Teams In: Round 19 Throws Up a Few Shockers

Thursday night footy. Is there anything better, or is it just an excuse to ruin everyone’s week early? Teams are in for Round 19 and there’s plenty to chew over, starting with our lot.

I’ve had me coffee, I’ve had a look at the sheet three times to make sure I read it right, and yeah, the Pies have made a couple of changes that’ll get the members talking. Let’s get into it.

Collingwood’s Line-Up: The Big Calls

Carn the Pies. That’s where we start every week and this week’s no different, even if the team sheet gave me a bit of a fright.

The obvious talking point is the bloke coming back in after a month on the outer. You know who I mean. He’s had his niggles, he’s had his critics, but when he’s right he wins us games on his own. The coach clearly reckons he’s right now, and I trust that judgement more than I trust some of the calls we’ve copped from the umpires this year.

Out goes one of the younger blokes who’s done nothing wrong, which is always the toughest bit of team selection. Footy’s cruel like that. One week you’re best on ground in the twos, next week you’re back watching from the outer wondering what more you could of done.

Midfield Rotation Gets a Shake-Up

The midfield brigade looks different again this week. Are we ever going to land on a settled engine room, or is this just how it’s going to be from now till September?

I don’t mind the tinkering, truth be told. The way the contest’s been won and lost this year, you need bodies who can adapt on the fly. But it does make you wonder if the extra rotations are costing us continuity in the middle third.

One inclusion that’s got me excited is the returning tackling machine who’s been champing at the bit in the ressies. This kid puts pressure on like his life depends on it. If he brings that Thursday night, the opposition’s ball users are going to have a torrid time of it.

Ins and Outs Across the League

It’s not just Collingwood shuffling the deck. A few other clubs have thrown up genuine selection shockers for Round 19.

• One interstate club has recalled a veteran defender many reckoned had played his last senior game – bold move or desperate move, depends who you ask.
• Another side has been forced into changes through injury, with their spearhead managing a niggle that’s got fans nervous heading into finals calculations.
• A young gun making his long-awaited debut for a rival club, which is always good for the game even when it’s not good for us.
• A skipper returning from suspension after fronting the Tribunal, which should sharpen up that side’s leadership group no end.

Every week these sheets drop and every week half the state loses their mind over one name. That’s footy though, isn’t it? Wouldn’t have it any other way.

Why Thursday Nights Test the Faithful

Can we talk about Thursday night footy for a sec? Getting to the ground on time after work, fighting the traffic, all so we can watch our team either lift the whole state’s spirits or ruin our weekend before it’s even started.

I reckon the players feel it too. There’s a different energy under those lights. The crowd’s closer, the noise carries different, and every 50-50 call from the umpires feels ten times more magnified when it’s the only game being played that night.

Speaking of which – and I say this every single week and I’ll keep saying it – the free kick count against us in prime time games this season has been curious, to put it politely. I’m not accusing anyone of anything, I’m just saying the numbers are the numbers and plenty of Pies fans have noticed the pattern too.

What the Changes Mean for the Contest

Strip away the club loyalty for a second (hard for me, I know) and think about what these line-ups mean for the actual contest on Thursday night.

More experience through the middle usually means more control of stoppages, which usually means more control of the game. If our returning senior bloke gets first use out of the middle like he can, we’re going to dictate terms early and that changes everything about how the last quarter plays out.

The opposition’s ins tell a similar story – they’ve gone bigger and more experienced too, which tells me both clubs know this one matters more than your average Round 19 clash. Neither side wants to be scrambling for percentage come September.

Final Word Before the Bounce

Team selection is one of them things where everyone’s an expert on a Tuesday and everyone’s silent by Friday morning if it doesn’t come off. I get that. I’m no different, definately not.

But from where I’m sitting, these changes make us better, harder to play against, and more dangerous heading into the business end of the year. The kids coming in deserve their shot, the veterans coming back deserve their spot, and the whole footy department should be backed to get this one right.

Thursday night’s going to be a ripper. Get to the ground early, get behind the boys from the first bounce, and let’s make some noise.

Carn the Pies. See you at the footy.