This week on the real footy podcast, Sam McClure, Greg Baum and Jake Niall discuss Collingwood, momentum and belief. The Pies are confounding statistics and expectations and have now won 11 in a row.
The stats show the Pies should not be winning this many games; they get beaten at clearances, particularly center clearances, and against the Demons they were beaten, comfortably, in contested possessions and inside-50s. They are undeniably dominating in one particular stat though: wins.
So far, Collingwood have been playing with house money, and without the weight of expectations. But now people are talking about their premiership prospects, will the Pies start to tighten up?
Also this week, the Tigers have some decisions to make going forward. With Shai Bolton emerging as a star, do they need to keep Dustin Martin to be a viable premiership threat in the next five years? Or can they rebuild on the run by bringing in some other players during trade period and trading Martin for some high draft picks and maybe even a player? The deal Martin on has been absolutely worth it, given the success they’ve enjoyed. But is it time for the Tigers to think about the future?
In the immediate term, Richmond are back in the eight and should win their last two games, though even one win would leave them a pretty good chance to get in. But are there twists left in the race for a finals spot, with St Kilda and the Bulldogs still in touch, and Carlton with two very tough games to come?
In off-field news, there has been plenty of discussion recently about Lance Franklin’s playing future. There are three options for “Buddy” – he and the Swans compromise, and he stays; I have withdrawn; or he joins a new club. We discuss where he might end up.
Plus, the watching brief on Ken Hinkley and Port Adelaide, the decision in the Judd-Kennedy trade that could have made the ultimate deal for Carlton, the team that can stop Geelong this year and much more.