Richmond assistant coach Blake Caracella provides ‘Roar Vision’ with a concise examination of Collingwood’s key strengths ahead of tomorrow night’s big clash at the MCG.
Magpies’ midfield talent
“They’ve got (Scott) Pendlebury, (Adam) Treloar, (Taylor) Adams, (Steele) Sidebottom, who are really good players through there. It’s going to be a challenge for us . . . You think about tagging Sidebottom or Pendlebury or Treloar, but our midfield, and our whole team, really, have to work collectively in attack and defence and try and come out on top.”
Contested-ball work
“It was a fantastic effort from Collingwood (v Western Bulldogs in Round 1) . . . plus 26 in contested ball. Interestingly, the plus 26 was all pre-clearance – that’s before the ball gets kicked away from the stoppage. So, after the clearance, the contested ball was even. So to beat the Bulldogs, and match them at contested ball away from the stoppage, is a fantastic effort . . . It’s also been a good indication of our performance so far this year. I think we’ve been in front for contested ball every game in the pre-season and Round 1.”
Centre-clearance work
“It’s really important, the centre bounces, because most of the time if you do win them, and chain the ball out, you can get a nice entry and a good chance to score . . .”
Countering Reid and Howe across half-back for the Magpies
“Ideally, we move the ball well and they have to defend . . . we can open play and find a free player inside forward-50. Going back to our pre-season game (v Collingwood at Moe) two or three weeks ago, I think Ben Reid took 17 marks and Howe might have taken six intercept marks . . . So we need to make sure that they don’t do that. If they mark the ball, we can’t bring our pressure that you saw Round 1. If it comes to ground, we can crumb the ball and kick a goal, or lay a tackle and get a free kick.”
