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‘Stress-free’: Why Magpies embrace close encounters
Jon Pierik
Collingwood star Jeremy Howe says a shift to stress-free football under new coach Craig McRae has been the catalyst for the Magpies’ “chaotic” style and remarkable rise this season.
Howe, the high-flying, undersized defensive kingpin, said the Magpies were ready to jump back onto the “roller-coaster” on Saturday when they face Geelong in a blockbuster qualifying final at the MCG.
They head into this battle fortified by the knowledge that 10 of their past 12 wins have been by 11 points or less, nine by seven points or less, their ability to eke out tight victories due in part to a fresh mindset led by McRae.
Marking machine Jeremy Howe says the Magpies have embraced a stress-free style of football in their stunning rise this season.Credit:Getty Images
“He [McRae] has been really good straight from the start. I feel like … he has just really taken away the stress of making any form of mistake on game day. The guys are just playing with a great belief and confidence,” Howe said.
“In the crunch moments, that’s probably when we are at our most calm. That comes from him and probably our psychologist Jacqui [Louder] has had influence on that as well.
“‘Fly’ [McRae] touched on that windscreen wiper-type mentality. We have probably done that all year. That’s something that is a strength of ours now. We play a pretty chaotic brand of footy, mistakes happen every second of the game. It’s just how you respond to those.”
McRae’s windscreen wiper analogy is, as the coach said, about “moving things to the side” and ploughing on when a call or play doesn’t go the Magpies’ way.
Speaking on the Sunday Footy Show, Howe said the Magpies’ attacking game plan had been a revelation.
“It’s extremely different to what we have been used to in the past. We are a bit more straight-line footy, get our forwards in the game as quick as we can,” he said.
“We have shown we have been able to defend off the back of that as well. The forwards are loving it, defensively we feel like we are in good shape as well.”
Taylor Adams still has work to do on the training track to prove he has overcome a groin injury.Credit:AFL Photos
The Magpies are ranked ninth for points for this season and eighth for points conceded, which does not embody a typical premiership blueprint, but Howe pointed to the belief among the players.
He also praised the team’s youngsters, including Rising Star Nick Daicos and headline-grabbing forward Jack Ginnivan, the latter supported by McRae and Darcy Moore through a turbulent rookie season, as “our kids that are really getting the job done for us at the moment, which is really pleasing”.
Midfielder Taylor Adams will continue his bid to return from a groin strain at training this week, while key position player Nathan Kreuger (shoulder) returned via the VFL on Sunday after 16 weeks on the sidelines.
Jeremy Cameron was dominant when the Cats and Magpies last met in round three.Credit:AFL Photos
Howe is likely to spend time on Jeremy Cameron, should the Cats’ key forward return from a low-grade hamstring strain hurt a fortnight ago. Cameron, who has kicked 59.32 in 21 games this season has declared himself fit but must complete training this week.
Cameron booted six goals and Tom Hawkins three when the Cats, trailing by five goals at three-quarter-time, stormed home to beat the Magpies by 13 points in round three – their only meeting this season.
The Cats say Mitch Duncan (hip), Rhys Stanley (adductor) and Sam Menegola (managed) are also expected to return, having missed the round-23 clash against West Coast. Cam Guthrie (shoulder) was hurt in that match but will play.
Bulldogs keen to kick on in cut-throat clash against Dockers
Jon Pierik
The Western Bulldogs will look to turn Saturday’s elimination final into a high-scoring affair, as they plot another September run from outside the top four.
Josh Dunkley (left) and Adam Treloar will have key roles to play if the Western Bulldogs are to advance through September.Credit:AFL Photos
The Bulldogs are fifth for scoring (89.7 points per game) and 11th for points against (82.4) this season, but deeper analysis shows they have won 10 of 11 matches when they scored 80 or more points, and only two when held below 80.
Midfielder Adam Treloar said the Bulldogs were keen to inflict scoreboard pressure, having managed 78 points in a 17-point loss to the Dockers when the teams last met in round 21.
“We know that when we have high scores, we are a hard team to beat, but that is clearly off how we defend as well. So, it’s something we are going to focus on,” he said.
“We will probably look a little bit more closely on what let us down in those games against Freo. We clearly know they are going to want to maintain the footy and try and keep the ball off us. We need to make sure we are on our toes and are defending really well from that regard.”
In Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy, if the latter remains inside attacking 50, as he did against Hawthorn in round 23, the Bulldogs have aerial threats, combined with a strong punch from their small and pressure forwards.
Their scoring has been aided by being the No.1 team for scores from clearance differential, and No.1 for time in forward half differential. That they have slipped from second last year to 12th for scores from intercepts has been made up in other areas.
The Bulldogs enjoy flicking the ball around, particularly through the midfield, but the Dockers hindered this in round 21 when they held the ball as often as possible, having 46 more uncontested possessions.
Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli said his team would be ready for a reprisal of those tactics.
“The opportunity probably for teams to keep the ball off us and kick the ball around. They had a really solid game plan against us, to really possess the ball, and really move the ball too easily against us. We created enough but, once again, we were probably not tight enough defensively,” he said.
While the Bulldogs offensively remain strong, having averaged 90 points last season, they have slipped defensively, conceding 13 more points per game. They rank No.16 for opposition points from defensive half chains, for opponents have been able to pick apart their rolling zone with defenders often guarding space, rather than opponents.
“Our football at different points has been good this year. We are not under any illusions that it probably hasn’t been good enough at different points,” Bontempelli said.
Lion stakes claim for finals return
Jon Pierik
Brisbane Lions utility Callum Ah Chee has emerged unscathed from his return from concussion and is pushing for an elimination final return on Thursday, but there are still doubts over Marcus Adams.
Lions utility Callum Ah Chee was concussed after a heavy hit from Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps.Credit:Getty Images
Ah Chee played limited minutes against Southport in the VFL on Saturday, his first game since he was crunched by Carlton captain Patrick Cripps at the Gabba in round 21.
He had 16 disposals and was in good touch, ensuring he is firmly under consideration to return against Richmond.
However, key defender Marcus Adams, who was also concussed against the Blues, has made slower progress but is hopeful of accelerating his comeback through the week.
The Lions have a 1-5 win-loss record in three finals campaigns under coach Chris Fagan, including a pair of straight-sets exits, and are a team under pressure.
Star midfielder Lachie Neale had admitted their finals record “isn’t great”, and the Lions have been beaten by fellow flag favourites Melbourne and the Tigers over the past month. But they did topple the Tigers in a Gabba final in 2020, and believe they can get the job done again this week.
“You get what you deserve in this competition and people are writing us off because of our performances,” Neale said.
“But we still have an inner belief that we can still do some real damage. We will embrace that underdog status. I know our finals record isn’t great … but we’ve had two really closes loses and every team we have lost to has gone on to play in the grand final. I still feel like our best is capable of beating anyone.
“When we’re under the pump and on edge a little bit it brings out the best in our team. We know when we get challenged we can respond.”
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