Maxy's injury ruined our year

[thebaldfacts]

According to Pert, the loss of Maxy cost us a finals spot this year.

Not surprising that our best footy this year was early this year when Maxy was flying. Remember thinking that maybe he could go again next year, such was his form. Unfortunately injuries cut him down quickly in the end.



http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-08-22/no-maxy-ruined-pies-season

[David]

I think Maxwell's loss was a massive blow structurally and psychologically. Not sure if it would have been the difference when so many other things were going wrong, but it's definitely been a significant factor.

[3.14159]

and will be next year.

[Redlight]

Yep, we'll miss Maxwell for some time, leaders like that are as freakishly rare as the Buddy Franklins. That's why I'm hoping Luke Ball plays on, we need people of that quality, especially with all the kids.

[Bob Sugar]

Not sure it cost us a finals birth, but damn, losing him did hurt, which beggars the question, WTF is he retiring for? IMO if he can back by Early next year he should play on.

[Piesnchess]

Perhaps, with him im sure we would have beaten both the suns and doggies, and played finals. He was a massive loss, a real Leader with a young team under him.

[MagpieBat]

Absolutely Maxy's absence was the beginning of our tailspin this year, no doubt in my mind of that.

Along with, it must be said, Buckley's bewildering decision to go back to a 6v6 defence in Maxwell's absence (and thereby putting his +1 in the middle/at the contest) and his decision to go back to the thoroughly discredited 2 tall forwards setup, a structure which was beyond Dawes, broke Lynch and was too big an ask for a flaky White. We played our best prior to round 13 with Cloke, White and one of the two young rucks holding up our forward end.

And of course, sandwiched and sprinkled in between, was an unhealthy spate of injuries, for the 3rd year running since our last Grand Final (and if you throw in the white-anting of our depth through injury in 2011, that makes 4 years of, essentially, a borderline-crippled list. Not to put too flippant a sentiment on it, but I'm sick and tired of Collingwood being sick and tired!)

But yes, Maxy's loss is a big hole in our side. And given we're still such a young list, his retirement will haunt us for some time to come yet...

[Bob Sugar]

[MagpieBat]

[qldmagpie67]

Maxy was a huge loss undoubtedly. He gave the likes of Frost and Langdon the confidence to play aggressively as he cleaned up there mistakes plus his leadership down back was enormous.
IMO we don't have another Maxy waiting in the wings so we need to have Brown and Reid down back to help frosty and Langdon next year.
Williams might have to be tried on a wing or rotating on the ball he has skills but lacks footy smarts yet.
Forwards are our biggest problem and if we can't get clean quick ball movement into our 50 then we won't improve. Cloke has to play CHF and be let run like a monster. We need a FF

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Yep, can't disagree

[What'sinaname]

[simon tonna]

Blind freddy could of told you that.
Thanks for the jaw dropping statement perty.
Maxy was the most important player on the list
when it came to presence and confidence for our
young list and those who wanted him playing for
the magoos or wanted him retired have NFI

[Collingwood Crackerjack]

Its been sad to see some of the young defender go backwards in his absence; Marley has been poor, and Langdon played a lot better with Maxy there, Keefe as well in my opinion.

Frosty's been the same though; Presti clone right there I reckon

[The Boy Who Cried Wolf]