Plagued by inconsistency, ill-disposal and innaccuracy

Kicking 8 goals 15 behinds through three quarters is no way to beat the best team in Australia. Sleepwalking through an entire quarter doesn't help the cause either.

The Collingwood of the first quarter and the Collingwood of the second quarter were two entirely different teams. The Jekyll/Hyde act Collingwood teams of the past three years pull on a weekly basis was never more evident than in the first half tonight. The first quarter was Collingwood close to their best. Running with the ball, switching inside to outside and outside to inside, and winning the contested ball. The superior play was reflected on the scoreboard, doubling Geelong's scoring shots and taking a 20 point lead to the first break. The decisive period of the match came at the beginning of the second quarter. Collingwood started well retaining the momentum from the first quarter. The momentum evaporated after bad misses from relatively routine set shots gone awry from Travis Cloke and Leigh Brown. Eight consecutive goals Geelong goals followed and with the exception of a pseudo-fightback in the third quarter the game was over.

What went wrong? Glad you asked.

1. The second quarter was a disgrace. There's no excuse for not kicking a goal in a quarter of a football, let alone conceding eight at the opposite end. Collingwood's tackling pressure dropped off, Geelong started winning the contested possessions and dominating the clearances, and Collingwood's disposal and decision making were horrible.

2. For all the hype about Josh Fraser, he was thoroughly obliterated tonight in the hitouts department. The Geelong duo of Blake and West combined to double Fraser's hitout total. The sooner Malthouse accepts that Fraser is a second-option forward masquerading as a ruckman the better for the club. Bring in Cam Wood.

3. Inaccuracy was a killer. The 2007 season was infamous for Collingwood's (in particular Travis Cloke's) inability to convert in front of goal. Last year represented significant progress. Tonight was a definite regression. Two of the main culprits were veterans (and usually reliable) Fraser and Lockeyer. Fraser missed three routine set shots, Lockeyer also sprayed shots he would usually nail. The main offender though was Leigh Brown. Brown is probably on his final AFL lifeline, and while I'm not going to question his workrate and desire, his kicking tonight cost Collingwood the match. The miss from five metres out five minutes into the game was unforgivable, followed by the game-altering momentum-killing miss early in the second quarter and Brown was the single greatest reason Collingwood lost. Yes, he partially redeemed himself by kicking that sensational goal at the end of the third quarter, but drawing your team within three goals isn't the same as extending the margin to almost five goals.

4. Being completely re-active to the opposition isn't the way to win matches. The first quarter was defined by Collingwood's intensity and ability to win contested possession, taking the initiative in the contest. That died at quarter time. The Collingwood of the final three quarters was lifeless and re-active to the movements of Geelong players. There was simply no aggressive defensive movements or actions. Too often Collingwood players were stationery simply waiting for Geelong to move the ball on. Giving time like that to the likes of Ablett, Bartel and Chapman is a recipe for disaster.

5. The defence is a worry. He's young, he's athletic and he's seemingly got a good head on him, but right now Nathan Brown is simply not up to the task of being a key defender in the AFL. Brown was caught behind way too often and looks like he has some issue with his spoiling technique. He spoil attempts are always to the outside of his opponents arms coming in towards the ball. The way to spoil is to get between your opponents arms and meet the ball at a more vulnerable point. Brown has a ways to go. Also, the team defence was terrible. Collingwood had a habit tonight of sending about four players to the ball carrier on the last line of defence, freeing up all the other Geelong forwards. I can't count the amount of times Varcoe and Chapman were left free in the pocket for snaps at goal from point blank range.

6. Travis. Travis Cloke was disgraceful tonight, there's no sugarcoating it. Travis continues to fail miserably when faced with decent opposition. He was rendered totally useless tonight, taken out of contests at ease and never making an impact on the game. Cloke had two set shots on goal, both times failing to register a score. The 'barometer' of Collingwood needs to lift his game or else I can't see a reason to keep him in the firsts. Must improve.

For all of Collingwood's faults, and there were many, most can be attributed to the stellar play of Geelong. Soon I'll devote an entire post to Geelong's play, but for now I'll keep it to praise from afar. Amazing.

Votes

3. Scott Pendlebury (the only Collingwood player not to embarrass himself at one stage or another. Seeing him in person he's truly established himself as Collingwood's midfield general. Plays the percentages, never turns it over, and is developing an inside game to compliment his brilliant outside game. The shining light)

2. Marty Clarke (statistically didn't make much of an impact - 19 disposals, 2 tackles and a behind - but his dash and creativity enlivened Collingwood in the third quarter)

1. Simon Prestigiacomo (Presti continued his good form, playing an all-round solid game, keeping Cam Mooney quiet. Best on ground for Collingwood in the first half, winning one on ones and forcing Mooney to take his marks up along the wing)

Leaderboard

Scott Pendlebury - 6
Josh Fraser - 3
Alan Didak - 2
Leon Davis - 2
Marty Clarke - 2
Simon Prestigiacomo - 1
Dayne Beams - 1