in this Y Factor becomes another X Factor and it makes more sense for match ups on the day also, defensively and pace also.
I cannot wait for the game, I will be nervous, anxious and all fired up to scream my bloody head off. Come on Don’s!
Predictions
First Goal – Lloyd
BOG – Hird
Result – Essendon by 10pts
| The Team | |||
| B: | McVeigh | Michael | Slattery |
| HB: | McPhee | Fletcher | Ryder |
| C: | Dyson | Stanton | Heffernan |
| HF: | M. Johnson | Lucas | Hird |
| F: | Davey | Lloyd | Monfries |
| R: | Laycock | Peverill | Lovett |
| INT: | Bolton | Bradley | Johns |
| Watson | |||
| EMG: | Houli | Jetta | Lonergan |
| Collingwood Team | |||
| B: | Lockyer | Prestigiacomo | Cox |
| HB: | H. Shaw | Clement | R. Shaw |
| C: | Pendlebury | Toovey | Thomas |
| HF: | Maxwell | Cloke | Didak |
| F: | Swan | Rocca | Johnson |
| R: | Fraser | O’Bree | Dick |
| INT: | Burns | Bryan | Davis |
| O’Brien | |||
| EMG: | Egan | Iles | Richards |
| Last Time – Round 19 2006 – MCG | ||||
| 1 / 4 | 2 / 4 | 3 / 4 | Full Time | |
| Essendon | 5.2 | 7.6 | 7.10 | 10.14.71 |
| Collingwood | 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.4 | 9.7.61 |
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| Best Players | |
| Essendon | Fletcher, Hird, Watson, McPhee, Stanton, Lucas |
| Collingwood | Clement, Swan, Fraser, Didak, Johnson, O’Bree |
| Goals | |
| Essendon | Johns 3, Camporeale, J. Johnson, M. Johnson, Lovett-Murray, Lucas, Monfries, Stanton |
| Collingwood | Egan 2, Didak, Johnson, Licuria, Lockyer, Pendlebury, Swan, Tarrant |
| TV Coverage | ||
| Ten Australia Wide | 12:00pm Local | Live |
| Fox Sports 1 | 8:30pm AEST | Replay |
| Radio Coverage | |
| 3AW Melbourne | 12:00 PM |
| Triple M Melbourne | 12:00 PM |
| ABC774 Melbourne | 12:00 PM |
| SEN Melbourne | 12:00 PM |
| 5AA Adelaide | 12:00 PM |
| Triple M Adelaide | 1:30 PM |
| ABC891 Adelaide | 1:00 PM |
| 6PR Perth | 12:00 PM |
| ABC720 Perth | 12:00 PM |
| NIRS Perth | 12:00 PM |
| ABC630 Sydney | 2:30 PM |
| ABC936 Brisbane | 2:30 PM |
| NIRS Brisbane | 2:00 PM |
| ABC103.9 Canberra | 2:30 PM |
| ABC936 Hobart | 12:00 PM |
| ABC105.7 Darwin | 12:00 PM |
| NIRS Darwin | 1:30 PM |
| IASbet.com Betting | |
| Essendon | $1.39 |
| Collingwood | $3.05 |
| BomberBlitz.com ‘Expert’ Tips | |
| Andy | Essendon by 17 points |
| Mr. Charles Bronson | Essendon by 19 points |
| Pazza | Essendon by 34 points |
| Bomberman007 | Essendon by 45 points |
| Koala | Essendon by 39 points |
| No32 | Essendon by 10 points |
Posted 24 April 07 in Match Preview News
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